Fluids Interval for Infrequently Driven Vehicle

[climhazzard]

Hi all,

I know this topic has been covered here and there on this forum before, but I'm hoping it's OK to post a vehicle and situation specific question

. I have a Honda S2000 (AP1) that is driven pretty much only on weekends, and sees about ~1500 miles per year. Due to the low miles and advent of modern synthetics I've been doing yearly oil changes, and 2-3 years for brake fluid (since it needs to be changed independent of mileage due to water absorption). My question pertains more to the other fluid intervals.

Here's what I'm running:

Engine: Castrol Edge FST (Gold Bottle) 10W30
Transmission: Honda MTF2
Differential: Mobil 1 75W90
Coolant: Honda Type 2/Blue
Clutch/Brake: Honda DOT3

My question is based on the vehicle usage, what is a reasonable interval for the transmission, differential, and coolant fluids?

 

[cheech279]

I'd go by the mileage intervals listed in the owners manual since fluids don't know how old they are. I would be more concerned with changing the timing belt early based on age instead of miles.

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: NormanBuntz
I'd go by the mileage intervals listed in the owners manual since fluids don't know how old they are.



This.

If only 1500 miles a year are driven, synthetic at a yearly OCI is a waste IMO. I'd at least stretch it out to every other year with synthetic, but I am sure more could be done. If a yearly OCI is what you want, a quality conventional will do just fine.

 

[climhazzard]

Thanks for the feedback guys. The F20C engine has a timing chain so luckily no belt replacement to worry about. I haven't given a 2 year engine OCI much thought before, but that might be an interesting approach. I'm pretty good about *always* driving the car at least 10 miles whenever it is started up, so hopefully condensation in the oil is a non-issue.

If I follow the mileage intervals in the manual that would likely mean I'll never have to change most of the fluids (transmission and coolant at least). I'm guessing the transmission and differential oils do not see "time", but is the same true for coolant?

 

[JHZR2]

IMO it depends upon how it's used.

If it's always brought to full temperature, run hot for a while, etc., then 2 years is doable for oil. If it's run more often on short trips where moisture and condensation can be an issue, then I'd say one year, maybe less.

The other fluids I'd just follow mileage and time values per the manual.

 

[climhazzard]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
IMO it depends upon how it's used.

If it's always brought to full temperature, run hot for a while, etc., then 2 years is doable for oil. If it's run more often on short trips where moisture and condensation can be an issue, then I'd say one year, maybe less.

The other fluids I'd just follow mileage and time values per the manual.


I always make sure to bring it up to full temp, but it may be best if I stick to yearly oil changes just to be safe.

Whether or not I should follow the time intervals in the manual is really what I'm trying to figure out. For instance, Honda specifies under "Normal: conditions to change the differential fluid every 30K miles, or every 2 years (15k/yearly under "Severe"). I'm not sure it really makes sense for me to do that in this situation.

 

[Oily_hair]

Originally Posted By: climhazzard

Whether or not I should follow the time intervals in the manual is really what I'm trying to figure out. For instance, Honda specifies under "Normal: conditions to change the differential fluid every 30K miles, or every 2 years (15k/yearly under "Severe"). I'm not sure it really makes sense for me to do that in this situation.


If you don't reach the miles then go by time listed in your owners manual. If you don't like what the manual says then take advice from members here who don't own the car and have no part in the design of the vehicle's engine specifics. Your owners manual over rules everything suggested here and whatever is written on the back of the oil bottle. Do the yearly oil change as suggested in the manual.

 

[climhazzard]

Originally Posted By: Oily_hair
Originally Posted By: climhazzard

Whether or not I should follow the time intervals in the manual is really what I'm trying to figure out. For instance, Honda specifies under "Normal: conditions to change the differential fluid every 30K miles, or every 2 years (15k/yearly under "Severe"). I'm not sure it really makes sense for me to do that in this situation.


If you don't reach the miles then go by time listed in your owners manual. If you don't like what the manual says then take advice from members here who don't own the car and have no part in the design of the vehicle's engine specifics. Your owners manual over rules everything suggested here and whatever is written on the back of the oil bottle. Do the yearly oil change as suggested in the manual.


Appreciate the reply. I'm soliciting advice because the owners manual was written around 15 years ago, fluids have evolved since, or so I would hope. Additionally I highly doubt the owners manual was written with an "edge case" such as 1500/mi a year in mind.

 

[doublebase]

I don't think you have to worry about the antifreeze or transmission fluid going bad based off of time...both have long change intervals. I believe the coolant is good for something like 7 years and the transmission fluid sometimes never is changed in some vehicles. Just change the oil every year and keep up with the brake fluid.

 

[volodymyr]

Originally Posted By: doublebase
Just change the oil every year and keep up with the brake fluid.


I got a similar situation why my (yet another) Honda motorcycle which I drive rearely, I do change oil every year and I change brake fluid DOT 5.1 every 2 years.

This time I decided to do an experiment and buy a brake fluid tester like this on amazon:

And I let brake fluid to sit 3 (three) years unchanged. I did the test and the concentration of water in fluid was less than 1 % and I could still let it in. I don't know if this is related to DOT 5.1, but I decided to run DOT 4 this time and see if it will absorb water faster.

 

[slomo]

Change it every 6 months if it needs it or not. Say spring and fall.

slomo

 

[climhazzard]

Are you referring to oil? If so that's complete overkill. Even Honda many years ago recommended 7500/1yr under "normal" conditions. That was for Conventional oil too.

 

[Clevy]

Oil can't tell time. We've got many used oil analysis here posted with oil in sump for years but low miles and the oil tests fine for use.
That being said I wouldnt leave 4000 mile oil in my sump unless it's daily driven. Not left over a winter.