Is a one year oci acceptable?

[1911man6910]

I currently have a 1986 f150 with a fuel injected 302 and a 1955 Willis CJ-5 that are essentially garage queens. At the most the truck is driven 4000 miles every year and the jeep maybe 2500. Both engines have been recently rebuilt and do not use any oil. I use synthetic in both and a Mobil 1 filter in the Ford. The jeep gets a Napa 1010 filter. My driving style is pretty relaxed since these vehicles are in very good condition and I want to keep them that way.

Under these conditions, would it be ok to just change the oil once a year, say in the spring? Also, if it is ok am I really better off with Mobil 1 for a 1 year oci or would I be served just as well by a quality conventional such as PYB or Rotella? Thanks for the help and I am sorry if this has been covered before but all of the search results involved newer cars that dont contaminate the oil as much.

 

[rjacket]

Have you looked at any UOAs?

 

[OtisBlkR1]

for those low numbers there's no real reason not to use conventional oil and change at the one year mark. 2 pennies

 

[Shannow]

I'd use synthetic and do annual personally...

 

[rjacket]

Keep doing what you're doing as it's working including no consumption. The peace of mind for a slight cost differential is worth it.

Just look out for synthetic deals and then stock up when you see them. I saw that Mobil had $12/15 rebate late last year which together with Walmart makes it the same price as conventional.

 

[The motor guy]

There are uoa of diesel engines that have run three years on the same oil.

 

[rjacket]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
There are uoa of diesel engines that have run three years on the same oil.


Without a bypass filter and no top ups?

 

[SS1970chrysler]

I change the Chysler and Buick in my sig only once a year and I've had no problems. You should be fine.

 

[1911man6910]

Thanks guys. I think ill extend the oci to one year and just keep with synthetic since the 11 quarts of synthetic needed for both vehicles really isnt that much more than conventional, especially if it is spread out over a year. I assume 10w-30 is preferred over 5w-30 for these motors? I ask because both owners manuals were printed some time back and id imagine there have been a lot of advancements in lubrication technology since then. The one for my jeep even calls for straight 30wt.

 

[tommygunn]

I do about 1500 miles a year on my V8 pickup that got parked when gas hit $1.75. It gets used as a pickup and only when needed. I did 2 years OCI last time. Could someone inform me what time does to oil that doesn't get used much?

 

[05foresterXT]

I'd do 5w30 over 10w30 if you do any driving in the winter time. The 10w30 will be more stable in the heat. Since you don't experience any consumption, 5w30 should be fine.

 

[mechtech2]

I'd use dino, for sure.
No reason to use synth.

 

[NavyDood]

Amsoil AME 15w-40, either a single Amsoil EaO80 or Donaldson ELF7349 oil filter and no bypass on my 04 Dodge Cummins. I usually follow the 1yr or 25,000 miles. On my 5th oil change with the OCI. Heck the last oil change had approx 14 months and 27,600 miles. I only analyze when I change the oil. I has come back that everything is fine everytime.

 

[45ACP]

Depends on the mileage in that year.

And, agreed.. for your application you could use Supertech, choose the grade that is good for winter and use it in the summer and go all year.

IMHO, a pretty easy recommendy. Your truck is easy on oil, the app is not too demanding, and you can be confident your oil isnt even being touched.

Id go between 6 and 7 k on that oil. But annual change is fine.

 

[1911man6910]

So then what is considered cold enough to warrant 5w-30 over 10w-30? Here in western NC the temperatures could range anywhere from the single digits in the winter to mid 90's in the summer. I know this isn't very cold compared to some places up north but is a lot colder than places like south Florida. Is there any way you guys could give me a rough temperature range where one might be preferred over the other?

 

[45ACP]

Originally Posted By: 1911man6910
So then what is considered cold enough to warrant 5w-30 over 10w-30? Here in western NC the temperatures could range anywhere from the single digits in the winter to mid 90's in the summer. I know this isn't very cold compared to some places up north but is a lot colder than places like south Florida. Is there any way you guys could give me a rough temperature range where one might be preferred over the other?


Im not trying to sound like a tool here, but you could use either one all year. Some people like the 10W-30 grade because thats what they used when they switched from 10W-40 or heavier, and back a long time ago it WAS more stable then 5W-30.

If i had to come up with a general range because i do understand your question, though, when it gets to be "less than 40 out" go 5W. Or either/or, all year.

10W will crank fine down to a little bit above the zero mark, IIRC. Certain car manual i forget which one specs 10W-40 to as low as -4 Fahrenheit.. thats pushing it and i assume a warm-up is needed but that is also an older car and old manual and 5W would probably be in that vehicle, if oil were ot be changed today.

No comment on 0W. Sticking to the conventional grades here for his question.

 

[Whimsey]

Some years ago I included a UOA from Terry of my BIL's 5 year old oil with around 9,000 miles on it, factory fill Mobil 1 5W-40, European gas engine formula oil. The UOA came back with still more life left in the oil and no unusual wear metals. The car is a '99 Porsche Boxter. My BIL bought it in 2004. The car was previously, as is now, a car driven in decent weather, ie no snow or salt on the road. It's driven as a pleasure car. It's always driven for periods of time to insure it's fully warmed up to say the least.

I think what your driving patterns are greatly determine the length of the OCI as well as the oil used. I run my 2002 F-150 on 1 year OCI's, about 5,000+/- miles since new. I use Motorcraft 5W-20 and their FL820S oil filter. My oil always drains out a dark amber since new. It runs quiet, the dip stick looks new. The majority of my mileage for the last 7 or so years is 10 miles each way to work with occasional longer highway runs.

Whimsey