Less than 200 Miles a year, Change Oil every 6 months?

[Carlostrece]

It's really not a dumb solution. How much do you pay in car insurance? How much for the tag? Not to mention depreciation and an oil change. Unless you're keeping it for sentimental purposes, I don't see how the math maths on this.

Selling the car seems like a financially sound and sensible solution (offered by @facility1), but that's based on incomplete info. We don't know the OPs full situation. The OP has reasons for wanting to keep their car. Reasons that are sensitive enough that the OP does not want to publicly explain them, and feels emotional distress when someone suggests getting rid of the car.

I'm a handicapped person. I can understand and relate to a person wanting to keep their car even if they can't drive it much (or at all). My car is only driven 400 miles a year (by others), but I'm keeping it for life. I would feel distressed if someone told me I should sell my car.

I can no longer drive a car at all, but hanging on to my Buick is one of my last shreds of independence and dignity, and maintaining it is a good hobby. Maintaining it is also a necessity because getting stranded it a serious problem if you're old or handicapped.

Even though other people (cousin, caregiver, neighbor) drive my Buick with me in passenger seat, it's still important for me as reliable, comfortable transportation and helps me maintain some normalcy, dignity, and independence.

I don't know what the OP's situation is, but there's probably a valid reason the OP can't drive their car much, and an equally valid reason the OP wants to keep it. Since he/she wants to keep it, there's also a valid desire to take care of it.

If the OP's situation is anything like mine, these are the last cars we'll ever own.

Imagine if the car you have now is the last car you'll ever own, and imagine you're handicapped and can't walk or ride a bicycle. You'd care about your car a lot (regardless of miles driven). Also imagine the distress you'd feel if someone told you you should get rid of your last ever car.

I don't know if the above applies to the OP, but it's a possible scenario that may explain the OPs situation and sensitivity to the suggestion to sell the car. It's certainly my situation.

I know Facility1 and Tired meant well with their suggestion to sell car, but IMO we should assume the OP has unknown valid reasons why the car can't be driven much, can't be driven on highway, is strongly desired to keep, and desires basic maintenance. Also we should assume there are unknown valid reasons the OP strongly wants to keep the car.

That said, how often should the oil be changed to keep car in decent condition? My vote is what @himemsys said in post 11.

 

[barryh]

for the first time prior to the last oil change i actually saw moisture on the cap, and changed the oil immediately.

At the end of a run leave of the oil filler cap and let the engine breath overnight. That will get rid of any moisture build up.

If the oil gets up to temperature every time you use it I would changing the about once every 3 years.

 

[Lubener]

An oil analysis at one year will give you an idea on a good change interval. I wouldn't even consider shorter than a two year interval..

Myself, I would be aiming for a three year change interval depending on the UOA results..

 

[Carlostrece]

At the end of a run leave of the oil filler cap and let the engine breath overnight. That will get rid of any moisture build up.

If the oil gets up to temperature every time you use it I would changing the about once every 3 years.

I might agree with your 3 year oil change recommendation if the car was driven 30+ min at least once a month, but the OP is only driving short distances of 1.5 to 3.5 miles. That won't even heat up the coolant to op temp, and certainly not the oil.

I'm inclined to think 1-2 years.

 

[Carlostrece]

Perhaps Valvoline Restore and Protect would help reduce oil getting sludgey in the OP's situation. What do you guys think?

 

[John105]

Selling the car seems like a financially sound and sensible solution (offered by @facility1), but that's based on incomplete info. We don't know the OPs full situation. The OP has reasons for wanting to keep their car. Reasons that are sensitive enough that the OP does not want to publicly explain them, and feels emotional distress when someone suggests getting rid of the car.

I'm a handicapped person. I can understand and relate to a person wanting to keep their car even if they can't drive it much (or at all). My car is only driven 400 miles a year (by others), but I'm keeping it for life. I would feel distressed if someone told me I should sell my car.

I can no longer drive a car at all, but hanging on to my Buick is one of my last shreds of independence and dignity, and maintaining it is a good hobby. Maintaining it is also a necessity because getting stranded it a serious problem if you're old or handicapped.

Even though other people (cousin, caregiver, neighbor) drive my Buick with me in passenger seat, it's still important for me as reliable, comfortable transportation and helps me maintain some normalcy, dignity, and independence.

I don't know what the OP's situation is, but there's probably a valid reason the OP can't drive their car much, and an equally valid reason the OP wants to keep it. Since he/she wants to keep it, there's also a valid desire to take care of it.

If the OP's situation is anything like mine, these are the last cars we'll ever own.

Imagine if the car you have now is the last car you'll ever own, and imagine you're handicapped and can't walk or ride a bicycle. You'd care about your car a lot (regardless of miles driven). Also imagine the distress you'd feel if someone told you you should get rid of your last ever car.

I don't know if the above applies to the OP, but it's a possible scenario that may explain the OPs situation and sensitivity to the suggestion to sell the car. It's certainly my situation.

I know Facility1 and Tired meant well with their suggestion to sell car, but IMO we should assume the OP has unknown valid reasons why the car can't be driven much, can't be driven on highway, is strongly desired to keep, and desires basic maintenance. Also we should assume there are unknown valid reasons the OP strongly wants to keep the car.

That said, how often should the oil be changed to keep car in decent condition? My vote is what @himemsys said in post 11.

I can think of a reason to keep a car.

If said car were a total loss, and insurance paid actual cash value for it, through comp, which does NOT affect rates adversely, would a person be glad to take that money, and be done with the vehicle? If the answer is no, then, a person is justified in keeping a car they're not using.

Can I provide examples where it would be bad for insurance to pay out ACV?

Yes. My 2006 LS430, and my 2007 335i. Both of these cars have a value of under $8k. But, I would not want $8k for either. So I'd be like OP, even if I drove either of these cars 200 miles per year, I'd want to keep them, not accept the high end of retail private party sale for them. Seriously.

But if my car had a lot of problems and needed tons of repairs, then yes, I would accept ACV from insurance, because they'd pay out as if the car were average, when it's below average.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Fuel stabilizer only good for 2 years. Make sure you run to " E" then fill up and re-stabilize. Oil changes once a year. Personally, I like to start my stored cars and get em good and hot 1x a month. Others say else wise. Also load run front brakes to keep rust down on rotors