Long term oil changes

[barryh]

I have a 2002 Nissan Frontier PU with only 70K miles on it. For the last three years or so I've only put 2500K or fewer miles on it per year. I see this continuing for the foreseeable future. I have been changing the oil every year and the filter (Fram Ultra) every other year. I've been using ST 5w30 for my fills. Would there be any downsides in doing the oil change every two years rather than every year with the same products. It just seems a waste of good oil but I'll continue the yearly changes if it's appropriate. I do take the truck out at least once or twice a month for a run up the freeway to get the oil nice and warm. The truck is garaged and here in Denver we have very little humidity/condensation to worry about. Thanks.

Agree, waste of good oil. I'm in the same boat with under 3K per year and infrequent use which are almost all longer runs and never a trip under 9 miles. I've been doing 2 year changes for several years now using MB oil. It wasn't that long ago that MB permitted 2 year intervals with double or triple these miles but I wouldn't go 2 years on anything above 3k per year.

 

[Fahrvergnügen]

No they don’t, no you don’t

Excuse me?

 

[GaryMX5]

I'm sure everyone has a similar abuse story like this. My wife's family lives in western Kansas and are involved in farming. My brother-in-law has two old field trucks (retired PU's) used only during harvest. One's an old Chevy and the other a GMC of late 60's and mid 70's vintage. Both have small block V8's. Neither truck has had an oil change in 5 years or more. I did the last one myself on one PU (used 10w30 bulk Mobile dino that they buy by the drum) when I used to help at fall harvest. I'm betting these vehicles aren't driven more than 500 miles a year and sit outdoors the whole year. They are used to pull a fuel tank trailer and a header trailer and have spent their lives on dirt roads and dusty fields. Yet they start year after year and run surprisingly well for little to no maintenance (maybe a jump start, windshield wash, and air up the tires). Extended (ignored?) time intervals on oil changes haven't killed these engines yet!

 

[Fahrvergnügen]

I'm sure everyone has a similar abuse story like this. My wife's family lives in western Kansas and are involved in farming. My brother-in-law has two old field trucks (retired PU's) used only during harvest. One's an old Chevy and the other a GMC of late 60's and mid 70's vintage. Both have small block V8's. Neither truck has had an oil change in 5 years or more. I did the last one myself on one PU (used 10w30 bulk Mobile dino that they buy by the drum) when I used to help at fall harvest. I'm betting these vehicles aren't driven more than 500 miles a year and sit outdoors the whole year. They are used to pull a fuel tank trailer and a header trailer and have spent their lives on dirt roads and dusty fields. Yet they start year after year and run surprisingly well for little to no maintenance (maybe a jump start, windshield wash, and air up the tires). Extended (ignored?) time intervals on oil changes haven't killed these engines yet!

If you had your mind made up then why did you start a thread.

 

[Fahrvergnügen]

I'm sure everyone has a similar abuse story like this. My wife's family lives in western Kansas and are involved in farming. My brother-in-law has two old field trucks (retired PU's) used only during harvest. One's an old Chevy and the other a GMC of late 60's and mid 70's vintage. Both have small block V8's. Neither truck has had an oil change in 5 years or more. I did the last one myself on one PU (used 10w30 bulk Mobile dino that they buy by the drum) when I used to help at fall harvest. I'm betting these vehicles aren't driven more than 500 miles a year and sit outdoors the whole year. They are used to pull a fuel tank trailer and a header trailer and have spent their lives on dirt roads and dusty fields. Yet they start year after year and run surprisingly well for little to no maintenance (maybe a jump start, windshield wash, and air up the tires). Extended (ignored?) time intervals on oil changes haven't killed these engines yet!

So take that now and start driving it as a daily driver again and then get back to me and tell me what happens to it.

 

[BigShug681]

Excuse me?

My apologies, you are saying essentially people who do extended drains are keeping you paid and techs are staying busy from all the engines they are replacing due to this and I’m saying I don’t believe you

 

[Fahrvergnügen]

My apologies, you are saying essentially people who do extended drains are keeping you paid and techs are staying busy from all the engines they are replacing due to this and I’m saying I don’t believe you

And that’s your right you don’t have to believe me. There is a reason that all techs, mechanics, and specialist say to please don’t go over 5,000 miles. And that when consumers bring vehicles in for oil service they get a 5,000 mile sticker slapped on their windshield. When I was at ford and doing thousands of cam phaser replacements on 3.5 ecoboost l, I saw who changed oil 5,000 miles and who went 10,000 plus. The proof is in the pudding. But hey what do I know, I’m just a dumb ole technician.

 

[Fahrvergnügen]

Does used engine oil in the crank not naturally break down or degrade with acids, moisture from condensation, and leak out from leaks - generally speaking?

Yes, it degrades

 

[BigShug681]

But hey what do I know, I’m just a dumb ole technician.

Your words not mine, with that said yes your right they do say don’t go over 5k miles because they can sell more oil changes, there is countless UOAs of vehicles well over 5k miles and having serviceable oil so I’ll stand by what I said

 

[Nesterenko]

Yes, it degrades

Being a tech does not automatically make you an oil expert.

 

[GaryMX5]

If you had your mind made up then why did you start a thread.

I started this thread to get opinions from the experts on this site. Oil properties and filter materials have changed substantially for the better since my truck was built. Oil change intervals are constantly being modified (some substantially) by the manufacturers as materials improve. Some members have pressed these to their limits both scientifically with countless analyses and/or just for grins. I love both as "everyone" can learn a lot from either. Sometimes going beyond the norms and/or accepted limits is how we learn the most.

 

[Fahrvergnügen]

Your words not mine, with that said yes your right they do say don’t go over 5k miles because they can sell more oil changes, there is countless UOAs of vehicles well over 5k miles and having serviceable oil so I’ll stand by what I said

I was being sarcastic. There is absolutely no money made on oil changes at a dealership. NONE and I have worked at a whole lot of manufacturers. UOA’s aren’t gospel.

 

[Fahrvergnügen]

Being a tech does not automatically make you an oil expert.

I’m not an oil expert at all, but I educate myself on here to stay informed on ratings etc, But what I am is a master tech that has been in the auto business for 20 plus years. I’ve seen it all hoss.

 

[Nesterenko]

I’m not an oil expert at all, but I educate myself on here to stay informed on ratings etc, But what I am is a master tech that has been in the auto business for 20 plus years. I’ve seen it all hoss.

So you agree, you are not an expert.

 

[kschachn]

Does used engine oil in the crank not naturally break down or degrade with acids, moisture from condensation, and leak out from leaks - generally speaking?

No it doesn’t unless the TBN has degraded to zero.

 

[kschachn]

Yes, it degrades

How?

 

[leadcounsel]

No it doesn’t unless the TBN has degraded to zero.

So, if you drove a car with fresh oil 500 miles, parked it in 1970 outside in Minnesota, returned to it in 2023, the oil would be as you left it in 1970 (assuming no leaks, no tampering)? Or are you speaking less literally and more figuratively e.g. in a short-term of 2 years oil won't degrade to unsafe levels?

Sincerely curious about the answer. Not trolling here, genuinely curious since I live in a small walkable town with 2 vehicles in a similar low-use profile. If I can learn something, and change the oil less frequently, it might be my new COA.

 

[NiwradND]

We sample low hour usage machines at the company where i work. Oil has no problem lasting 3 years without degrading out of spec and wear numbers stay within spec. A car sitting out side over 5 years, i wouldn't start without dropping the oil and filter. I would prefill the filter before trying to start the vehicle if it sat that long.

 

[FCD]

Does used engine oil in the crank not naturally break down or degrade with acids, moisture from condensation, and leak out from leaks - generally speaking?

Yes but no harm is done unless the TBN of the oil falls to 0, then it becomes acidic and begins to corrode parts like bearings but if the TBN stays at a reasonable level that won't happen.

 

[FCD]

Just the seals will get messed up in his case. But guess what, not my car, not my money. I’ll use the ole technician saying. I didn’t build it, I didn’t buy it and I didn’t break it.

If an engine sits a lot the seals will break down no matter what oil you use or how frequently you change it.