Low mileage oil questions

[paulswagelock]

Too many vehicles, not enough time to use them...

2006 Mini Cooper - 2000 miles per year. I use Pennzoil Platinum 5w30. It is not LL-01 approved but at 2000 miles per year I figured I was safe - any issues with this? Also, change it after a year and 2000 miles, or go a second year?

1965 Mustang 289 V8, stock. 200 miles per year. Brad Penn 10w30 semi synthetic. Change after a year and 200 miles, or leave it a second year?

The cost isn't the issue, just hate to waste resources if not necessary.

Thanks.

 

[Oregoonian]

Forget a syn or semi-syn.....just use Pennzoil Conventional or Valvoline conventional or any quality 5w30 conventional....and change out every year.

 

[mongo161]

+1
Originally Posted By: Oregoonian
Forget a syn or semi-syn.....just use Pennzoil Conventional or Valvoline conventional or any quality 5w30 conventional....and change out every year.

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted By: paulswagelock


1965 Mustang 289 V8, stock. 200 miles per year. Brad Penn 10w30 semi synthetic. Change after a year and 200 miles, or leave it a second year?



Only 200 miles a year on that beautiful car? Why such a low amount of driving?

With such low miles each year, I would take the oil out of it each year and recycle it into another vehicle and put another 5000 miles on it.

 

[SteveSRT8]

I used to work for a guy with a substantial car collection. We changed the oil in his nicer cars every year regardless of mileage.

FWIW my FIL has several classic Stangs and some of them go more than a year without being driven.

So sad.

 

[Boss302fan]

I also have some classic cars and many get driven less then 500 miles a year. I usually change the oil every Fall but was considering waiting until Spring to change the oil out.

I have seen posts on this site, that people have said that the oil would be fine if it has only low miles on it, and you could go every other year for the OCI, especially with a good oil like Brad Penn...

Your choice... You could give it a good 30 minute+ run before Winter to burn off any fuel/moisture before storage and it should be fine. I do not believe motor oil breaks down that fast while sitting/storage...

You also do not need to change the oil filter every OCI... With such low miles, I would think every other OCI would be fine.

 

[Bamaro]

If you get your Mustang up to full operating temperature every time you drive, almost any oil will last you at least 2 years. I have the same situation with my Camaro and oil analysis has proven this to work. FWIW, I use Valvoline MaxLife in mine.

 

[Durango]

paulswagelock,

For your Cooper I'd but the cheapest synthetic oil you can find and the same for your Mustang. Change the oil once per year as stanted in my Chevy manual regardless o the usgae.

Durango

 

[Warstud]

I'd just get rid of the car cuz you obviously have no need for it if your only putting 2000 miles a year on it.

 

[mechtech2]

For those low miles, I'd be using dino.
Sales will net you twice the oil for the same price as a full synth.

It depends on HOW the miles were racked up.
2 mile short trips?
A number of long highway cruises?
Change every year if short trips [not getting up to operating temp] are the history of the Mini.

^Patman^ has a good option for the Mustang.
Or just leave it in there.

 

[SS1970chrysler]

I use dino HDEO in my antiques. They get only a couple hundred miles per year. I alternate which ones I use per year and I change the oil and filter before storing again. I take those filters and oil to reuse in my work car and other "driver" vehicles.