Months instead of miles

[AnarchyX]

I got my last oil change in early June and have only put 1800 miles on it, all city miles but obviously few in almost 4 months.

I know everyone goes by mileage, but is there a minimum timeframe for the amount of months since the last oil change, especially since I don't put many miles on my vehicle? Or does it not matter and I can just go by how the amount of miles I put on my vehicle.

Just wanting to know if it's detrimental in any way to not change the oil when it's past the 3 months out of the "3 months or every 3000 miles" rule that was engrained in us.

 

[02zx9r]

6K or every 6 months is the new standard.

Merkava4 changes his every 4 months regardless.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

I had a car in storage much of the time on and off during a year. I went 14 months with Mobil 1 and a Wix filter and the used oil analysis looked about the same as the previous OCI that was just about 4 months and similar miles. All wear was up slightly but the miles were up slightly as well. I'd run any oil 6 months.

On the other hand all my driving, or most of it, is highway speeds and further distances. With that much city driving you might want to be more cautious. A lot more cold starts and short trips if you're running that few of miles.

 

[JHZR2]

I dont put a lot of use on my pickup truck. I run schaeffer's in it, and change it yearly.

For low use, IMO the most important concern is managing moisture, especially if when used, the engine does not get fully up to temperature. This is the key reason to do the yearly change, even if TBN is retained.

JMH

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: AnarchyX


Just wanting to know if it's detrimental in any way to not change the oil when it's past the 3 months out of the "3 months or every 3000 miles" rule that was engrained in us.


Find TeeDub's fuel calculator ..or just factor your fuel economy into the mix to figure out an equivalent mileage frame of reference. The spec'd OCI isn't factored on ideal mileage ..and the severe, outside of truly demanding conditions, tries to compensate for lack of a fuel component with an odometer and calender.

That said (and as was said) 6months would probably work.

 

[Spector]

currently have 2700 miles on current oil at 15 months. IMo let it go at least a year and do a used oil analysis, guarantee the oil will still be good. You are dumping perfectly good oil IMO

Changing as often as you do the engine will far outlast the body, transmission and other vital parts. However if you lose sleep over nto changing the oil then just do it and sleep!

 

[firemachine69]

My Sunfire has over a year now on the PP change I did, and maybe 2k miles... Not sure I'd still have it in there if it were dyno...