I have read in different places that you change you oil based on a certain amount of miles or months. Whatever comes first. The milage part I understand, but not the months. The reason I ask is my weekend car does not even see a thousand miles in a year. What happens to low milage oil after year that cause you to need to change it?
OCI based on months in car?
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Degradation of oil regardless of miles driven.
Condensation, Oxidation, Fuel Dilution, etc. all play a big part in the breakdown of oil additives as much as mileage would.
Yup. Once the oil is out of its bottle and in touch with engine internals, it is exposed to the elements and with time it will deteriorate. But that whole duration varies quite a bit, just as does mileage-based OCI. For example, many mfgs in Europe now recommend changing the oil every X miles or once every 2 years.
The contaminants in the oil should not be left in the engine for too long.
I change mine every 4 months and don't even worry about the mileage.
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Fuel consumption - best overall, non-OLM, method.
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Fuel consumption - best overall, non-OLM, method.
Actually, that's how my car determines when it's time to change oil - it measures the amount of fuel burned since last oil inspection reset. It's just that the amount is set pretty high - 2375 liters. Imagine if your average consumption is about 10l/100km (about 23.5 mpg), then you will travel 23,750km (or about 15k miles) between intervals.
Fuel consumption - best overall, non-OLM, method.
Actually, that's how my car determines when it's time to change oil - it measures the amount of fuel burned since last oil inspection reset. It's just that the amount is set pretty high - 2375 liters. Imagine if your average consumption is about 10l/100km (about 23.5 mpg), then you will travel 23,750km (or about 15k miles) between intervals.
Driving two or three miles every day is much worse that driving 500 miles twice a year to a car show, so the daily car should have its oil changed more often, even though both are low mileage cars.
Mazda requires an OCI of 8000 km or every 4 months, for my Canadian driven 2.3L Mazda 6. Based on the last 6 months, I will be changing the oil every 4 months between 4800-5200 km. Seems like a waste, but that's what Mazda wants.
Yuk, if that's on mineral oil, then I'd say that recommendation is reasonable.
We are retired and have two new vehicles. Oil changes are required every 6 months for warranty requirements as we drive both of them normally less than 3,000 miles unless a trip is involved.
When the vehicles are driven they are driven at least 10 miles shopping, etc.
We keep the tanks topped off too with fuel which helps prevent condensation.
Looks like with gasoline headed upward over $3.00 a gallon and some predict $4.00, they will not get a lot of use for trips either!
When the vehicles are driven they are driven at least 10 miles shopping, etc.
We keep the tanks topped off too with fuel which helps prevent condensation.
Looks like with gasoline headed upward over $3.00 a gallon and some predict $4.00, they will not get a lot of use for trips either!
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Yuk, if that's on mineral oil, then I'd say that recommendation is reasonable.
I agree 8000 km (5000 miles) on mineral is reasonable. What I find possibly excessive is 4800-5200 km (3000-3250 miles) per OCI. I'm not annoyed or anything, but I think Mazda could have been a little more reasonable and gone with 8000 km or 6 months OCIs.
Yuk, if that's on mineral oil, then I'd say that recommendation is reasonable.
I agree 8000 km (5000 miles) on mineral is reasonable. What I find possibly excessive is 4800-5200 km (3000-3250 miles) per OCI. I'm not annoyed or anything, but I think Mazda could have been a little more reasonable and gone with 8000 km or 6 months OCIs.
It's funny how wildly the OEMs are diverging on their recommendations.
I wonder what Mazda recommends for similar products in Europe where the recommendations seem to be for longer intervals in general?
On the OP's question I think even conventional oil is good for at least a year if you get it warmed up fairly frequently.
I wonder what Mazda recommends for similar products in Europe where the recommendations seem to be for longer intervals in general?
On the OP's question I think even conventional oil is good for at least a year if you get it warmed up fairly frequently.
Maybe that's the canadian version, but on my Mazda6 they say 7.5k miles or 6 month OCI for non-severe service. I'm actually going to do a 1 year OCI using Amsoil 0w20. I only put about 5k miles a year on my car, and that oil should be more than enough to handle it.
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Why not sample after a year and if it is still okay leave it in? I bet it will be fine and a used oil analysis will be cheaper than a new batch and give you information you can benefit from as long as you keep the car. (Not to mention when you sell it).
Originally Posted By: EricZoom
Maybe that's the canadian version, but on my Mazda6 they say 7.5k miles or 6 month OCI for non-severe service. I'm actually going to do a 1 year OCI using Amsoil 0w20. I only put about 5k miles a year on my car, and that oil should be more than enough to handle it.
Yes, you are correct. Mazda considers driving anywhere in Canada to be severe service. Quite silly. If I lived in Montana (directly south of Alberta), or North Dakota, which sees much of the same weather we do, I could legitimately extend the OCI to 6 months. Go figure.
Maybe that's the canadian version, but on my Mazda6 they say 7.5k miles or 6 month OCI for non-severe service. I'm actually going to do a 1 year OCI using Amsoil 0w20. I only put about 5k miles a year on my car, and that oil should be more than enough to handle it.
Yes, you are correct. Mazda considers driving anywhere in Canada to be severe service. Quite silly. If I lived in Montana (directly south of Alberta), or North Dakota, which sees much of the same weather we do, I could legitimately extend the OCI to 6 months. Go figure.
[Yes, you are correct. Mazda considers driving anywhere in Canada to be severe service. Quite silly. If I lived in Montana (directly south of Alberta), or North Dakota, which sees much of the same weather we do, I could legitimately extend the OCI to 6 months. Go figure. [/quote]
It is silly, because i have the other extreme living in Florida, where it gets quite hot here most of the year.
It is silly, because i have the other extreme living in Florida, where it gets quite hot here most of the year.
Originally Posted By: Yuk
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Yuk, if that's on mineral oil, then I'd say that recommendation is reasonable.
I agree 8000 km (5000 miles) on mineral is reasonable. What I find possibly excessive is 4800-5200 km (3000-3250 miles) per OCI. I'm not annoyed or anything, but I think Mazda could have been a little more reasonable and gone with 8000 km or 6 months OCIs.
I agree, it seems very conservative. My Acura which was built in '94 recommends every 3,750 miles or 3 months for severe, or 7,500 or 6 months for normal driving. Keep in mind this was with 1994 motor oils, and they've improved a lot since then.
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Yuk, if that's on mineral oil, then I'd say that recommendation is reasonable.
I agree 8000 km (5000 miles) on mineral is reasonable. What I find possibly excessive is 4800-5200 km (3000-3250 miles) per OCI. I'm not annoyed or anything, but I think Mazda could have been a little more reasonable and gone with 8000 km or 6 months OCIs.
I agree, it seems very conservative. My Acura which was built in '94 recommends every 3,750 miles or 3 months for severe, or 7,500 or 6 months for normal driving. Keep in mind this was with 1994 motor oils, and they've improved a lot since then.
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