OCI Question for you oil gurus

[Black Bart]

I own 7 vehicles so some of them don't get driven much.
I have a Ranger with the 4.0-V6 and I drive it once a month to buy grocery's I buy enough for another month so only make the trip once a month about 100 miles round trip.
I'm using Mobil-1 5w30 it is never driven hard or abused but it has been 18 months since I have changed the oil and it has 2000 miles on it. I know old school thinking is change oil every year but is it really necessary when mileage is so low. The oil is dark but not black. If I drive it 5000 miles that will take about four years that sounds too long but the mileage is much less than what most here say they are going between changes.
How long can I go before I need a oil change.
If I need to change every year would it be better to use dino since once a year change would be only 1000 miles on the oil. Seems a waste of M1 to change every 1000 miles

 

[CBDFrontier06]

You're absolutely correct....it sounds like it's getting nearly 100% highway miles, and regardless of mileage, you should change it every year to get rid of acid buildup, moisture, etc. I'd fill it with Castrol and change it every year if I were you.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

I would use a conventional oil at 1 year intervals.

 

[Greggy_D]

Ditto what these guys are saying.

 

[Black Bart]

Since it is as high as 90 in the summer would a 5w30 be OK if I go with dino oil. winter time start up not a problem the truck is stored in a heated garage and temp never goes below 55 degrees

 

[tsmay51]

I myself would go to a conventional oil and change it once a year no matter what the mileage. It is hard to justify the cost of synthetic unless you can extend the OCI. In your case it doesn't sound like that's the case with this vehicle.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

A current 5w30 would be an excellent choice. Most my summer afternoons this year were in the 100's and I ran 5w30 oils with no fear.

 

[Ron AKA]

Agree with the suggestion to use a conventional oil and change it once a year.

 

[Cutehumor]

once a year oci is fine with dino in your scenario. you own 7 vehicles? maybe it's time to sell if you don't have time to drive them unless they are classic vehicles of course. I own 3 and it's getting harder and harder to justify it lately.

 

[LargeCarManX2]

I think you can easily go 2 years on this synthetic oil change. When you make the 100 mile loop all the moisture is burned off. There have been a few analysis that show the oil is fine for a few years. If you like the synthetic oil in your engine....keep it in.

 

[Black Bart]

Here is what I don't understand. If the acid and bad stuff in my oil comes from combustion I would have 1/10 as much at 1000 miles as 10,000 miles so why is my oil shot at 1000 miles in a year but it is ok to run it 10,000 miles in a year. I don't see how the time factor changes it. If I leave it in the jug for a year it is still good so my logic tells me it is not time but how much the engine runs that loads the oil with all the bad stuff. Can someone help me get my head around how 1000 miles a year ruins the oil but 10,000 miles in a year is OK

 

[tsmay51]

No matter what oil you use there is condensation to deal with. It probably would not be enough to hurt anything but considering you can change the oil and filter for 13 bucks or even less if you shop around why would you leave it in there? Let's see, you pay for insurance, tags, other maintenance on the vehicle. 13 bucks and 15-20 minutes of time once a year isn't much.

 

[bruce381]

""I would have 1/10 as much at 1000 miles as 10,000 miles so why is my oil shot at 1000 miles in a year but it is ok to run it 10,000 miles in a year.""

Good question But what oil is shot in 1,000 miles??
anyway oil oxidation is due to heat, condensation, fuel dilution and airation and blow by and wear particles.

If that were true the Low miles use oil would be shot due to condensation and fuel dilution (sludge) where a higher mileage oil would be shot due to high temp (Varnish low TBN)Oxidation .

Oil starts to "wear" out when dumped in the engine It does not get better with age.

bruce

 

[quicktruck]

I am using delvac1 in my chevy gas powered truck. It is supercharged. I have heard so much about not to use then it is ok but could hurt my cat converters due to the zink in delvac1. Any thoughts ?

 

[Black Bart]

My engine only runs once a month and is driven 100 miles with a 195 thermostat I don't think I have any condensation after two hours at that temp.
Some one pointed out that it only cost 13 dollars a year to change it. While that is true it totally misses my point. Why is it ok to drive 10,000 miles a year on a change of M1 but if I only have 1000 miles in a year that I need to drain it. The oil should not go bad just sitting and if it is heat or contamination from combustion then I should have way less.The way I see it if I need to change every 1000 miles per year then if you drive 10,000 miles per year without changing you went 10 times too far.
I guess I will get a UOA done on it just for kicks but I'm betting the oil is still good.