Oil Change Interval for low use vechicles

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rshadd

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Pennsylvania
Since I retired, I don't drive my truck ('09 Chevy Colorado 5.3L) very often. The last few years I've averaged less than 3000 miles per year.

I bought the truck new in 2009 have been using AmsOil SAE 5W-30 Signature Series 100% Synthetic Motor Oil with an Amsoil Absolute Efficiency Oil Filter (EA15K50). I've been changing the oil and filter once a year as I never exceed the maximum number of miles that the oil and filter are rated for (15K).

My question is this... Is it really necessary to change the oil after a year when the vehicle is driven less than 3000 miles a year? What intervals do you guys recommend for vehicles that don't get driven much.
 
2 years, 7500 miles, whichever comes first...
I'm running a full synthetic 5W-30
(any name brand I can get under $2 a quart)
and any upper level filter
(Fram Ultra, Purolator PureOne, Bosch Distance Plus, Mobil 1, Motorcraft FL400...)
 
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I am in that same boat for mileage, but all my driving is short trips, so I do a once a year oil and filter change.
 
you obviously drive very little, short trips where the oil don't get hot enough allows too much condensation to build up can cause problems even with Amsoil's quality + high TBN of additives. i also use Amsoil signature series + change yearly with low miles. extra filter changes may help as well as a hour drive to dry up the condensation, Pa's cooler temps where i also live, it takes a while to fully heat oil enough to evaporate moisture.
 
Here is a 2 year UOA from my seldom used GM V8: G8 UOA
I say that annual oil change thing should go the way of the old 3 months or 3K miles standard.
 
Originally Posted By: WANG
Here is a 2 year UOA from my seldom used GM V8: G8 UOA
I say that annual oil change thing should go the way of the old 3 months or 3K miles standard.


Thats a lot of copper and lead.
 
Of 3 vehicles, the wife's SUV gets less than 3k a year, less than 2k some years.
I generally do once a year oil/filter change, and the oil still looks almost as clean as it went in. There was a couple times I did an OC in between (6-month) only because I felt like doing it (rare for me). Matter of fact, come December, will be doing the annual oil/filter change. And again using Kendall semi-synthetic/blend.
I would go 2 years, but it cost so little I don't mind doing it once a year. I get a good look through the fill hole and all is so clean from what I can see, plus under the fill cap stays clean. And it rarely gets highway driven (like when I take it in for the 2-year smog test), otherwise she drives in town only.
 
Originally Posted By: WANG
Here is a 2 year UOA from my seldom used GM V8: G8 UOA
I say that annual oil change thing should go the way of the old 3 months or 3K miles standard.


Those engines are nothing alike... You have a grocer getter V8 vs a high performance V8. The only thing in common is they are GM.
 
Originally Posted By: gregk24
Originally Posted By: WANG
Here is a 2 year UOA from my seldom used GM V8: G8 UOA
I say that annual oil change thing should go the way of the old 3 months or 3K miles standard.


Thats a lot of copper and lead.


The copper is 10 ppm below, and the lead is 3 ppm above, the universal average. Not a big deal.
wink.gif
 
You may be married to the Amsoil oil and filter, but if it was my truck doing 3K a year, I'd go with a top dino oil like PYB, a filter by Wix, Baldwin or Hastings and a 1 year OC interval. Save some coin.
 
With the matrix I have been changing it every 6 months, regardless of miles.

It has been right around 5-6k miles.

I'm using the cheapest name brand oil I can find, and OEM filters.

Lately it has been Mobil Super 5w30, for $12.97 per jug.

I do not see the need for Amsoil for the chevy truck, or my application.
 
Originally Posted By: rshadd
Since I retired, I don't drive my truck ('09 Chevy Colorado 5.3L) very often. The last few years I've averaged less than 3000 miles per year.

I bought the truck new in 2009 have been using AmsOil SAE 5W-30 Signature Series 100% Synthetic Motor Oil with an Amsoil Absolute Efficiency Oil Filter (EA15K50). I've been changing the oil and filter once a year as I never exceed the maximum number of miles that the oil and filter are rated for (15K).

My question is this... Is it really necessary to change the oil after a year when the vehicle is driven less than 3000 miles a year? What intervals do you guys recommend for vehicles that don't get driven much.



Everybody on this site trying to talk people out of Amsoil.

Yes you can go two years if you like, as long as you get the vehicle good and hot each time you drive. I'll bet the UOA would look just fine at the 2 year mark. There is nothing in the oil that will mystically break down in that short of time.
 
Originally Posted By: rshadd
Since I retired, I don't drive my truck ('09 Chevy Colorado 5.3L) very often. The last few years I've averaged less than 3000 miles per year.

I bought the truck new in 2009 have been using AmsOil SAE 5W-30 Signature Series 100% Synthetic Motor Oil with an Amsoil Absolute Efficiency Oil Filter (EA15K50). I've been changing the oil and filter once a year as I never exceed the maximum number of miles that the oil and filter are rated for (15K).

My question is this... Is it really necessary to change the oil after a year when the vehicle is driven less than 3000 miles a year? What intervals do you guys recommend for vehicles that don't get driven much.





You didn't say how you drive it (besides little).
 
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