I apologize if this subject has been discussed previously on this board! For years I have been following the "3,000 mile or 3 months, whichever comes first" interval for oil changes. However, I wonder if the 3 month time interval makes sense or is necessary. For example, if one drives a vehicle only 1,000 miles in 3 months because he has several vehicles, is it necessary to change oil at the 3 month interval. To take this question to the max for emphasis, what if one has a vehicle that he has never driven at all for 3 months after an oil change. Should he run out and change the oil just because the 3 months are up? Does the detergent or other additives actually become ineffective on a time period basis? Why not just go on the mileage and forget the time period?
Oil Change Time Interval
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unm oil doesn't go bad in the bottle just sitting around. so what in a non-moving car would be any different?
IMO, it's more about mileage than time. But most will set a time limit to 1 year, atleast with syn.
similar thread posted same time as your's:
http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=012086
IMO, it's more about mileage than time. But most will set a time limit to 1 year, atleast with syn.
similar thread posted same time as your's:
http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=012086
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This may sound over-simplified, but:
With the exception of some noted sludge-monsters, if you'll just change your vehicle's oil as prescribed in your owner's manual, you will do well.
With the exception of some noted sludge-monsters, if you'll just change your vehicle's oil as prescribed in your owner's manual, you will do well.
To NismoMax80: Thanks very much for your response! My thinking was that oil sitting in a bottle with the cap on is not exposed to the air, humidity, etc. like it is in an engine. Maybe that is not an issue. To Wavinwayne: Thanks also for your response. Most of my vehicle manuals call for changing oil if lots of stop and go driving, etc. every 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. I do follow that but have always wondered about the 3 month intervals if do not drive nearly the 3,000 miles in 3 months. Thanks again to you two guys!
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Okay ..let's throw something into the mix here.
I think Ugly's post is about the same as my take on just about everything. 6 months works well for most people ..regardless of mileage..in all but the most severe environments/services, IMO.
It would depend on how this 1000 miles is accumulated. The "time" interval is given under the assumption that the mileage accumulated is under short duration continuous use (short trip). It surely isn't spec'd for the 50 mpd user that only drives 20 times in three months car pooling with the car otherwise idle.
I think Ugly's post is about the same as my take on just about everything. 6 months works well for most people ..regardless of mileage..in all but the most severe environments/services, IMO.
Patman
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My mom hasn't even hit 5000 miles on the oil I put in her car in July 2004, so I'm seriously contemplating running it out to Spring 2006. She has a 2001 VW Golf (2.0 engine) and I put GC 0w30 in it for her. I bet the oil analysis will show the oil to be ok when I do change it next spring.
We have a summer-only driven vehicle (in Europe)that has 5-40 synth. (of some Euro. brand) and the oil hasn't been changed until 12k km which took 4 years to achieve....I too think the 'time' factor is less important than mileage...especially 3 months...
My oci for my '00 Silverado 5.3 is ONE YEAR or when the OLM lights up, which ever is first.
The 5 year old 5.3 Vortec only has 24k miles on the odo.
3 month OCI is old school to me. That's 4 OCI's a year!
The 5 year old 5.3 Vortec only has 24k miles on the odo.
3 month OCI is old school to me. That's 4 OCI's a year!
We Texans must think alike. I have a new Honda truck and for the first time I will have an OLM to go by. I always changed oil/filter every 5000 miles and did just fine with my two previous trucks (both Dakotas). The Honda OLM is probably very similar to your GM as it computes engine revs, temps, etc. and comes up with a good guess as to proper change time.
A GM engineer that posted about this once said there is a rather large fail-safe zone so if one goes by the monitor, under normal driving conditions, there should never be a problem. I suppose if someone uses synthetics they might be getting shorted because the OLM estimates dino applications (which may be only half of a synthetic oil's life expectancy under the same conditions).
Time and mileage factors like 3 months/3000 miles are old hat given the technology of today's oil packs and motors. My manual says one year OCI or when the monitor reaches between 15% and 0% oil life expectancy. In most cases so far, Honda Ridgeline owners are reporting this occurs usually between 5,000-7,000 miles.
A GM engineer that posted about this once said there is a rather large fail-safe zone so if one goes by the monitor, under normal driving conditions, there should never be a problem. I suppose if someone uses synthetics they might be getting shorted because the OLM estimates dino applications (which may be only half of a synthetic oil's life expectancy under the same conditions).
Time and mileage factors like 3 months/3000 miles are old hat given the technology of today's oil packs and motors. My manual says one year OCI or when the monitor reaches between 15% and 0% oil life expectancy. In most cases so far, Honda Ridgeline owners are reporting this occurs usually between 5,000-7,000 miles.
I've kept oil in diesels for years with just short runs, and the analyses were fine.
If the low mileage is from short trips where the engine never gets completely warm, I'd change at least yearly. If the mileage is from occasional trips where the engine is run 20 minutes or more after warming, two years or more will be OK.
Ken
If the low mileage is from short trips where the engine never gets completely warm, I'd change at least yearly. If the mileage is from occasional trips where the engine is run 20 minutes or more after warming, two years or more will be OK.
Ken
Ultimately, you have to do what makes you comfortable. Study results posted in our used oil analysis section, and you may become more comfortable with going beyond 3/3. Click here to see the outstanding results I had in our Sequoia, running German Castrol for 13 months and little over 10,000 miles. As you can see, this oil had plenty of life left. I even added the optional particle count to my used oil analysis. This oil is so clean, it would be acceptable in an aircraft hydraulic system (if, of course, it was hyd fluid). A lot of folks choose to stay with short intervals for whatever reasons. If you have a healthy engine and use a good oil-filter combo, you just don't need to. But again, it's your car and your $ -- do what makes you feel good.
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