Hello, I have a car that I hardly use nowadays (2000 Toyota Celica). I have put about 1200 miles on it during the past two years, with Mobil 1 0w20. It still has the pureone filter during that time. Should I change the oil and filter asap? Or when would be a reasonable time to change.
Rarely used vehicle oil change interval?
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JHZR2
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2 years is fine. Do a used oil analysis for confidence if you like.
I speak from experience. Every 2 years is perfectly fine. Your car is 13 years old. Any more often than that is a waste.
I have a Mercury. I had an amalysis done at two years and 2500 miles on conventional oil. Used mostly on longer runs so oil heated up. I was told I could go longer. I now change it at three years. Oil is still clean. If it is clean I doubt there would be sludge forming.
Originally Posted By: supercity
Depends how it gets used. Long trips or lots of very short trips?
Exactly. I have gone as long as 2 years w/o changing my oil averaging about 3,000-3,500 miles in that time. However most of those trips were 20 miles or more in each direction. If you're short hopping I would change the oil and get a used oil analysis report. If the report is good, going forward you'll have the information to know if the OCI is safe, or if it can be extended even more.
Depends how it gets used. Long trips or lots of very short trips?
Exactly. I have gone as long as 2 years w/o changing my oil averaging about 3,000-3,500 miles in that time. However most of those trips were 20 miles or more in each direction. If you're short hopping I would change the oil and get a used oil analysis report. If the report is good, going forward you'll have the information to know if the OCI is safe, or if it can be extended even more.
My F-150 only gets about 3500 miles a year used for vacations mostly long runs pulling my bike trailer. It sees a Syntetic oil change every October!
3 years is safe, longer than that uoa it for water.
2 years is Ok. You are getting no value from the synthetic oil unless you are running either very hot or very cold. Might as well use any good brand of conventional oil.
Originally Posted By: Xtc6k
Thanks for the responses. Now i'm confident my oil will be okay, so i'll be changing it in a couple more months.
Any risks not changing out the oil filter? Filter paper deterioration maybe?
I'd change the filter. I won't go into the filter works better when its been in use debate. Or if you leave a dirty filter on an engine as soon as you turn the key the dirty oil in the filter mixes with the fresh oil debate. Look at it this way, if you're going to be doing 2 or 3 year OCI's that means the filter will be 4-6 years old the next time you change your oil. You could have torn pleats or a bad ADV for a very long time and never know it. I'd change the oil and filter when you do it.
Thanks for the responses. Now i'm confident my oil will be okay, so i'll be changing it in a couple more months.
Any risks not changing out the oil filter? Filter paper deterioration maybe?
I'd change the filter. I won't go into the filter works better when its been in use debate. Or if you leave a dirty filter on an engine as soon as you turn the key the dirty oil in the filter mixes with the fresh oil debate. Look at it this way, if you're going to be doing 2 or 3 year OCI's that means the filter will be 4-6 years old the next time you change your oil. You could have torn pleats or a bad ADV for a very long time and never know it. I'd change the oil and filter when you do it.
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