Short Winter Trips, Condensation, & Mayonnaise Oil

[WillsYoda]

Got two late 90's Toyotas. We drive lots of short trips over a long winter near Canada. When I look at the oil cap during winter, there is white "mayonnaise" looking stuff in the cap. It has always been this way in winter.

It is clearly the condensation from the short drives mixing with some of the oil. The oil cap is cooler and gets condensation easily. I hear from others that this is pretty typical in northern winter conditions. Each car might get up to full operating temp for 10-20 minutes every week or two. Full operating temp will steam off some of the condensation. I check my PVC valves regularly and they are fine.

My question is: Should I change my oil right after winter ends (and the mayonnaise goes away), or should I go the full 5000-7500 miles between oil changes (which would require I wait another 6 months after winter to change the oil)?

 

[CT8]

Change is sooner. That is severe use.

 

[demarpaint]

Sooner is better in your situation.

 

[camrydriver111]

I go full OCI in my car. Why waste good oil?

 

[LotI]

Oil temp needs be elevated for condensation to evaporate. 20 minutes in MN conditions doesn't get the oil hot enough. I would guess greater than 30mins to get to 180F.

 

[fsdork]

I would suggest you either need to go for some longer weekend drives over the course of the winter, or change it out in the spring at your first reasonable opportunity. I do the latter, as the cost of a $30-ish oil change is far lower than going for numerous drives for the sake of burning off moisture.

 

[Nick1994]

Drive your car more

 

[JC1]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Drive your car more


Do you have a block heater on the car? I would use a block heater and/or let the car warm up for longer. Are you using conventional oil or synthetic?

 

[philipp10]

ironically when spring comes and it seems you should change it is the time when the oil can fully warm up, thereby burning off the moisture. So in effect, is it worth changing the oil in spring?

 

[WillsYoda]

Originally Posted By: JC1
Do you have a block heater on the car? I would use a block heater and/or let the car warm up for longer. Are you using conventional oil or synthetic?


No block heater. One car is a 99 Corolla running Maxlife Synthetic Blend 5w30. The other is a 98 Avalon running Pennzoil Platinum HM Full Synthetic 5w30.

 

[BrocLuno]

See, here is a situation where syn is wasted. He needs to get the water out as the oil is acidifying ... Buffers are needed here. I'd run dino oil and change it 3K or sooner. There is no waste if it goes to the recycler and you get the water out

 

[Triton_330]

Drive at higher RPMs for longer periods of time.

Ergo, if you're in an auto trans, don't put your shifter in overdrive until your temp guage is nice and hot.

Or, if you drive manual, don't short shift; run them gears long and hard! Give some more pedal to the metal!

I know it sounds as if I'm being stupid, BUT the HONEST to God truth is that driving your car HARDER is better for the oil than driving like a grandma.

Try it and see if there's less condensation in your oil cap come next spring.

~ Triton

 

[WillsYoda]

My wife does the vast majority of the driving of both cars. I doubt that I can get her to rev it up on her short trips.

I suppose I should just change my oil once a year just after winter ends. That way I don't waste oil and I get the acidified oil out ASAP.

 

[camrydriver111]

Originally Posted By: WillsYoda
My wife does the vast majority of the driving of both cars. I doubt that I can get her to rev it up on her short trips.

I suppose I should just change my oil once a year just after winter ends. That way I don't waste oil and I get the acidified oil out ASAP.


That's a good plan.

I wouldn't worry about revving up the car too much. This is something that happens in the winter, and is almost unavoidable. Like someone mentioned on this forum, life can be easy, or a constant self-made challenge.

 

[4wheeldog]

If you have not done it already, replace the thermostats in both vehicles, with new OEM ones. It can be surprising how much these leak with age, delaying the engine getting to full operating temp. DAMHIK.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: WillsYoda
I suppose I should just change my oil once a year just after winter ends.

My driving patterns are similar to yours. I change my oil annually, in early Spring. I typically only put on about 3K miles/year.