Spring time best time for the annual Oil Change...

[Superbuick96]

I decided last year to practice annual oil changes, and that fall would be the time I did this. But after reading Oil 101 on the main page ive been persuaded to switch to an springtime annual oil change. The 101 was a good read, although I'll have to read it again to fully be able to digest it all. Hears the blurb that changed my mind:
Quote:
I have seen several car owner manuals that are now stating that oils do not need to be changed but every 7,500 miles or more. The same manual also states OR every 12 months, whichever occurs first. My feeling is that you can probably go 5,000 miles on the average (in a sports car) but you must change your oil in the spring time at a minimum, particularly up north. Oils form waxes in icy cold weather. There is a permanent thickening of the oil.

Some automotive manufacturers are backing down on oil change intervals to 5,000 miles or less and some advocate changing the oil at least every 6 months as well. I think this is because of the tendency for oils to thicken in very hot engines (not ambient conditions, just hot engines). Also because of thickening from the cold of winter and from sludge build up that cannot be filtered out.

 

[901Memphis]

Springs a good time to change, i end up usually changing early spring and sometime in August as well. 2 changes per year for me.

 

[Bluestream]

Agreed on the spring oil change. Summer is pretty easy on the oil, and going into winter its in good condition, so come spring change it out. I am doing the one year OCI as well and decided spring is better than fall

 

[FowVay]

I simply HAD to go out and change my oil yesterday on the eve of Christmas. I had changed my oil nearly 5,000 miles ago using Mobil Delvac-1 5W-40 which is a pretty high vis. 40 grade. When the temps were dropping down into the middle teens my poor engine would groan and growl and screamed out in pain as I cranked it over. In warm weather the 5W-40 provides such a wonderfully smooth and quiet engine but at 15ºF all of those centistokes were fighting back as my engine tried to run.

So yesterday I drained my oil and installed some good old Wal-Mart 5W-20. It's a light grade for this engine and not specified per the manufacturer but this truck leads such a light-duty life that I don't think it's a problem to get me through winter. I'm not generating ultra high sump temps, block flexing or crankshaft torsion as I haul my plastic recycleables to the dump so I'm hoping to ease the stresses of cold-start shock just a bit.

I also put some plain old 10W-40 into the transmission and drained the Royal Purple 75W-90 gear oil that had been nothing but a horrible mess with regard to my shifter feel. I was looking for a decent 13-15 cSt fluid and NOBODY sells a 75W-80 GL4 fluid. The dealership will get my business next spring when I drain this motor oil from the transmission and install Nissan's gearbox specific lubricant.

So, back to the topic at hand,,, I still think it's best to have the new fluid in your crankcase at the beginning of the cold season. Temperature drops tax the entire system and dirty old oil just aint up to the job when old man winter comes knocking.

 

[J_Sap]

I change the oil in my cars in fall. The way I look at it is I know the oil is good throughout the winter and I don't have to work on it on the car on a freezing cold day. Also if you have a summer car that is going to be stored for the winter changing the oil right before storage is a lot better then having the old oil sit all winter and changing it in the spring.

 

[FZ1]

2x per year Fall and Spring. I prefer fresh oil over the winter.

 

[pbm]

SB96:
What oil are you using for this annual change?
I ask because I (personally) would not go a year on oil unless it was Amsoil or maybe Mobil 1 EP. When I say Amsoil, I mean the 25 or 35K rated versions.

 

[INDYMAC]

Since cold pumpability is optimized with engine oil when it is clean and fresh, I would think late fall would be the best time to do your oil changes on an annual basis.

 

[spasm3]

i change twice a year. I run the 5w 40 in the summer and before winter in goes 0w 30.

 

[Jim Allen]

I do not run a time limit on my oil, only miles or hours. It goes from 18 months to three years, depending on the piece of equipment (mix of cars, trucks and farm, yard and farm equipment). I change the oil when it's due and don't care what time of year. The Honda is coming up for it's change soon and I can't say I'm enthused about doing it at 23F. My shop is large with only space heaters... but then I can warm my hands in the hot oil, eh?

 

[demarpaint]

I've done one year OCI's and would change just before the winter sets in. Sometimes for two of my vehicles I think the best OCI is June and December. I now look at how the vehicle was used during the 6 month period prior to the OCI and make my decision based on that. Oil and filters are still fairly cheap, and if I have to wrestle with a decision I dump the oil.

Then there's always the exception, I'm stretching my OCI for my 08 Jeep another 3 months since I didn't use it much and when I did the conditions were perfect. In March I'll decide if I should push it to a year. I did a virtual OC this December. LOL

 

[Bluestream]

Originally Posted By: FZ1
2x per year Fall and Spring. I prefer fresh oil over the winter.


The OP is doing a once per year oil change. Obviously if you are doing 2 per year, then you change spring and fall. He wants to know spring or fall on a once per year oil change.

 

[Pablo]

Pretty much once a year in the fall for years. Engines run well and are spotless. It's one portion of my life that is easy and worry free.

 

[FZ1]

Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Originally Posted By: FZ1
2x per year Fall and Spring. I prefer fresh oil over the winter.


The OP is doing a once per year oil change. Obviously if you are doing 2 per year, then you change spring and fall. He wants to know spring or fall on a once per year oil change.
Thanks for clearing that up for me,Hoss,but my "Fresh oil in winter" sentence comports with all the other responders,with the exception of you.

 

[Errtt]

As long as the engine is used year around.
When it comes to motorcycles not used for the winter, the recommendation by most is to change it, then store it for the winter. Of course after circulation of the fresh oil. Something to do with acid formation etc., from the combustion by-product blah blah blah - so I change mine in the spring when I feel like it.
The spring weather gets me more in the mood - that works for me, but if I get a bored and felt like it for the fall, well that works for me to.

 

[deven]

After doing some research and asking well regarded tribologists I have come to the conclusion that spring time is the best time for doing an oil change. This way the oil is in there for a while, the add pack has some time to mate with the engine and the oil shears just a tad bit, albeit not out of grade to give you an optimum oil for the winter. So I change mine out at spring as well.

 

[Superbuick96]

I guess my original post could of been clarified. I practice a annual OCI because my Ranger racks up around 5k a year while the Blazer sees around 3k a year. So for me, or anyone else that in my boat using a annual OCI, I would agree with the statements found in the Oil 101, and reccomend a spring time Oil change. I was unaware of how hard winter really is on oil before reading the statements in Oil 101. Im not standing on a soap box preaching, Im just saying I was persuaded by the statements and was curious on other members opinions