How often on oil change

[Chris shipley]

For some of us. We park our cars for the winter. Do you change oil in spring .or just keep on going for more crusing 

[Michael Boyte]

An oil change is never a bad idea  !

[Scott S.]

I don't put a lot of miles on over the season, so every other year has worked for me. 

[cny first gen 71]

I do mine in the spring normally every spring. That is unless I don't drive the car much. Last year I only put 900 Mile's on it so I did did skip this past spring. 

[cbolt]

I'm probably in the minority with this opinion, but here goes. Oil loses viscosity during the heating and cooling process, not simply by passing of time. High heat especially causes oil to break down. With that in mind, I run oil for the recommended mileage life under most circumstances, regardless of time. Now it is true that my car will normally need an oil change after each annual trip to the EM, making it very easy to stick to the 3k mile change, I would have no problem doing a change every other year or longer if my car didn't get the use. 

Like I said, this will be the minority opinion, but I can say I own a vintage motorcycle that has had an oil change every 5 years or even longer as it rarely sees 300 miles a year and have not had any oil related issues. (metal in the pan, knocking, etc.) It got an oil and filter change in 2017, and another in 2023. I have every confidence it will be fine, or I wouldn't risk it. The motorcycle engine revs upwards of 6k at cruising speeds, making oil performance critical and I have never had a single issue.

If you are already seeing junk in the oil you are draining at the end of each season then I would recommend changing it seasonally but if you have clean used oil I see no reason to spend the money. 

[alain boileau]

🙂Oil is the life blood of your engine

Depending on miles travelled in a season .Once a year in the spring

Remember that oil looses its viscosity after 4 months and does not get better

It is cheap insurance engines are expensive

Alain🙂

[Canuck]

I change it each spring and possibly add another change during the summer if I drive it a lot. The 71 SS will get an extra change next summer after I get back from the 1,800 mile road trip for the Western Meet.

[Blake350]

while its kinda hard to drain oil that looks so clean and only has several hundred miles on it, but as you guys have said,  its composition changes before its appearance does...some sites say don't let it run more than a year no matter what...  i've pushed it out on the Monte maybe 18 months or so ,unless like last year a run to the eastern meet in extremely high temps   so next spring out it goes

[420ponies]

I change mine every spring regardless of miles on it. It's like insurance,  the 1 time you use it, it makes you feel better about it!🙂 That reminds me, I hate change it after I put 50 miles on it in the new 427. Have to cut the filter too.

[Dtret]

I definitely know that I will be in the worst of the worst minority. All my vehicles received an oil change and full service last year. 
my 13 Cruze every 3000 religiously, 70 chevelle that was it first since 1985, my 88 Monte received it first in 18 years, my 71 first service since I built it. 436 miles. lol. Keep it mind that minimal mileage driven. O ya I’m pretty religious on my truck too try to keep that around 3000. 

[Glen]

1 hour ago, Dtret said:

I definitely know that I will be in the worst of the worst minority. All my vehicles received an oil change and full service last year. 
my 13 Cruze every 3000 religiously, 70 chevelle that was it first since 1985, my 88 Monte received it first in 18 years, my 71 first service since I built it. 436 miles. lol. Keep it mind that minimal mileage driven. O ya I’m pretty religious on my truck too try to keep that around 3000. 

I wonder what President Potato thinks about all of this…

 

[jft69z]

I change the oils in the Fall usually (if I'm changing it at all). Reason being, up here in the northern states where we put the cars away for the season, I figure why put the car to sleep with that 'dirty' oil in the crank case. If the concern is the acids, contaminants, etc. in the oil, why let it sit there for 4-6 months, ...put fresh stuff in, then hibernate it. It'll also be ready to go, when the new season rolls around the next year.

Also, once I put it down, I don't start them up monthly, or whatever. Popular opinion leans towards the theory that if you don't 'fully' warm up the engine for a good long while, you're probably doing more harm than good. The condensation from combustion won't burn off from the oil sufficiently, not to mention all what nice acidic moisture sitting all throughout your exhaust system, quietly eating away. I actually cringe more if I have to start something up real brief, just to move it around the shop for whatever reason.

I put 'Stabil' in the gasoline, run it thru the fuel system, then put the cars in the other building with a maintenance charger. Never had an oil related issue, plus have had pretty good luck with batteries lasting a long time too. My Corvette & Caddy had the original batteries for over 10 years (AC Delcos), I just changed them because I got nervous they'd quit on me some day. The ZR1 battery is still in use for the winch in the trailer.

All that being said, like a few others here, I don't change the oil 'yearly', regardless of what 'they' say. Some years I'll be lucky if I even put 30 miles on a car or motorcycle, I'm not dumping that oil. FWIW, with the talk about viscosity breakdown, etc, I've been using 'BlackStone Labs' for oil analysis for years, never had an oil come back with any issues or concerns at all. It's something to consider, if someone is looking for hard, quantifiable proof of their oils condition.

So, just like 'what oil' or 'tires' or 'spark plugs' do you use...this is just my opinion on what works, for me. Ask 10 different people, you'll get 10 different answers typically.

[Blake350]

4 hours ago, jft69z said:

 

Also, once I put it down, I don't start them up monthly, or whatever. Popular opinion leans towards the theory that if you don't 'fully' warm up the engine for a good long while, you're probably doing more harm than good. The condensation from combustion won't burn off from the oil sufficiently, not to mention all what nice acidic moisture sitting all throughout your exhaust system, quietly eating away. 

Yes I was once in that camp too..."it can't be good to just let it sit there for months... better go and start 'er up !!"    But seasoned mechanics concur with you,   if you aren't going to get up to full operating temp for a period, just let it alone...not doing the engine internals and exhaust any favors..and what is that battery tender for anyway...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Marks71]

I’m a firm believer in battery tenders for anything not used regularly. Camaro battery 9 1/2 years, Highlander, 10, lawn tractor, 5, GMC 5, Buick, 7. Have one on my Christmas gift exchange wish list for the Monte.

[Michael Boyte]

I'm with you on that Mark !  I too am a firm believer in the Battery Tender . A friend of mine sold me on to them years ago, and needless to say much like yourself, we too have multiples ( Pretty much everything with a battery has one )

 

[Scott S.]

10 hours ago, jft69z said:

I change the oils in the Fall usually (if I'm changing it at all). Reason being, up here in the northern states where we put the cars away for the season, I figure why put the car to sleep with that 'dirty' oil in the crank case. If the concern is the acids, contaminants, etc. in the oil, why let it sit there for 4-6 months, ...put fresh stuff in, then hibernate it. It'll also be ready to go, when the new season rolls around the next year.

Also, once I put it down, I don't start them up monthly, or whatever. Popular opinion leans towards the theory that if you don't 'fully' warm up the engine for a good long while, you're probably doing more harm than good. The condensation from combustion won't burn off from the oil sufficiently, not to mention all what nice acidic moisture sitting all throughout your exhaust system, quietly eating away. I actually cringe more if I have to start something up real brief, just to move it around the shop for whatever reason.

I put 'Stabil' in the gasoline, run it thru the fuel system, then put the cars in the other building with a maintenance charger. Never had an oil related issue, plus have had pretty good luck with batteries lasting a long time too. My Corvette & Caddy had the original batteries for over 10 years (AC Delcos), I just changed them because I got nervous they'd quit on me some day. The ZR1 battery is still in use for the winch in the trailer.

All that being said, like a few others here, I don't change the oil 'yearly', regardless of what 'they' say. Some years I'll be lucky if I even put 30 miles on a car or motorcycle, I'm not dumping that oil. FWIW, with the talk about viscosity breakdown, etc, I've been using 'BlackStone Labs' for oil analysis for years, never had an oil come back with any issues or concerns at all. It's something to consider, if someone is looking for hard, quantifiable proof of their oils condition.

So, just like 'what oil' or 'tires' or 'spark plugs' do you use...this is just my opinion on what works, for me. Ask 10 different people, you'll get 10 different answers typically.

To add to Joe's comment, I found that starting Montelishi monthly in the winter time also damaged the gaskets. 

I'm not sure if it's due to having aluminum heads and intake or not, or just the cold affecting the rubber, but the gaskets leaked during the running in the cold. 

[Marks71]

1 hour ago, Michael Boyte said:

I'm with you on that Mark !  I too am a firm believer in the Battery Tender . A friend of mine sold me on to them years ago, and needless to say much like yourself, we too have multiples ( Pretty much everything with a battery has one )

 

 

1 hour ago, Michael Boyte said:

I'm with you on that Mark !  I too am a firm believer in the Battery Tender . A friend of mine sold me on to them years ago, and needless to say much like yourself, we too have multiples ( Pretty much everything with a battery has one )

 

Just look at all the cords on Jay Lenos garage floor. You know what they’re for.

[Dtret]

I have to remove all my batteries. I have a 10 battery tender in the basement. I have had a motorcycle battery on there for 9 years. I just want to see how long it lasts. It still tests perfect. lol. I built a shelf over the top of the bike. It will probably never see the light of day.