Oil change ?

[avinalarf]

Can you please tell me if and why it is important to have an annual oil change as I only do approx 1500 miles p.a. ?

[F1 NDW]

Do you keep your car in a heated dehumidified garage? If not I'd change it, it's not break the bank is it? You need to get out more, Garage Queen!

[MollyGTi]

F1 NDW said:

You need to get out more, Garage Queen!

+1

[8Tech]

It is advisable because the oil will degrade in time and with such low mileage, presumably done over a fair number of short journeys, you will get a noticeable amount of condensation accumulate in the engine from the heat/cold cycles and this will get washed into the oil and absorbed.

An example of this is the creamy sludge that clings to the engine covers on small cars used for the school run, and many an un-necessary headgasket replacement through incorrect diagnosis.

This is also why a car in storage should not be started and warmed-up ever now and then, it's worse than not running it at all.

Hope that helps,

8Tech.

[Ikebaddog]

It aint important. Synthetic oil will not denature like mineral oil, however, if you are Anal about resale value, then do it, year after year.

[Lunablack]

8Tech said:

This is also why a car in storage should not be started and warmed-up ever now and then, it's worse than not running it at all.

I completely agree with this......I only ever start my car, if I'm going to use it.

[DB9VolanteDriver]

Ikebaddog said:

It aint important. Synthetic oil will not denature like mineral oil, however, if you are Anal about resale value, then do it, year after year.

It may not break down like conventional oils, but acids do build up no matter what oil you use, and short trips exacerbate this build up.

Like motorcycles, the standard practice is to change oil and filter before storing for the winter and then you are good to go in the spring. And like 8Tech says, do NOT start it up until you are ready to begin using it on a regular basis. You do the engine no favor in 'warming it up' every once in a while.

[Ikebaddog]

If he only does 1500 miles a year, it would be fair to assume he has used it at least 10 times, which makes each journey approx 150 miles, there, or there abouts. Now that would bring oil temp up to operating temp, purge any condensation etc etc....no probs as far as I can see.

[avinalarf]

Thank you for your advice,much appreciated.
Low mileage due to several reasons, I work a 6 day week and only live 2 miles from my workplace,live in London so no fun on a wet,miserable Sunday grinding thru traffic.
I might move to the country just to get out more.

[avinalarf]

Ikebaddog said:

If he only does 1500 miles a year, it would be fair to assume he has used it at least 10 times, which makes each journey approx 150 miles, there, or there abouts. Now that would bring oil temp up to operating temp, purge any condensation etc etc....no probs as far as I can see.

Once a week approx. 40 times p.a.
That's driving the car,not the other thingy.

Edited by avinalarf on Monday 28th October 18:48

[Ikebaddog]

avinalarf said:

Ikebaddog said:

If he only does 1500 miles a year, it would be fair to assume he has used it at least 10 times, which makes each journey approx 150 miles, there, or there abouts. Now that would bring oil temp up to operating temp, purge any condensation etc etc....no probs as far as I can see.

Once a week approx. 40 times p.a.

Ok, still an average of nearly 40 miles per start up....and thats important, thats plenty to go through a proper warm up, if you only did short journeys of a few miles each start up, then I would change the Oil, but doing the journey's you do, then I wouldn't worry, I have owned a Ducati 996 for 10 years now, fk the service regime Ducati advise, service it when it needs it!!!! Must have saved myself 3 times what the bike is worth, still runs like a treat......don't listen to the man......man.