To Change or not to Change, Oil

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would change the oil at least once a year. Oil does in fact oxidize even when not being used.

How exactly does a substance “oxidize” in an environment that is almost entirely devoid of oxygen? There is almost zero empty space inside an engine, except under the valve/cam covers, and inside the cylinders themselves, and inside the intake manifold and exhaust manifolds. The rest of the void spaces within an engine block are filled with coolant, and oil.

Please tell me where all the atmospheric oxygen that is in contact with the non-circulating oil is coming from. Because that makes no sense to me. But then again, I’m just some dumb guy who’s built a few engines.

Probably the same guys who was here months ago arguing with me that the white steam from car tailpipes at cold mornings is due to water condensation in the engine.

It is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would change the oil at least once a year. Oil does in fact oxidize even when not being used.

How exactly does a substance “oxidize” in an environment that is almost entirely devoid of oxygen? There is almost zero empty space inside an engine, except under the valve/cam covers, and inside the cylinders themselves, and inside the intake manifold and exhaust manifolds. The rest of the void spaces within an engine block are filled with coolant, and oil.

Please tell me where all the atmospheric oxygen that is in contact with the non-circulating oil is coming from. Because that makes no sense to me. But then again, I’m just some dumb guy who’s built a few engines.

Probably the same guys who was here months ago arguing with me that the white steam from car tailpipes at cold mornings is due to water condensation in the engine.

It is.

Explain yourself, please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would change the oil at least once a year. Oil does in fact oxidize even when not being used.

This has to be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever read here. If this were true, then oil would also oxidize sitting on the shelf in the bottle. Ever seen an expiration date on a bottle of oil?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the rate I'm driving, I wonder when I will get an oil change.
The last time I got an oil change was last year, July 2019.
Like some people, my driving has reduce down to about 30 miles a week or less since March. The oil is at 40%. The car is about 100,100 miles. I'm really waiting for it to get to 101,000 miles or the next oil change to get a tune up. I usually change my oil at 15%.
I like to have things check before winter comes. The car is starting to make sounds that needs to be checked. The more I drive it, the less sounds my car makes. Should I just change my oil at the current 40% and get a tune up at the same time? Or wait till it drops down to 15% to take it in?
I really don't want to take my car to the shop more than once. And I prefer to take my car in before winter weather kicks in.

You need to have your oil topped off. It doesn’t work the way you are explaining it. It needs to stay full even between oil changes.

I think she means the little monitor on her dashboard is telling her that the oil “life” is at 40%, not that the oil level is at 40%.