Oil Change for infrequently driven car

[Anonymous]

We have a car we don't drive often. The last oil change was in August 2018. Since then, it's been driven about 1000 miles. Should I get the oil changed even with so few miles driven?

[Anonymous]

Yes, you still need to get it changed regularly, 3 months or so, because the oil goes bad. There's an old saying , 3 months or 3000 miles, which ever comes first. You might have a little more time with advanced oils, but not much.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to necessarily but after one year, I'd do it for peace of mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you still need to get it changed regularly, 3 months or so, because the oil goes bad. There's an old saying , 3 months or 3000 miles, which ever comes first. You might have a little more time with advanced oils, but not much.

Not unless you are using corn or peanut oils in your car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you still need to get it changed regularly, 3 months or so, because the oil goes bad. There's an old saying , 3 months or 3000 miles, which ever comes first. You might have a little more time with advanced oils, but not much.

This is outdated advice. Many car use synthetic oil, and only need to be changed once a year.

However, not driving the car is very bad for it. Much worse than having higher highway miles. Why don’t you just sell the car? You don’t need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you still need to get it changed regularly, 3 months or so, because the oil goes bad. There's an old saying , 3 months or 3000 miles, which ever comes first. You might have a little more time with advanced oils, but not much.

This is outdated advice. Many car use synthetic oil, and only need to be changed once a year.

However, not driving the car is very bad for it. Much worse than having higher highway miles. Why don’t you just sell the car? You don’t need it.

+1
This is the correct advise. Even with regular oil, there is no need to change it every three months if you aren't putting on many miles. You should change it once a year or so regardless of miles. You should also be driving every couple weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you still need to get it changed regularly, 3 months or so, because the oil goes bad. There's an old saying , 3 months or 3000 miles, which ever comes first. You might have a little more time with advanced oils, but not much.

I stand corrected!! This was information I knew from years ago and never needed to update my knowledge. Now i know!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to necessarily but after one year, I'd do it for peace of mind.

We drive my wife's vehicle about 500 miles per month. The dealer says get the oil changed every 5 months or 5k miles. I take it in every 5k miles, or about every 10 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to necessarily but after one year, I'd do it for peace of mind.

We drive my wife's vehicle about 500 miles per month. The dealer says get the oil changed every 5 months or 5k miles. I take it in every 5k miles, or about every 10 months.

What does the dealer maintenance schedule say (not the dealership). The automotive engineers that design the car should be the ones you follow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you still need to get it changed regularly, 3 months or so, because the oil goes bad. There's an old saying , 3 months or 3000 miles, which ever comes first. You might have a little more time with advanced oils, but not much.

This is outdated advice. Many car use synthetic oil, and only need to be changed once a year.

However, not driving the car is very bad for it. Much worse than having higher highway miles. Why don’t you just sell the car? You don’t need it.

This is OP. I never said we don’t drive it. We do but not very often. Often enough though for 1000 miles in 13 mo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you still need to get it changed regularly, 3 months or so, because the oil goes bad. There's an old saying , 3 months or 3000 miles, which ever comes first. You might have a little more time with advanced oils, but not much.

This is outdated advice. Many car use synthetic oil, and only need to be changed once a year.

However, not driving the car is very bad for it. Much worse than having higher highway miles. Why don’t you just sell the car? You don’t need it.

This is OP. I never said we don’t drive it. We do but not very often. Often enough though for 1000 miles in 13 mo.

https://www.cars.com/articles/if-i-seldom-drive-whats-the-minimum-i-should-drive-my-car-1420684417381/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you still need to get it changed regularly, 3 months or so, because the oil goes bad. There's an old saying , 3 months or 3000 miles, which ever comes first. You might have a little more time with advanced oils, but not much.

This is outdated advice. Many car use synthetic oil, and only need to be changed once a year.

However, not driving the car is very bad for it. Much worse than having higher highway miles. Why don’t you just sell the car? You don’t need it.

This is OP. I never said we don’t drive it. We do but not very often. Often enough though for 1000 miles in 13 mo.

https://www.cars.com/articles/if-i-seldom-drive-whats-the-minimum-i-should-drive-my-car-1420684417381/

WHat was the point of the article?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you still need to get it changed regularly, 3 months or so, because the oil goes bad. There's an old saying , 3 months or 3000 miles, which ever comes first. You might have a little more time with advanced oils, but not much.

That was Jiffy Lube's slogan..not reliable car advice.

[Anonymous]

I don't put on many miles, about 3000/year and that's including a couple of 600 mile trips a year. DS is very knowledgeable about cars (has done major repairs himself since he was 15 although he has other people do thinks like grind valves ot engine heads --whatever it is they do anyway!) --Synthetic oil and annual change. Also nitrogen in the tires.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to necessarily but after one year, I'd do it for peace of mind.

We drive my wife's vehicle about 500 miles per month. The dealer says get the oil changed every 5 months or 5k miles. I take it in every 5k miles, or about every 10 months.

What does the dealer maintenance schedule say (not the dealership). The automotive engineers that design the car should be the ones you follow.

Sorry, the manufacturer's maintenance schedule is what I quoted. The dealer was simply mimicking that.