I seldom use my car and therefore I don't usually bring the car for servicing every six months as recommended by my car dealer. I normally bring it in every 5000K since my last service and that is usually 9 months from the last servicing. Recently the car dealer called me and said it should be serviced sooner because the oil would not last that long. Does anyone know whether engine oil (or any kind of oil inside the car) has a limited life span inside the car?
Engine oil has to be replaced every six months?
ubor on 15/06/2013 - 20:28
Comments
Hi Ubor.
I have also wondered how often it is required to change engine oil.
I know that new, in the sealed bottle, engine oil lasts a very very long time, almost indefinitely.Most car manufacturers reccommend oil changes at 10,000KM or 6 months. Which ever comes first.
I just follow the 10,000km rule and have never had any issues with any of my vehicles regarding oil.
But I am not a mechanic.
All the best.
If you're using a quality engine oil 9 months will be fine but cars last longer if they are given regular long runs. Even once a week will do. Cars in storage often have their engine oil drained. Unleaded fuel has a limited storage life so if you aren't using much you'd be better off having little in your tank until it's ready to be driven.
Have you read what the service handbook says? I have a Ford and it gives you guidance on what to do. It is 15,000 or every 12 months except if used under severe or adverse conditions and then it should be every 7500km or 6 months. Dusty conditions is listed as adverse but I would also include lots of short trips as adverse. I would not extend the time for your services.
Well, on my BMW E46 I do extended oil change ~ 2 years/25000kms. The oil is Castrol edge 5w30 fully synthetic, engine has no sludge and runs very well.
Modern synthetics that meet Long Drain standards usually go 2 years interval with no adverse effects.
I drive 3-4 time a week on short distancse so the car mileage is only about 5000KM every 9 months. The service department recommends 10,000KM or every 6 months. I bring my car in every 9 months in the past 2-3 years but only recently I got a call from the service department saying the oil should be changed more frequently than 9 months. Thanks everyone for contributing to this thread.
I am a mechanic and worked as a service manager at a car dealership for 15 years. The oil can easily last 6 months, 12 months or even longer, but if you want to maintain your warranty you must follow the manufacturers recommendation in your handbook.
If you are out of warranty and you do not want to replace the oil every 6 months make sure you change your oil to a fully synthetic oil then change the oil at the 10,000km mark even if it takes you 2 years to reach 10,000k
The dealer will always advise you to do it more often as they want your money.
For example Mercedes benz trucks use fully synthetic oils and they can drive for up to 90,000km between oil changes. So the oils are proven to last a long time in heavy duty applications.
Steer clear of the dealership and take it to a private mechanic, you will get much better service, dealerships demand high profit margins from their service department so they end up selling you things you don't need like fluid flushes, tyre balance and rotation, wheel alignments etc, its all rubbish and designed to increase their margins.
Nowadays several manufacturers have realised that car dealers are ripping off their customers so now they introduce capped servicing to prevent dealers adding on extra services, so when you get that call from the service advisor saying you need this and you need that just say no thanks, i'll wait till the next service and when you get your car back take it to another mechanic for a second opinion.
Just my opinion :-)For the vast majority of people there is next to zero advantage in using synthetic oils, and there's a major disadvantage - your wallet. Vehicles which are in constant use will almost always last longer in km terms, irrespective of the oil (as long as you use a top quality organic oil) but when you have a very large investment, such as a transport vehicle, it can be an economically sound decision to go synthetic.
The best thing for Ubor's car would be to make sure he takes his car on a long run at least once a month.
My wife's honda does about the same mileage as you do…. very short trips 3-4000km every 6 months…..I tend to change the oil every 6 months and use mobil 1 5W-30 FSyn. I drive FG falcon that does 15K every 6 months (avg. 20-30k trips) and uses the same Mobil 1 oil. I find that oil that comes out of Honda after 3-4K looks much worse than oil that comes out of my ford that does 15K.
The usual rule is if you do short trip you may need to change oil every 6 months.
It is up to you…. everyone will tell you differently.Interesting, my wifes Honda civic is only 3 years old and is way harder on oil than my 11 year old falcon and she drives like a girl.
This has to be the biggest service swindle going, Just service to the amount of Klm's you’re driving, and if your that concerned change things like timing belts at the service books prescribed time of change.
Reason being is that rubber tends to perish over time not that I would expect it to break they are pretty tough.
Don't know who in their right mind would store a car without oil in it, every chance some muppet tries to start it(same person that took it out most likely)without checking fluid levels and bye bye motor.
Also anything sitting in Oil is not exposed to oxygen hence less corrosion/deterioration.The only reason as mentioned above to service a car more frequently than the klm's travelled and to every 6mths is to preserve a manufacture’s warranty.
The majority of your motor is only lubricated when it's working Flash that's why you have an oil pump and galleries. When the motor stops it simply drains into the sump so it makes no difference to "oxidation" of internal components, which usually will retain a film of oil in any case. The reason why some (keen) people drain their oils if the vehicle's being stored is that oil contains contaminants. Some people even put their cars on blocks to stop tyre flatpoints developing.
Contaminants would result in a sized engine, but you'd know that.
I think we can take it that you've never done an oil change.Why do you think used oil is black, not the pretty amber that it starts off as?
Ok, so regardless of my mechanical ability you still believe its a good idea to store a car with no oil in it at all.
Great initiative!Comprehension and mechanical difficulties then?
A little off topic, but where most manufacturers say "6 months or 10,000kms"… over in the US, the same model vehicle will often have "10,000mls"… same fluids, same engines… but considerably more kms.
Mentioned above, synthetic oil is a rip for engines that aren't on high-load use. Basically, every vehicle except for cars used for motorsports or commercial vehicles (trucks etc). Oil is oil, it's the additives and how they're blended that makes the difference.
The only fluid that doesn't last when left to sit for ages is the brake fluid. It has properties that absorb water/moisture which is a major problem for brakes… and safety. It doesn't get changed as often as the oil but then doesn't do as much fluid motion etc.
I think you actually require more regular servicing if you don't use your car as much or take a lot of frequent short trips.