Topic: When to change a stored vehicle oil question

[ChopTop]

This is a tad embarassing because I've stored vehicles for years (and have never had any issues) and never thought of changing the oil before storage or before driving season because I've always let the amount of mileage dictate when to change the oil.  However, from reading a vehicle storage thread apparently some folks do (ill-regardless of the mileage). 

So do folks recommended before its stored away; before you start driving it again, or only when the mileage dictates you should?

 

[JimVonBaden]

In part, it depends. IMHO change the oil before you store it. That will remove the harsh contaminates from the oil that can do damage to the internals of the motor, and give you a chance to do a good once over looking for issues.

IF you store it in a location that is dry and cool, but not frozen or high humidity, then no need to change it again before the season starts. This is also true if you only park for a couple months. Some will disagree, but IMHO it is a waste to change your oil too often, especially with the high quality of the Mobile 1 we use in our cars.

http://www.international-auto.com/afla-romeo-maintenance/alfa-romeo-car-storage-tips.cfm

http://www.buyclassiccars.com/storagetips.asp

Jim

PS Short term storage and long term storage have different issues, and need different processes.

[Critterman]

boy did you open a 


Some like Jim say before you store it to remove the contaminantes
Others say after to remove the condensation.
I say which ever you feel most confident with. I have done both.

[tallcraig]

I always put my Harley away with clean engine oil that has been circulated throughtout the motor, premium gas topped up with stabilizer, carb drained (we all know what a carb is is LOL), on a bike jack and the tender on. My bike does not get fired up till March and even then I baby her till all the seals (I know about blowing a seal LOL) expand and are lubricated. My car is similar. I get my use out of the clean oil the next spring but sometimes shorten the change interval. The oil companies LOVE me!

[NormSky]

Ever 12 months. So that means you might have to get it and drive it more. 

[POS VETT]

I go by time.  It's every other year (6-7k miles).  Since the car is hibernating on a lift, I change the oil whenever I feel like it.  I fill the oil when it's time to take it out of hibernation (too lazy to put the lift down; have to move things out of the way). I also leave the drain plugs off for several weeks ...

[Go-N Def]

I just pulled mine out of 7 months of storage.  The first thing I did while it was still up on Jackstands was drain the oil.  I figured that all of it had drained out of the motor and into the pan so it was the best time to change it.

The other benefit of changing it before that first start up is that when you refill it, your pouring oil over some of the moving parts so you don't have as much metal to metal contact.

[spider]

Good point Go-N Def plus getting rid of 7 mo.worth of condensation is good. Fresh oil & a 1/2 quart of TX7 prior to storage that long, would keep me from fretting over main & rod bearings on start up. Also combustion byproduct laced oil & moisture makes a lovely corrosive cocktail. So before & after would be ideal.

[baconbits]

I store the car in a 40 degree heated garage for 6 months a year (along with 4 bikes).. I change the oil before I put them away put fuel stabilizer in and charge the batteries monthly.. the boat on the other hand gets the oil changed in the spring since it is stored wrapped outside and can see +60 to -40 temperatures..good chance of oil condensation due to location near a very big body of water..

[ChopTop]

I've always parked our warm weather cars the same way every year.  An unheated garage, where liquids (as in water based products) can freeze, and outside temps go as low as 5 to 6 degrees several times during the winter because I live in central MI.  If a battery is new I generally don't put a tender on it, if it's 3 or 4 years old that's when I'll start putting the tender on. 

Gas wise I don't pay much attention when it's parked because in the spring one of the first things I do is start it up and drive the few blocks to the local gas station and top it off.

But oil wise, I've always let mileage dictate when it's time to change it.  However, from what I'm reading so far it sounds as changing the oil before driving season might be a good habit to get into.  Even though I've never like buying oil before I believe it's due for a change, maybe I should just think of it as cheap insurance.

Thanks all.

[DaveOC]

For what it's worth, GM states the following in the Solstice owner manual (the highlighting is mine):

Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil (Vehicles With Driver Information Center)

If your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC), it has the Engine Oil Life System, a computer system that lets you know when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based on engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at which an oil change will be indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to work properly, you must reset the system every time the oil is changed.

When the system has calculated that oil life has been diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is necessary. A CHANGE OIL SOON message will come on. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-38. Change the oil as soon as possible within the next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that, if you are driving under the best conditions, the oil life system may not indicate that an oil change is necessary for over a year. However, the engine oil and filter must be changed at least once a year and at this time the system must be reset.

If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must change the oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since the last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system whenever the oil is changed.

Note that there is no reference to mileage in the highlighted area above.  GM requires at least one oil change per year to maintain your warranty.

[NormSky]

Other oil manufacturers also recommended 12 months for turbo cars(Amsoil).

[ChopTop]

For what it's worth, GM states the following in the Solstice owner manual (the highlighting is mine):
Note that there is no reference to mileage in the highlighted area above.  GM requires at least one oil change per year to maintain your warranty.

Thanks for posting that information Dave.  I do watch the Drivers Info Center gauge, and if memory serves correct it wasn't indicating the oil was close to being needed to be changed when I parked it last fall.  So reading that GM recommends it (regardless of the mileage) is surprising.  I was under the false impression that due to Mobile 1 superior lubrication abilities and the fact I'm average around 1500 miles a year it was something I didn't have to worry about for a few more years.

[Critterman]

I think it is more to do with the life expectancy of the oil itself.  Everything has a shelf life