1500 miles on oil/12 months. Time to change?

[ZIncGTSTANG]

My friend has an 04 mustang and he puts very few miles on it each year. He drives it rear round and usually only takes short trips with it. He runs 5w30 mobil full synthetic motor oil which he changed last december. Is he due for an oil change or does synthetic oil stay good for a longer time? If it was my car, i probably would have changed it by now but he is kinda cheap.

 

[san~man]

I "believe" oil is rated for mileage, not by duration or shelf life. I may be wrong.

IMO, I would change it as it's cheap and good insurance. A jug of 5w30 and a Motocraft filter at Wallyworld would be less than $30.00.

 

[Miles]

Oil does begin to breakdown over time, much like gasoline. I'd recommend your friend changes it.

I might put on 5,000km each year, and I still change my oil every 4 months or so. Probably overkill a bit, but the peace of mind is worth it.

 

[007]

I change my oil (Mobil 1) once or twice a year... I do about 5-7k a year.

I don't think he needs to change it if its decent oil, but its cheap to do anyway. If its cheapo oil then i'd change it.

 

[04YELLOWGT]

I have always been told 3 months or 3k miles which ever comes first.

 

[Skidawg]

I think once the year mark hits, he should probably think about it.

 

[ZIncGTSTANG]

Ya, we're probably going to change it soon. The oil isn't black but it is getting to be a dark brown.

 

[sgarlic]

I went around 8 months on Mobil 1 5w20 last year, and only put 1200 miles on the car. I had a oil analysis done on it, and the guys at Blackstone basically asked me why I changed it so early. That answer your question?

 

[Mike97gt]

the problem is not the amount of time it's been in there but the short trips..

Short trips where the engine spends little if any time at normal operating temp will ruin the oil..

I would change it.

 

[the98stang]

It costs $30. Why NOT do it?

Easy change. Inexpensive. Insurance that the oil is clean.

 

[TripleBlk]

the problem is not the amount of time it's been in there but the short trips..

Short trips where the engine spends little if any time at normal operating temp will ruin the oil..

I would change it.

Hmm, I did know that was very true for the old carburetted engines (gasoline washing the cylinder walls , and removing the oil film until the engine reached operating temp)

So, the fuel-injected engines are also dumping too much fuel after startup? Is that an "open loop" issue, svttech ? I'll have to change some of my driving habits...