Who changes the oil in the spring

[DMAN302]

I was just wondering..I have been driving the car now for about two weeks on the oil I put in back in october. (fresh oil/filter then stored) Really I can see no reason why the current oil and filter would need to be replaced being the car sat in the garage 'resting' till spring. Condensation is not really a factor during the off season IMO since the car is garaged and temps were rarely below mid 30's in there. Just looking for opinions as to if I should wait until I have actually put some miles on the fluid before I waste another 40 bucks for a change? Once the car is run the first time any possible water contamination would have evaporated after the first drive would it not?

 

[PJB]

I just go by mileage, not months.
Mine still has the same oil I bought it with last August.

 

[HISSIN50]

Derek, any chance there's any bleed down of fuel (injectors) or anything?

I always did the pre-hybernation and post-hybernation oil change except for the synthetic oil cars (sans lots of PAE basestock in a humid climate). There's condensation that forms from the last start-up of the previous season, which breeds acidic conditions.


If it bothers you next year, you could use dino oil for the hybernation and then do a drill priming come spring. Then swap in the good stuff. That way you don't dump good oil but you have decent start-up oiling (since you primed it with cheap oil, rather than relying on the synthetic with a starter-driven start-up).

If you leave the existing oil in the crankcase, in your early trips this Spring, just get on it a bit and get the oil up to temp - you should flash out any contaminates. And you could do a UOA with what you have in there if you want - then you'd know for sure where you stand.

Miscellaneous ramblings to make you feel better about it just about no matter what you do.

Good luck Derek.