Engine Oil, needs frequent change?

[GaLynxmo]

I have a second vehicle sitting in my garage for many months now and its engine oil remains relatively clean and has not been changed for as long as I can remember. Though its being used once in a while, yet I find it a waste to change it dahil malinis at ok pa naman sya. (parang gusto ko na ngang ibenta dahil walang silbi) Madalas itong gamitin ng brother ko noon pero nasa States na sya kasi. Pinapaandar ko lang every two to three weeks para lang to keep it in good running condition. Ok ba yun? Ur opinion is appreciated.

[userfriendly]

Change your oil at least once a year.

[GaLynxmo]

Thanks for the quick reply. But I am sorry I do not see the logic, because the oil is still thin and unburnt. Do oil simply become stale in a few months that it can ruin your engine, if not, is it just because it is recommended by manufacturers to change oil every three months. And if I don't change (stubborn me!), what will it effects on the engine! I dont know what to believe, can you (or anyone) enlighten us more. Thanks

[uvax]

I agree with userfriendly. I'm not an expert on this but from what I've read, cars that have been sitting around unused will be prone to sludge formation. Sludge is formed when water mixes with oil.

You may say that there is no way for water to enter the crankcase. The water in this case comes from the water vapor that is always present in the air. The engine has a breather that will allow air inside. If you've seen a dew covered car in the morning that's basically how water gets in. With the engine not running for long periods there is a greater chance for the water to accumulate.

[mbeige]

If you run it for very short trips or just for warm up, you're doing more harm than good.

Oil needs to be warm and circulating to properly do its job of protecting your engine components by lubricating the parts and cooling them. Oil is the lifeblood of your car. If you run it for warm up lang and it reaches operating temp, then you shut it off once it does, it's like teasing the car into saying you'll drive it but you'll spoil the fun by cutting it short.

Cars love to be driven, to drive them on a daily basis will exercise it and remove carbon deposits (assuming you drive a healthy run). The reason that you're doing more harm to warm it up and shutting it down right after is because like I said oil must be warm and circulating for long periods to effectively do its job. If it does not do this, then it cannot protect the engine as best as it was designed to do such as when warming it up for a few minutes and shutting it off even if the engine hasn't reached operating temp. Take it for a spin, give it a good blast down the highway, and it will reward you plentiful.

Give us a good estimate of how long it's been since you've changed its oil, then we can give you a definite answer. What may be a long time for others isn't so with some, so subjectivity comes into the picture. It is also recommended to change the oil at specific mileage intervals or time intervals, whichever comes first. Why don't you use it more often for a change? That way hindi siya nabubulok sa garage niyo.

[LHV]

at least once a year nag expire din po ang oil hindi lang naman color ang indication ng oil, meron pa pong viscosity, water content, sediments at viscosity index which change overtime

[userfriendly]

You can try bringing the car to a Shell station that offers the free oil check up. Its basically a device that they use to tell the condition of your oil. Not sure how accurate it is and which branches have it.

[ssaloon]

remember, in regular PMS, you change oil every 5k km or 3 months whichever comes first. the oil itself has a shelf life or lifespan inside the engine.

[CVT]

Change your oil at least once a year.

Ito nga po ang recommendation ng mga shops. Whether nagamit o hindi ang sasakyan....

2201:attack:

[speedyfix]

hindi yung wear ng oil yung kalaban m,o... it's the moisture buildup in the oil.

[GaLynxmo]

Mga kaibigan, maraming salamat po. Yah, sometimes I find it diffcult to start the vehicle without stepping on the gas. And it kindda cranky when moving even for a short trip. Convinced as I am, now I am forced to use it alternately or at least as often as my regular workhorse (or exercise my other option - to sell it). I will just have to contend with the rising cost of gas, and that is a little harder pill to swallow. Many tanks to Uvax, Lhv, speedyfix, ssalloon, and most especially to mbeige for enlightening me (and other readers too) more. kudos!

[matty]

Pasingit na rin mga tsikoteers. I hope its ok kasi about engine oil din naman ang itatanong ko. During my first 6months PMS (5200km) casa changed my oil to fully synthetic which i think is too much (gastos lang! ). Anyway, on my first year PMS, i requested not to have the oil changed kasi 10000km pa lang sya. Was I right? kasi ang alam ko a fully synthetic engine oil will last for at least 10000km and usually city driving lang ako. Or dapat pinapalitan ko na to semi or mineral based?

[speedyfix]

for new cars stick to full syn... sayang naman if you don't...

[matty]

should i change it every 6 months or 10k (for fully synthetic) which ever comes first? naka 6 months na ako for a fully synthetic oil pero di ko pa pina change oil kasi may nagsabi na 10k daw at least tatagal yun compared to mineral, is it true? and i checked the oil, medyo brown na transparent ang color.

[Bogeyman]

Minimum of 10,000kms? Ang pagkakaalam ko, maximum yun for synthetic oil between changes. Mineral oil change interval is 5,000kms.

[matty]

my mistake. you are right bogeyman, thanks.

so tama ba desisyon ko not to have it changed yet? 5,000 km pa lang natakbo ko from the time linagyan ng synthetic oil yung engine.