Oil Change twice yearly? With Low Mileage

[Paul]

I ran my 0W-40 M1 17 months and over 11,000 miles and an oil analysis indicated I could have gone at least another 1000 miles.

Originally Posted by Paul

I ran my 0W-40 M1 17 months and over 11,000 miles and an oil analysis indicated I could have gone at least another 1000 miles.

Great for you. You also drove a considerable amount (reducing moisture build up, and keeping the chemicals in suspension). I glad it's working out for you, for me, an additional 80bucks a year is piece of mind.

[Paul]

Porsche has been recommending long oil change intervals since the 914. When will people learn that US car owners have been brain washed into 3 months/3000 miles oil changes?

Originally Posted by Paul

Porsche has been recommending long oil change intervals since the 914. When will people learn that US car owners have been brain washed into 3 months/3000 miles oil changes?

agree. Unless you're driving 10k in 3 months, I don't see a need to change that often

[Paul]

Yes a lot of those miles were put on the car driving to and from 2 Parades. I seldom drive less than 20 miles and I floor the car often.

this is a quick read...one interesting point is that a hotter climate will break down an oils properties more quickly than a cooler one.

oil over time

"As an oil breaks down it combines with combustion chamber residue from blowby gasses to form sludge. High detergent oils dissolve this sludge and hold it in suspension. In addition, as an engine wears small pieces of metal, rubber, and plastic end up in the bottom of the oil pan. Believe it or not, the "granny car" which is "short tripped" will have a lot more acids (condensed from blowby gasses) mixed with the oil than a car which is driven every day! I rebuilt one engine with a thrown rod: (old lady, once a week to the store 3 miles away) The rod bearing had been eaten away by acid deposits!!! Ony 40,000 miles on that motor! Thus on low mileage cars I recommend changing the oil every 6 months, no matter how many miles on them!"

[mptoledo]

3 months sounds rediculous. Heck you might wear out the threads on your oil pan plug. Once a year or no more than 7500 miles(what ever comes first). If you do it every 3 months I am calling al gore on you!!

Here is the question, Do you change it before or after winter(in cold climates)?

[Boxster33]

Steve Tinker:
I live in Toronto, Canada and gas usally comes in 87 Regular, 89 Medium, 91 Premium. Only Sunoco has higher (Gold 94) but contains 10% Ethanal (This is what I was previously using). I know the preferred Octane level for the Boxster is 93 but the car is running great with the Shell 91.

[orange260z]

I live in Ottawa, Canada. I drive the car from April to November putting on 5-10,000kms, and change the oil & filter immediately before storing the car (once a year).

I typically use Ultramar 91 octane or Sunoco 91 octane fuel. Is Shell 91 supposed to be any better?

Thanks,
Ayan

[Paul]

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by Paul

Porsche has been recommending long oil change intervals since the 914. When will people learn that US car owners have been brain washed into 3 months/3000 miles oil changes?

I don't see that being advocated here.

[ekam]

I'd say just do the oil change when you take your car out of storage.

You can certainly change oil twice as often, if that makes you sleep better. Oil is cheap afterall.

I keep hearing about Shell 91 gets better mileage than Ultra94, I'm going to have to try it sometime.

[Lil bastard]

Change your oil before placing it in storage so the aforementioned moisture and acids don't have the chance to work over your internals during the storage period. In the Spring, you're all set to go for the coming season.

All oil change intervals assume ideal conditions and very few people actually drive in these. Stop & Go, short hops, dusty conditions, wet conditions, prolonged idling, irregular fuel quality, hard driving, or any combination of the above all qualify as severe conditions and so the service interval s/b shortened.

Porsche doesn't provide a severe service interval, so you need to decide what interval you're most comfortable with. Using a Lab Analysis can help, but ultimately the decision is yours.

Personally, I drive my car in a similar manner to what you describe and I'm comfortable with an annual change just prior to storing the car.