Time (not mileage) between oil changes

[asker123]

Hey guys, did not want to create another thread as I have similar question.
My honda accord 2003 4 cyl gets mobil1 5w20 oil with mobil1 m1 110 filter every 6 months. I follow severe scedule which is 5000 miles( 8000 kms) or 6 months which ever is earlier.
As I do not do 8000kms in 6 months I just get oil change every 6 months. But I think.I am.wasting oil and my time doing this.
My driving habits are monday to friday short trips 5 to 10 kms sometimes in.Manitoba winters too however I make it a point to drive the car for 30 to 40 kms in.a single trip on weekend.
My question to you expert is that by this habit I think oil accumulate moisture fro monday to friday but doesn't it get evaporated on weekend long drive . So do I still risk loosing additive packs.
I tend to do 8000 kms every 10 months. By driving the car 40 kms in.a single trip once a week will the oil stay good?
Oh yes and the car burns oil so I add half qt oil once every 2 months or so.
What do you think? Engine protection is top priority , money is non issue.

 

[sw99]

I average between 3-5k a year on the truck. I know the oil will be fine for longer but for peace of mind I change it out yearly just to be safe.

 

[BrocLuno]

Originally Posted By: asker123
Hey guys, did not want to create another thread as I have similar question.
My honda accord 2003 4 cyl gets mobil1 5w20 oil with mobil1 m1 110 filter every 6 months. I follow severe scedule which is 5000 miles( 8000 kms) or 6 months which ever is earlier.
As I do not do 8000kms in 6 months I just get oil change every 6 months. But I think.I am.wasting oil and my time doing this.
My driving habits are monday to friday short trips 5 to 10 kms sometimes in.Manitoba winters too however I make it a point to drive the car for 30 to 40 kms in.a single trip on weekend.
My question to you expert is that by this habit I think oil accumulate moisture fro monday to friday but doesn't it get evaporated on weekend long drive . So do I still risk loosing additive packs.
I tend to do 8000 kms every 10 months. By driving the car 40 kms in.a single trip once a week will the oil stay good?
Oh yes and the car burns oil so I add half qt oil once every 2 months or so.
What do you think? Engine protection is top priority , money is non issue.


If you are adding some, I'd just change it in the spring

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
I change the oil on September 01 and April 01.


That the kind of OCI I like my planned schedule is a nice day sometime in October and April. I had a nice day in February this year and wanted to get a UOA on my QSUD in the Toyota but Wix didn't cooperate I never heard back from them that was a waste of $20 I won't make again.

 

[Lubener]

Under your conditions, you can easily go 1-2 years between changes. With similiar situation, I go 1-2 years. If in doubt, get an analysis done. I was told several times, I could go longer.

 

[PimTac]

Originally Posted By: Q451990
Thanks so much for all of the replies! Many of my trips are of the 5 or 10 minute variety. I really just need to drive the car more often... I definitely blow the cobwebs out when I get it on the road. I try to make sure it sees redline at least once per drive, after it's warmed up of course.

Heath



I would consider driving it more often or even better, taking it on some longer drives. Five to ten minutes is definitely severe service.

 

[DGXR]

Conventional oil up to 6 months, synthetic oil up to 1 year.

Short trips can kill an engine, and a catalytic converter, and other things. I would not say to drive it "more," but when you do drive it, take longer trips. Get everything up to full temperature, then drive at least 20 more minutes.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Spring and fall.

 

[asker123]

Originally Posted By: DGXR
Conventional oil up to 6 months, synthetic oil up to 1 year.

Short trips can kill an engine, and a catalytic converter, and other things. I would not say to drive it "more," but when you do drive it, take longer trips. Get everything up to full temperature, then drive at least 20 more minutes.


Here in -30 deg celcius a few short trips each week is almost unavoidable. Question is whether a long trip over the weekend will kill all the contaminents in oil or not.
Even if a single trip is purposefully done each week, do I need to drop the oil in.6 months just because canada... Read my detail situation a few posts above....

 

[BullittGT]

As a person that drives everyday but not far at all. I'll chime in.

I average less than 5k a yr. I have not had to get an emissions inspection since 2005 due to that.

In cars I "just drive" I change the oil just before or after my yearly state inspection, mostly because that driving I do is stop and go over 12 miles. The car barely has time to fully get to temp before I'm at work. It's 6 miles each way, with 2 school zones, 3 lights, and 6 Stop signs full of traffic so I likely sit for at least 3-4 turns at each. I'd probably be able to ride a bike but it's a VERY dangerous neighborhood. I also occasionally when I have room do a pull up to 80-110mph if traffic is empty. If I was easier on the oil I'd probably do test to see if I can change it every 18 months or 2yrs. But I'm not so I stick to 1 yr.

In cars I Cherish, I change it every 6 months no matter how low the mileage is. In my bolton Mustang and my fully built engine Escort I would change the oil every 6 months, even if I barely had 2k on them. I enjoyed flogging those cars more and just wanted to make sure I always had clean oil in them.