When to change oil in cars that idle a lot
- Thread starter bernau
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Synthetic oil? No UOA? I'd go with 6,000km to play it safe. Or invest in a UOA with a TBN report, send a sample off at 6,000km, and see how the oil did. Then base the UOA on that. Blanket statements can lead to trouble, and my OLM is overly optimistic. So I'd rather be safe than sorry.
A lot of idling is considered severe service so I would go by that.
In one month, how many miles are you currently driving? Send an oil sample for analysis and get a baseline measurement of oil condition. I would take the oil sample when the oil has about 3000-4000 miles. Once you get the results, you stand a reasonable chance of prescribing a proper interval.
Ray
Ray
About 1000 miles a year. On Mobil 1 10-30 now.
What do you this of this calculation of idle hours?
http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=3788
What do you this of this calculation of idle hours?
http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=3788
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Originally Posted by bernau
About 1000 miles a year. On Mobil 1 10-30 now.
What do you this of this calculation of idle hours?
http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=3788
1000 miles per year is not much at all. We need more details. How often is the vehicle operated and for how long does it idle when used? A realistic answer cannot be given until those details are known.
About 1000 miles a year. On Mobil 1 10-30 now.
What do you this of this calculation of idle hours?
http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=3788
1000 miles per year is not much at all. We need more details. How often is the vehicle operated and for how long does it idle when used? A realistic answer cannot be given until those details are known.
Around here in vehicles which average 7-15MPH due to idle times the OCI is the recommended spec and grade with bulk oil is 5K miles. Oil related issues is still at a zero.
Short(er) oci's with a full syn (any full syn will do at that oci) is solid advice but if you want to nail down the correct oci/oil for your driving habits, invest in a couple UOA's as previously stated.
The data will point you in the right direction.
The data will point you in the right direction.
Originally Posted by bernau
...Severe service is 7500km [~4700 miles] but that would probably not be realistic since in idles so much.
Originally Posted by bernau
About 1000 miles a year. On Mobil 1 10-30 now...
Many manufacturers recommend (or require for warranty compliance) annual changes irrespective of miles traversed.
Quite likely for operational situations such as yours.
...Severe service is 7500km [~4700 miles] but that would probably not be realistic since in idles so much.
Originally Posted by bernau
About 1000 miles a year. On Mobil 1 10-30 now...
Many manufacturers recommend (or require for warranty compliance) annual changes irrespective of miles traversed.
Quite likely for operational situations such as yours.
Without a UOA it is guesswork. You could use the severe service schedule, or do as demarpaint said - make an investment - and know for sure.
Originally Posted by JLTD
Without a UOA it is guesswork. You could use the severe service schedule, or do as demarpaint said - make an investment - and know for sure.
Considering where he lives a UOA would cost him as much as an oil change.
Without a UOA it is guesswork. You could use the severe service schedule, or do as demarpaint said - make an investment - and know for sure.
Considering where he lives a UOA would cost him as much as an oil change.
Originally Posted by Pelican
Originally Posted by JLTD
Without a UOA it is guesswork. You could use the severe service schedule, or do as demarpaint said - make an investment - and know for sure.
Considering where he lives a UOA would cost him as much as an oil change.
It's a worthwhile investment in his vehicle IMO.
But I guess you could make an argument in favour of just picking a full syn and changing it once a year, since the car's only driven 1k miles annually and while UOA's would be helpful they are a (relatively) exorbitant expense.🤔
Originally Posted by JLTD
Without a UOA it is guesswork. You could use the severe service schedule, or do as demarpaint said - make an investment - and know for sure.
Considering where he lives a UOA would cost him as much as an oil change.
It's a worthwhile investment in his vehicle IMO.
But I guess you could make an argument in favour of just picking a full syn and changing it once a year, since the car's only driven 1k miles annually and while UOA's would be helpful they are a (relatively) exorbitant expense.🤔
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What about the maintenance minder? I idle my Civic a lot from October through March or April and just go by the OLM. I do like to change at 30% or even before that time. I like to use autostart to enable myself to get into a warm car when it's cold outside.
Originally Posted by Pelican
Originally Posted by JLTD
Without a UOA it is guesswork. You could use the severe service schedule, or do as demarpaint said - make an investment - and know for sure.
Considering where he lives a UOA would cost him as much as an oil change.
True but he only has to do it once or twice to get an idea of how long the oil can go.
Originally Posted by JLTD
Without a UOA it is guesswork. You could use the severe service schedule, or do as demarpaint said - make an investment - and know for sure.
Considering where he lives a UOA would cost him as much as an oil change.
True but he only has to do it once or twice to get an idea of how long the oil can go.
I have a Ford Windstar that has not seen the road in 3 years. It get about 70 miles a year put on it. It is cranked in the driveway and moved 100 yards for the kids to catch the bus. In the winter I will crank it early so it is warm when they drive to the road. It will idle 30 minutes each morning and then that afternoon someone will crank it and move it back to the house for the next morning.
I change oil 1 time a year if the oil level stays normal. If the oil level starts getting too high from fuel dilution I change the oil.
Every situation is a little different.
As the owner you will be the most qualified to determine when the oil should be changed.
I change oil 1 time a year if the oil level stays normal. If the oil level starts getting too high from fuel dilution I change the oil.
Every situation is a little different.
As the owner you will be the most qualified to determine when the oil should be changed.
*My Hyundai Sonata has a setting when you scroll to the mileage / trip setting "C" that tells you miles + time on the oil .... My OCI with severe duty is 4,000 miles OR 150 hours on synthetic 5W30 - which ever comes first.
Originally Posted by bernau
Have a Hyundai 1.6 port injected that spends most of the time idling and very short trip. How should the oil be changed in vehicles that ides a lot? Severe service is 7500km but that would probably not be realistic since in idles so much.
Originally Posted by bernau
Have a Hyundai 1.6 port injected that spends most of the time idling and very short trip. How should the oil be changed in vehicles that ides a lot? Severe service is 7500km but that would probably not be realistic since in idles so much.
Originally Posted by Pelican
Originally Posted by JLTD
Without a UOA it is guesswork. You could use the severe service schedule, or do as demarpaint said - make an investment - and know for sure.
Considering where he lives a UOA would cost him as much as an oil change.
And your point? I did say investment… And to ensure he's not doing damage to his engine by idling so much, and being certain that his oil is up to the job for one year change… Investment here.
Originally Posted by JLTD
Without a UOA it is guesswork. You could use the severe service schedule, or do as demarpaint said - make an investment - and know for sure.
Considering where he lives a UOA would cost him as much as an oil change.
And your point? I did say investment… And to ensure he's not doing damage to his engine by idling so much, and being certain that his oil is up to the job for one year change… Investment here.
If it was me, I would install a low cost hour meter and change the oil every 200 hours.
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