The One Year Deadline

[Merkava_4]

About two months until the one year deadline. The thought of draining such an expensive oil with only 2,000 miles on it is a little unnerving. What would you guys do ?

2000 Buick LeSabre
OCI Start: January 30, 2017
Mileage: 129,468
Oil: 5 quarts of Valvoline Synpower 5W-40
Filter: Fram Ultra XG3387A
Current Mileage: 131,378
Mileage on current fill: 1,910

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Take a UOA!
Then decide.

 

[The Critic]

You seem to be driving less than before.

 

[PimTac]

Merk, you can go longer than one year with that kind of mileage driven. I would run it two years.

 

[FlyNavyP3]

Seems like you should have more like a 10 year deadline!

 

[fdcg27]

Well that isn't all that costly of an oil, but it does carry various Euro certs and should be fine for more than a single year.
There are a number of multi year low miles UOAs to be found here all of which show that nothing bad happens to oil after a year in the pan.
How do you manage to drive fewer miles in a year than I do in five weeks?

 

[carviewsonic]

I would leave it in for another year. That's very low mileage on good quality oil and filter.

 

[gathermewool]

Depends.

I'm sure you've posted your routine in the past, but I don't recall. One year of daily short-trips is not the same as one year of only long weekend trips; throw idle time in there and whatever else you do with your vehicle and it makes guessing pretty impossible.

 

[RooflessVW]

Let it ride.

Or don't. I've been known to drain the oil and chuck a filter with only a few hundred miles on it because I wasn't the one who put it in there, or I hit the one year mark, or was putting the car away for a few months, or I got bored.

 

[NormanBuntz]

Merk, you know the drill. If it's mostly a short tripper, with 1,900 miles already rung up, I'd still go another six months. If you do some regular highway driving, make it another year.

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted By: PimTac
Merk, you can go longer than one year with that kind of mileage driven. I would run it two years.


I agree...unless you are doing all short trips.
If you are doing a > than 10 mile drive once a week....I'd go another 2K at least.

PS: After I posted my response I read the other responses and see that other great minds think alike regarding short trips.

Merk: Why are you running a 40 weight in your Buick?....does it use oil?

 

[danez_yoda]

I drain and fill my moms car every Christmas with Magnetec. It comes out darn near the same color as it went in. She only put ~1200 miles on it.

For me its a routine. That car can go 10 years but my mom is 76 years old and I don't want any change of her car have any oil issue. Help me sleep for $20 a year. totally worth it.

 

[Alex_V]

Do a UOA (close to the cost of just changing the oil again) for peace of mind, run it 18-24 months, then run $17 VML 10w30 in it after that! I maintain 5 Lesabres with 3800's in them - 55K, 135K, 185K, 228K, and 271K, and they all run like a top while the two highest mileage ones are probably the two least cared for. The 3800 doesn't need much in the way of lubrication.

 

[Patman]

Definitely keep going. I've been doing 2 year intervals with my Corvette because I can't bring myself to drain perfectly good Mobil 1 that has only 4 or 5k on it. My UOAs show this to be a safe practice.

 

[AZjeff]

It's a 17 year old Buick being driven 166 miles a month. Do whatever you want with this oil but why not put in the cheapest 10w-40(or 30) you can find and a decent filter and change it every January 1st and worry about other things? You could buy real maple syrup with the money you save for instance....

 

[Nick1994]

I think you should push it to 3,000 miles at least.

How's the engine sound with it in there?

Be honest, you won't hurt my feelings

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: pbm
Merk: Why are you running a 40 weight in your Buick?....does it use oil?


Nick1994 sent me the oil. He got tired of me complaining about the cost of Valvoline 5W-40.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: pbm
Merk: Why are you running a 40 weight in your Buick?....does it use oil?


Nick1994 sent me the oil. He got tired of me complaining about the cost of Valvoline 5W-40.

Maybe I can personally deliver you some oil and an oil filter for your next oil change. I have been meaning to come out to Fresno for a while.

 

[Garak]

I'd leave it Merk. I forgot that you're running a 5w-40 now. I know you don't like extended OCIs, but even 5,000 miles won't be nearly a stretch on that.

 

[Crispysea]

I’d wait another year, especially with Synpower. It’s a robust oil.