Oil Change Dilemma

[keith100]

Hi all,

My manual calls for a change of oil once every 12 mos or 20,000km. Simple enough.

However, I do a LOT of cold starts -20c sometimes and then I drive 1km to the office. And the same back in the evening. I've only done 6500km in 16 months. Since in the summer I walk to work, and the car sits idle for a week or two sometimes, those cold starts are pretty much compressed into 4 months of winter.

So, do you reckon an additional spring oil change would be a good idea? Or with Synthetic oil, would I just be wasting oil and money?

Any comments appreciated

Thanks

Keith

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Hi all,

My manual calls for a change of oil once every 12 mos or 20,000km. Simple enough.

However, I do a LOT of cold starts -20c sometimes and then I drive 1km to the office. And the same back in the evening. I've only done 6500km in 16 months. Since in the summer I walk to work, and the car sits idle for a week or two sometimes, those cold starts are pretty much compressed into 4 months of winter.

So, do you reckon an additional spring oil change would be a good idea? Or with Synthetic oil, would I just be wasting oil and money?

Any comments appreciated

Thanks

Keith

Good question Keith. I suspect that, if there was a real problem from the use you describe, there would be comprehensive guidance from the motor manufacturers and the oil companies would not be slow to bring it to our attention.

I think that synthetic oils are durable and that they still have lots of "life left in them" at the recommended change frequencies.

I would have faith in them, and leave it until the service - but is that not at 12 months, as you said? (Previously the service interval was 24 months or 25,000 kms, whichever came first, and I have yet to be persuaded that was wrong).

 

[television]

Under the old system our cars could go up to 2 years, its just silly to change the oil at 6.5k miles or 12 months, that was why I bought my car, as the miles would not be that much.

 

[keith100]

Thanks Alex

It isn't the oil's life I was considering, but how much condensation I must get in the motor. As you say there's nothing in the manual.

 

[rf065]

Thanks Alex

It isn't the oil's life I was considering, but how much condensation I must get in the motor. As you say there's nothing in the manual.

The oils life & condensation in the engine are directly related, that is why ASSYST calls for an oil change after 2 years regardless of mileage, or 1 year on newer models.

If I was you, I would make a point of using the car for a long run every month if it is not being used much rather than changeing the oil.

Russ

 

[television]

The main thing is to get the engine up to the 80-100c running temp when you can. MB engines do warm up quite fast normally

 

[Myros]

Keith, lateral thinking time

move further away from work. Far enough to warm your engine properly. Or take the long way home. Your exhaust will go west more quickly with this kind of use as well.

 

[keith100]

move further away from work. Far enough to warm your engine properly. Or take the long way home. Your exhaust will go west more quickly with this kind of use as well.

Choice between commuting and a prematurely clapped out car......hmmm.. Nope, even a Mercedes loses that one.