400 miles / 1 year Since Last Oil Change: Do I Need to Change It For Storage

ShelbyGT5HUN

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2014
Messages
4,659
Location
USA
Hello,

I changed my oil last November 2016, and the car sat until Spring. I only got to drive it 400 miles this year, and now it's time to mothball the car. I bought gas Jan 2017, June 2017, and just filled up Dec 1, with Shell V Power, and Sta-Bil, in preparation for Winter.

Car is a GT500, and I used Ford's synthetic oil. I do not plan on driving the car until April, so the big question is, do I need to change the oil? My thinking is change it in the Spring, so it's ready for next year, versus changing it now, when I won't be using the car. I know some oil companies recommend changing it every year, if the mileage limitation is not reached, but 400 miles seems like I'll be wasting fresh oil here.

Opinions? Thanks!
 

ShelbyGT5HUN

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2014
Messages
4,659
Location
USA
Well the car is land locked. We got snow, and the roads are salty. Looks like I'll wait til Spring anyway. Needed to take it to the Stealership, as I cannot work on the car myself.
 

RDJ

ZERO shits given
Established Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2002
Messages
19,853
Location
Texas
I would change it just based on time, and for some peace of mind. And oils cheap
THIS!! I used to put my car up for 11 months of the year while I was a contractor in the sand box. First thing I did when I got home for vacation is take it in for an oil change and tire rotation
 

CV355

_
Established Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
3,272
Location
_
Not trying to resurrect an old thread, but didn't want to post the same basic question as a new thread. Does anyone on here know is carboxylic degradation in oil is as bad with synthetic as with conventional? My GT500 may have hit 500 miles since the last oil change, but it was about a year ago. The biggest contributor to the degradation is contaminants from burned fuel. Can't imagine much would get past the rings in 500 gentle miles.
 

SVOGT302

Member
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2007
Messages
120
Location
NJ
Might be a good idea to send a sample to a lab for analysis. I've used Blackstone Laboratories.
 

RedRocketMike

A Member Well Known
Established Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
6,714
Location
PA
General consensus on this topic from oil specific forums is low mileage oil can sit 2-3 years in the pan with no problems what so ever.

Oil quality has improved so much over the years, alot of the old notions are irrelevant now.
 

SVOGT302

Member
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2007
Messages
120
Location
NJ
General consensus on this topic from oil specific forums is low mileage oil can sit 2-3 years in the pan with no problems what so ever.

Oil quality has improved so much over the years, alot of the old notions are irrelevant now.
General concensus is not necessarily fact.
I personally would test the oil but whatever.
 

RedRocketMike

A Member Well Known
Established Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
6,714
Location
PA
General concensus is not necessarily fact.
I personally would test the oil but whatever.

Can't find a link on google, but I remember a thread on bobistheoilguy, someone sent their low mileage oil in from their Jeep or something that sat for 2 years. Oil was fine. Other people have done it out of curiosity.

If the oil has miles on it though, then, I believe the acidity is high enough to degrade the sitting oil.
 

RedRocketMike

A Member Well Known
Established Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
6,714
Location
PA
General concensus is not necessarily fact.
I personally would test the oil but whatever.

Can't find a link on google, but I remember a thread on bobistheoilguy, someone sent their low mileage oil in from their Jeep or something that sat for 2 years. Oil was fine. Other people have done it out of curiosity.

If the oil has miles on it though, then, I believe the acidity is high enough to degrade the sitting oil.
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top