941MXVET

Quick question for the board. I have normally changed the oil in my 964 each fall for the three years we've owned it. In this time we have averaged 3k-4k miles per year, with some track time thrown in for good measure. Well between work and our new kid we only managed 1000 miles this year. I'm thinking to skip the fall oil change, but that would leave the same oil in the crank case and tank for quite some time. Any opinions welcome, TIA.

BTW, not to start an oil debate but for the sake of this discussion I use Redline 10w-40.

ChaseN

I think most OEM's, including Porsche, suggest a yearly oil change when annual mileage is below OCI - that would suggest changing it in the fall. On the other hand, I'm on a spring time oil change schedule because I KNOW that any condensation that built up over the winter is gone before first drive. That seems to me more of an issue than a somewhat negligible 1000 miles worth of acids sitting around in your engine for a few months, unless you've got a motor with a ton of blowby or something.

That's my admittedly somewhat uneducated way of thinking.

Edit:

Just some quick reading after I got interested and started searching:

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...Motor_Oil.aspx

newsboy

I would change it once a year,irrespective of the mileage. I like to change mine in the spring. Always get a little water in the oil from condensation.

FeralComprehension

One of Redline's claims to fame is their additive pack and TBN (Total Base Number, a measure of resistance to acidification).

You don't need to change it out. You do need to drive it more

bgiere

leave it.

ZG862

An RAC man advised me that many people change oil needlessly. Running the car degrades the oil (makes sense - hot & scrapey) but if left it does not spontaneously degrade (as the manufacturers would have you believe), apparently.

Any truth in this?

jimq

The Porsche dealer told me since i only put 1500 miles on both the 964 and TT not to bother changing the oil more that once every 2 years. When i had just the 964 i put 3k a year on it so changed every year. We dont have the cold down here and drive year round so up north may be different.

Earlydays

I would stick with the 12 month rule....because of water condensation.

ZG862

Mind if I keep pushing on this one? Surely if there is a small amount of water in the oil, when the oil passes boiling point the resultant steam exits the system through the breather?

Z

Earlydays

Until the boiling point, you've got water circulating, not a good thing, though a very small amount is probably not a big deal.
It really depends on how much water is present. I've seen a half cup of water come out of a 964 that's been sitting for one winter!

newsboy

I usually get a little water from condensation when I change the oil, maybe an ounce or two. It's at the bottom of the oil tank, so I don't think it gets circulated.

941MXVET

Thanks for the replies guys!

The point may be moot, we have one more track weekend comming up, and the 944 needs some work, so I might end up taking the 964. If that is the case, I'll go ahead and give it a change. One thing I read quite awhile ago was if a car sits over the winter months, it is better to do an oil change before winter. After reading some of the replies, I might rethink that.