E_T

I guess that this must sound like sacrilege to some of the ardent believers in clean oil, I can hardly believe that I am even contemplating the following heresy, but will I run any risks by not changing it this year, and running the car for another season on the oil put in at the change in September last year? I have gone a mere 2500 miles on it. My indie reckons that a change is a waste of money and oil. I had planned to get it changed before putting the car to bed for the winter in October, now I am having second thoughts. I guess opinions will differ. The car is in excellent condition, has just been inspected and had a light service by the OPC and has 23 500 miles on it. Thoughts?*

x50type

Yes, beyond redemption

Quadcammer

it will be fine, especially if you drive it once and again.

tcsracing1

2500 miles is not a whole lot......

how long do most people here drive between changes?

P-daddy

I've only put on about 500 miles since last winter's oil change and don't plan on doing one this winter. Even with 2500 miles, you're ok not to change. Who knows though, I have extra oil and filters ready just in case I get bored

tian647

A mortal sin? No. Leaving your car in an ideal state? Well, no to that too.

Having driven so few miles and with the volume of oil these cars hold there is undoubtedly plenty of life left in the oil. But as you drive the oil does collect trace deposits of combustion by-products which are generally acidic and which can etch internal passages and accelerate ring and bearing wear.

The $64k question then is how much accumulation of those potentially harmful remnants has occurred over so few miles?

Because you came here seeking another opinion it seems you have your doubts about just leaving it in there. The couple alternatives I see are: trust your indie, just change the oil already, or send a sample out for analysis and see what they find in it - then you have objective data to work from.

I have too many vehicles and insufficient time to properly tend to them all, so the less exotic ones get neglected over the winter like your mechanic suggests. They still work fine, but then they are similar to models with anecdotal stories of running forever on condensed hummingbird wizz, so may not provide an apt comparison.

Rinty

You are a brave man, bringing that up here.

vincer77

I believe we will need the Pope to weigh in on this one!

Send out an oil sample for analysis.

E_T

Thanks, guys. Interesting that both the dealer and the indie acted with surprise when I mentioned that I'd planned to change the oil. Cannot imagine that opinions would differ that much on this side of the pond, but cars in Europe generally see more mileage than in the states. I had planned to change it, it is just that it was downright dismissed as wasteful and unnecessary by two independent parties, who I would assume would be interested in doing the job. An analysis would be interesting, no clue as to who would provide such a service here, though. Sure there is no Vatican-based provider of engine oil analysis either. I want the car to remain in ship shape, and intend to drive it more.

Mike J

Where is"here"? You might want to add location to your signature.

E_T

Just realised this, Mike J. Vienna, Austria.

Mike J

Ahh - there must be several good oil analysis labs in Europe -> that is the best way to find out what the the condition of the oil is. After a few tests, you will know generally at your mileage what service life and how dirty the oil is.

Cheers,

Mike

IXLR8

Don't know about more mileage considering how close everything over there is, but certainly harder mileage considering cruising speeds are generally over 110 MPH.

My oil will be changed this fall after being last changed two years earlier. Our cars have lots of oil and two oil filters. Co-worker's BMW 330 Ci oil gets changed every 15K miles and he now has over 150K miles on his coupe. Petroleum labs on the next floor tests his oil and all is good.

E_T

Sorry for my ignorance, but how exactly do you go about the oil analysis? Take a sample during a change and send it off? How much oil are we talking about?

Cupcar

Say 3 Hail Mary's and send your oil to Blackstone Labs http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Everything you need to know is on their website. There may be an issue sending a liquid across the pond in this day and age though.

Signed, Father Cupcar