Oil Change before/after Winter storage?
 

Before.

I have it changed before storage simply to avoid the work backlog at my indy in Spring. Turn the key and go until Fall. I work in the motor oil industry and have discussed this with PhD chemists and lifelong mechanics and have heard valid arguments for both pre and post storage oil changes. I choose to avoid the Spring backlog and I hate doing oil changes myself.

We do everything before.. Don't want to get clogged up with oil changes or fluid changes in the spring

After its out of storage. Now if the previous year was 10-15k then I'd probably change before storage. But for me 2-3k a year.........after storage is fine.

Local P dealer stores clients vehicles and offers a Spring oil change, wash and clean.

Wait....

You're supposed to change the oil??!

I generally let it run its course and change based on mileage.

I thought the TBA in modern oils neutralize any corrosive byproducts of combustion.

Pls do not discuss facts in an oil thread :D

LOL. I change before storage.......and top off the lawnmower with the dirty oil from the Porsche!! I figure I do 3K a year in the Porsche so its OK for the lawnmower - I did go 10 years before I actually checked the mowers oil. I've never changed to oil in the snowblower, that will probably get fully synthetic with 3K of use too :-)

TMI.... :P

Too many toys, and not enough time and resources to change the oil early for me.... (oil change supplies are close to $80 for the Porsche)... Motorycycle is $30.....

I put maybe 8-10,000km probably on the Porsche every year, and change the oil around 12-15,000km.... Recent years, the motorcycle is seeing about 2,000km/yr, but I'm hoping that number is closer to 5,000km this year....

Honda Snowblower is a big HS1132.... Don't know the hours on it, but I bought it used about 8 years ago,,, I might have 5 yrs on that oil..... John Deere riding mower.... about the same... but it at least has a filter.... I probably put 3-4 tanks of gas / winter through the blower.... My kids have taken over most of the lawnmowing, but it usually takes 20-30minutes per cut.

I like to keep the maintenance costs on these low, and use the funds to dabble in other projects

usually do it before.. but this year i didn't as i will be doing some service work before i drive it this year that would mean dumping the oil.

For winter applications, aren't 0w40 and 30w are totally different ends of the spectrum.... (as in it would do better in a mower than a blower? due to running the mower in the summer?)

Before. :thumbup:

Before. I don't want the first gulp of oil to be filled with anything that might have settled over the winter.

At 1k miles a year I change the M1 V Twin every second fall and filters every second oil change. This is still over-servicing.

I agree as do several mechanics's I've talked with as well. Changing oil before you store a car and then changing it again... after already doing so at the end of the previous season, justifies the Internet's view of Porsche owners as being anal... :) The only byproduct sitting in fresh oil after a few months of non *starts* (this is key) is water from condensation. It will burn off within 20 minutes of driving. But if spending money is ok and adding used oil to the oil recycling industry is not an issue for you - have at it. Shrug

love the smell of varnish

That's BS you're smelling. There are post use Blackstone oil tests all over this site. One shows no appreciable impurities even after 5,600 miles. Chat's with several Exxon M1 techs confirm the stuff is good for years and we're all wasting money tossing perfectly good oil. Check it out for yourself. Make sure you get past the customer service types to an engineer.

Post storage.

LOL... I suspect that unless your answer is "I change oil before and after storage" you'll have individuals on Rennlist telling you how wrong you are.

FWIW, I like doing a spring oil change... because I'd rather change oil when it's warm out. That probably won't change until I get a warmer garage. :)

If you happened to not have changed the oil before the winter, can you simply just drain it without starting since it will all be collected at the bottom? I know it won't be hot oil but...

Bingo !

What I meant is will all the oil drain out even though it's not at operating temp? No point dry starting twice...

I doubt everything is coated right now...

If the amount I get out during drainage is negligible, I'll just drain then I'll prime the engine before starting with fresh oil. Really, there is such little mileage on the oil, I may keep it a bit longer.

This thread just makes me chuckle with all the opinions thats all I'm going to say

It's not that uncommon, in the 993 for example you pull the DME relay and crank the engine over a few times to build up oil pressure and then reinstall and fire it up. I don't bother doing it but I know many do.

This thread has been good for a chuckle or two. I'd like to add to my Pcar collection so I am going to begin promoting an oil change before storage, during and after LOL. You can never be too safe since we all know these cars are as delicate as faberge eggs. :p

I really mixed things up. I did....during!. I drained the oil in January and I didn't fill it back up until March. I know, crazy right?

You chuckle because you know you and I are the only ones that do it the RIGHT way.

I pull the 2 fuel pump fuses (997.1 Turbo) and crank over until I see the oil pressure buildup.

On a manual car, you can put in 5th gear, and tug on the rear wheel to get the engine to manually turn-over a few cycles. A slight incline helps.:)

Don't call me.....lol

Always change the oil after frying fish :D

Time to sell that old beater Ronan and get the GT2. I'll take it off your hands.