Changing oil every year

bimmer456 · 06-03-2020, 10:30 AM

Do you have a car you only drive a few miles every year? Do you still change the oil every year or is it fine not to change it if you only drive 50 miles a year?

AspektUSA · 06-03-2020, 11:18 AM

Per the manual; one year or 10,000mi - whichever comes first.

Billfitz · 06-03-2020, 11:46 AM

I question why anyone who drives that much would bother owning a car. Rent one when you need it.

John in VA · 06-03-2020, 01:53 PM

I have two cars that get less than 2k miles per year, and I change the oil in the fall/early winter when the driving season for them ends. I enjoy them too much to not own them, and finding a 2002tii or 330ci ZHP to rent is difficult!

thejeremyman9 · 06-03-2020, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John in VA

I have two cars that get less than 2k miles per year, and I change the oil in the fall/early winter when the driving season for them ends. I enjoy them too much to not own them, and finding a 2002tii or 330ci ZHP to rent is difficult!

Curious why you change the oil before letting them sit and not after letting them sit before driving them again? Are you worried about dirty oil leaving deposits or something?

montr · 06-03-2020, 03:52 PM

According some sites, the unused oil shelf life is about 5 years. Because you drive only 50 miles a year and you are in relatively dry climate (California), I guess you can go longer than a year before changing the oil.

HighlandPete · 06-03-2020, 04:23 PM

Over here in Europe we wouldn't normally consider changing oil at so little miles, we 'time out' at 2-years.

Our oil services are CBS miles or two years, which ever comes first.

Billfitz · 06-03-2020, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

Curious why you change the oil before letting them sit and not after letting them sit before driving them again? Are you worried about dirty oil leaving deposits or something?

That would be the reason. Normally if you do a yearly change it should be in spring, to get rid of the contaminants that build up in winter. Since he doesn't drive these cars in winter it's appropriate to do the oil change before he puts them up for the season.

bimmer456 · 06-03-2020, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

Curious why you change the oil before letting them sit and not after letting them sit before driving them again? Are you worried about dirty oil leaving deposits or something?

That would be the reason. Normally if you do a yearly change it should be in spring, to get rid of the contaminants that build up in winter. Since he doesn't drive these cars in winter it's appropriate to do the oil change before he puts them up for the season.

Contaminants can build up even if you don't drive but if you park the car outside vs in a garage it might make a difference.

Billfitz · 06-03-2020, 10:12 PM

The main source of contaminants is driving the car short distances in cold weather, where the oil doesn't get hot enough to boil them off. I check my catch can regularly. At the end of last summer what oil there was in the can was clean. At the end of the winter the contents of the can looked like sludge out of the bilge of a boat.

ntailor · 06-04-2020, 06:18 AM

My fun car gets driven around 2k miles a year and stored every winter. I change the oil when I take it out in the spring/summer every year. Even if you don't drive it much, contaminants will be there.

cfm56d7b · 06-04-2020, 10:37 AM

Changing filter and oil annually is such a small expense. Just do it and enjoy your cars!

06-03-2020, 10:30 AM	#1
bimmer456 Major General 2960 Rep 5,993 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Pasadena, CA iTrader: (0)	Changing oil every year Do you have a car you only drive a few miles every year? Do you still change the oil every year or is it fine not to change it if you only drive 50 miles a year?
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06-03-2020, 11:18 AM	#2
AspektUSA Lieutenant 271 Rep 495 Posts Drives: 340i MSport/THP Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	Per the manual; one year or 10,000mi - whichever comes first.
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06-03-2020, 11:46 AM	#3
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8243 Rep 16,079 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	I question why anyone who drives that much would bother owning a car. Rent one when you need it.
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06-03-2020, 01:53 PM	#4
John in VA Colonel 985 Rep 2,197 Posts Drives: 2015 228i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Leesburg, VA iTrader: (6)	I have two cars that get less than 2k miles per year, and I change the oil in the fall/early winter when the driving season for them ends. I enjoy them too much to not own them, and finding a 2002tii or 330ci ZHP to rent is difficult! __________________ ____________________________________________ 2015 BMW 228i in EstorilBlau II Metallic / Terra Dakota Leather - 6-speed manual, M Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package, Premium Package, Harman Kardon premium sound, Anti-theft alarm system, Blue Metallic Matt Accent Moldings, Aluminum Hexagon Interior Strips, Anthracite Headlining
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06-03-2020, 03:52 PM	#6
montr Captain 157 Rep 716 Posts Drives: 2010 335d, 2018 430i G-Coupe Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	According some sites, the unused oil shelf life is about 5 years. Because you drive only 50 miles a year and you are in relatively dry climate (California), I guess you can go longer than a year before changing the oil.
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06-03-2020, 04:23 PM	#7
HighlandPete Lieutenant General 6659 Rep 15,858 Posts Drives: BMW F11 535i Touring Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland, Highland Region iTrader: (0)	Over here in Europe we wouldn't normally consider changing oil at so little miles, we 'time out' at 2-years. Our oil services are CBS miles or two years, which ever comes first.
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06-03-2020, 10:12 PM	#10
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8243 Rep 16,079 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	The main source of contaminants is driving the car short distances in cold weather, where the oil doesn't get hot enough to boil them off. I check my catch can regularly. At the end of last summer what oil there was in the can was clean. At the end of the winter the contents of the can looked like sludge out of the bilge of a boat.
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06-04-2020, 06:18 AM	#11
ntailor Second Lieutenant 176 Rep 215 Posts Drives: i5 M60, X7 M60i Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Philly, PA iTrader: (0)	My fun car gets driven around 2k miles a year and stored every winter. I change the oil when I take it out in the spring/summer every year. Even if you don't drive it much, contaminants will be there.
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06-04-2020, 10:37 AM	#12
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5886 Rep 10,256 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	Changing filter and oil annually is such a small expense. Just do it and enjoy your cars!
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