17 replies to this topic

[Steam]

Why is there a time factor in oil change frequencies as well as a distance. Surely oil does not deteriorate appreciably over time.

[Spider]

Apparently the additives do have a shelf life.

[Shooter63]

If you search on YouTube for a channel called The oil Geek which is run by a guy called Lake Speed ( real name and a great one at that) he tests oils in every possible way, I'm pretty sure he did one on oil shelf life, all his content is fact based and test proven. The guy can get on your t#ts a bit but stick with it and the knowledge is there.

Shooter

[Steve220]

How I understood it is the oil has additives to remove the carbon which slowly makes it acidic. I usually change mine every 1000 miles or every year at the latest (usually before storage).

[and90cooper]

For the sake of 30 quid or so I’m happy to change the oil every year-probably only do around 1500 miles but considering the gearbox shares the oil with the engine it’s well worth it imo

[Ethel]

If you do fewer miles you're likely to do more of them with cold oil, in lower gears with more acceleration & gear changes. I look at it as just 2 different methods of estimating when the oil's service life is up - whichever you reach first.

[Steam]

Living where I do even short runs are at highway speeds and ebgi e always gets up to temp, maybe not for long but probably long enough to drive off the nasties in the oil. Not being daily drivers the classics I have always reach the time expiry way before the distance. While I don't mind paying for oil and filters I do object to changing out fresh lokking oil. I apply a dose of common sense and judge the changes to suit.

[68+86auto]

The engine will probably last long enough even with "expired" but clean oil.

I run plenty of engines (not minis) with old oil otherwise they'd get changed basically every hour of use in most cases.

They probably won't last as long as an engine with yearly oil changes but sitting around probably does worse than the oil. They still last long enough as they are still going after over 20 years of "neglect". The TEA20 probably hadn't had an oil change in 40 years, at least 20.

[sonscar]

Large engines have the oil tested to see if it needs changing,also can warn of impending wear and failures.Steve..

[Ethel]

Might be a myth, but I was told aero engine bearings are deliberately made with different chemistry so they can identify where what the oil filter catches has come from.

[lsto]

Might be a myth, but I was told aero engine bearings are deliberately made with different chemistry so they can identify where what the oil filter catches has come from.

I work for a large transport company, on our PSV fleet we routinely sample all the oils, engine, gearbox, axle, compressor, traction motors etc.
The samples can show up what bearings etc are wearing. It can see if the vehicle has boost or coolant leaks, show oil quality and general condition.

[sonscar]

At one time rented formula one engines were reputed to have oil analysis before warranty?rework was considered,but this could just be a myth.Steve..

[MiniMadRacer]

Being tight, and loving my minis, I change the oil constantly, but I do use the oil for oher things.... bung it in my 4 stroke lawnmower, etc...

[DClarke1954]

When I got my mini I was not surprised to find that the oil was as black as can be (pretty normal as I recalled it from 50 years ago when I last had a mini).

But I have done an oil & filter change and the black has not returned (yet), although I fully expect that  it will eventually.

Quite why I bought 25 Ltrs (it was a price thing) I don't know, because I won't do more than 1,500 miles in the car in a year and yearly changes will be the reason to change not the mileage. 

Now I am constantly tripping over the large oil-drum in my workshop.  There's enough oil for 5 years.

 

What to do with the old used oil?  Recycling centre or burn in a furnace for heat?

 

 

 

 

[imack]

This was used to be acceptable

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