Hey Scotty, love your videos.
I have some older, classic type cars (Toyota, Porsche, BMW) that sit for months not be driven. Since I have a few, none of them get driven more than a few hundred miles per year, not even a thousand miles for any of them. Should I change the oil annually anyway, or can I let them go for a few years before changing it? How long can I wait? Thx
Nick
Start them periodically (once a month is fine) allowing the engines to reach operating temperature. Change oil once a year even if the mileage is low to get rid of condensation in the crankcase.
you really ought to at least start them and run them a bit every month if you don't want the engines to rust inside and ruin the bearings.
I would start up and run each up to operating temp for a while every 2 - 4 weeks to keep your engine internals happy. You also don't want to have your fuel spoil in the tank either.
As for oil, change it every year to keep things optimal. Condensation, as @ChuckTobias mentioned, is one issue. You also have a liquid sitting in a hot pan over hot pavement (depending on where you are). That will cause the oil to break down with time. 1 year is the best recommendation.
A month seems to long me. I would go every 2 weeks. Definitely change the oil yearly.
When you do go to start them after they sit for the winter, pull the plugs out and spray some PB Blaster or WD40 into the cylinders and let it sit for a few hours before you start the cars. That will help lubricate the piston rings for the couple seconds they will go without lubrication after sitting for a long time. Change the oil right after this to get the WD40 out of the crankcase and make that your routine.
Thanks everyone. Starting the cars every 2 weeks is really not possible. We're gone for months at a time during the winter, so even every month isn't really going to happen. And no, I can't really have someone do it for me. I could do it whenever I'm around I suppose, so maybe I'll do that.
Changing the oil annually regardless of mileage is the standard accepted practice. Thanks for the reaffirmation.
Once per year is advisable, however, i have an older Mustang that gets driven less than 500 miles per year and i sometimes go 2-3 years between oil changes. Been doing that for 25 years with no issues and no condensation issues at all. Make sure the vehicles are at full operating temps before shutting them off. Also, i have an older truck that i use in the woods and put approx 200-300 miles per year. I've gone 5 years between oil changes (obviously too long) but the oil was crystal clear, no condensation, and absolutely zero issues. Just my experience!
To me it depends where/how its stored. If the cars are in Florida (warm climates) I see no issue with keeping the oil for a couple of years. But if you store in the NorthEast with temp swings during the winter from day to day you can definitely get condensation in the cylinders. In that situation I would start at least every 2-3 weeks up to operating temperature (drive it preferably) and change every year.
I'm not sure it is neccessary to change the oil every year regardless of how little it is used. I have a 72 Tbird 429 that is only driven in the summer (about 1000 miles), when changing the oil after 2 years the oil looks good, smells right and no water is dripping out of the drain hole. It's a good thing to start it once in a while, move it so the tires does not get flatspots etc. It can be a good thing to run the fuel pump and dump some of the fuel after a long period with no use to get rid of some rust from the fuel pump/lines.
When the oil is just sitting there, it does not see high temperatures or fuel dilution, so it should not deteriorate too much.
I tend to agree with you Dan, but most car people don't. I kind of knew what the responses were going to be before I asked the question, but wanted to hear what Scotty himself had to say.
I appreciate everybody's responses.
You'd likely be OK letting it go that long but I go with the idea that it's cheap insurance. Oil is cheaper than engine repairs. Maybe you could save the oil to use in a lawn mower.
Once per year is advisable, however, i have an older Mustang that gets driven less than 500 miles per year and i sometimes go 2-3 years between oil changes. Been doing that for 25 years with no issues and no condensation issues at all. Make sure the vehicles are at full operating temps before shutting them off. Also, i have an older truck that i use in the woods and put approx 200-300 miles per year. I've gone 5 years between oil changes (obviously too long) but the oil was crystal clear, no condensation, and absolutely zero issues. Just my experience!