Oil Change Intervals (Winter Storage Advice) - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Mr.Impreza · 10-17-2016, 08:46 PM

Hey guys. Just need advice on the following oil change interval options.

I drive about 10,000KM (about 6000 miles) per year.

My question is, how should i go forward with oil changes.

Option 1
Change oil in November/or (when i put it in winter storage)
Change oil in May *6 month interval* (I bring out the car usually in March/April so i would drive with the oil that was in storage for 1-2months)

Option 2
Change Oil in November/or (when i put car into storage)
Change Oil in March/April (when I bring car out of storage)

My issue with Option 2 is that I would drive almost 8 months with the same oil when I heard you should change oil every 6 Months if you don't reach your necessary miles.
While option 1 it would be an evenly 6 month interval.

So advice would be much appreciated.

new2subaru · 10-17-2016, 09:01 PM

I will be driving about the same as you. 10K/year in the warmer months

I plan on doing the oil first thing in the spring and around August/September.

It's overkill but not by too much.

Mr.Impreza · 10-18-2016, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2subaru

I will be driving about the same as you. 10K/year in the warmer months

I plan on doing the oil first thing in the spring and around August/September.

It's overkill but not by too much.

So I'm just going to do this starting from this year. (Assuming all changes are done on the 1st day of the month)

Change Oil in December (Before Storage)
Change Oil in April (When Taking out of storage)
Change Oil in August

That way my intervals will be every 4 months.

humfrz · 10-18-2016, 01:27 PM

I don't think it would make a damn bit of difference to the car ......

humfrz

MuseChaser · 10-18-2016, 01:31 PM

This is easy... Drive more!

seriously, what Humfrz said.... you'll be fine w/ any of those plans. The three changes a year scenario is probably overkill.

new2subaru · 10-18-2016, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

I don't think it would make a damn bit of difference to the car ......

humfrz

Funny, after I responded I googled "oil changes and winter storage"

Your response was pretty much the same on a Miata forum.

Mr.Impreza · 10-18-2016, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

I don't think it would make a damn bit of difference to the car ......

humfrz

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

This is easy... Drive more!

seriously, what Humfrz said.... you'll be fine w/ any of those plans. The three changes a year scenario is probably overkill.

Oh okay. So I will probably than just do the oil change before winter storage and oil change when bringing out of storage

I just wanted reassurance that 7-8 months in between would be fine.

wbradley · 10-19-2016, 08:35 AM

From my understanding oil itself doesnt significantly age. Therefore the interval is irrelevant if the engine isn't in use.

I do the same mileage as you and I will store the car immediately after an oil change and fuel stabilizer. Also using a battery tender.
Some time during summer I do an oil change at 5000 km then the next before storing. Two changes a year in 10000 km.

Mr.Impreza · 10-19-2016, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbradley

From my understanding oil itself doesnt significantly age. Therefore the interval is irrelevant if the engine isn't in use.

I do the same mileage as you and I will store the car immediately after an oil change and fuel stabilizer. Also using a battery tender.
Some time during summer I do an oil change at 5000 km then the next before storing. Two changes a year in 10000 km.

Bradley, so then would I be fine with using the oil that was in storage? Because I'd prefer option 1.

Option 1
Change oil in November/or (when i put it in winter storage)
Change oil in May *6 month interval* (I bring out the car usually in March/April so i would drive with the oil that was in storage for 1-2months)

I just heard people say moisture builds up so it's why I'm confused about it.

Anyways if you are doing it that way, than I think I'll do the same since I like that method the best. Just feels like such a waste of new oil to e drained out when I didn't even use it.

jasonojordan · 10-19-2016, 11:24 AM

The main killer while storing a vehicle over winter is temperature swings. Try and keep the area where you store it a some what stable temperature. Large swings can cause condensation and that is where you will get your issues from.

wbradley · 10-19-2016, 12:08 PM

The issue with moisture is almost the same as people that take frequent short trips in the winter. The sudden heat causes condensation when in contact with the freezing air.

The best thing to do (not that I have) is to never start the car even once all winter.

Otherwise condensation is released, or specifically from the oil, when oil temps exceed 100'C as it will with normal use.

I am not sure how you store a vintage Bugatti but this is a normal car.

Summerwolf · 10-19-2016, 12:33 PM

This is a pretty big topic on BITOG.

General consensus: As long as you use synthetic, and basically get the vehicle to operating temperature if you start it during storage times you won't degrade the oil and can basically go all your storage time and use it like normal mileage wise.

The only way to be sure though, is if you get the blackstone test. Condensation was brought up earlier in this thread, and that is the main worry (why you're bringing the vehicle to operating temp when / if it is started).

Personally, I just go off mileage and use a good oil. Even doing regular oil changes is probably overkill according to all the testing on current synthetic oils.

You're not storing the car for years at a time in this situation. I don't think starting it up / driving it here and there during "winter storage" is a bad thing since it gets all the parts moving for a little while at least.

D_Thissen · 10-19-2016, 10:11 PM

Leave the current oil in the car, and change it in the spring. No reason to change it now, park the car, then change it in the spring. You're wasting money.

Stang70Fastback · 10-21-2016, 02:19 AM

I realize you're more concerned with time than mileage in this thread, but FWIW I just added this post to my blog today which you might find interesting. It includes all the oil analysis results from my oil changes, which I do every 10,000 miles (~16,000 km), which for this latest change, happened 6.5 months apart.

http://www.seriesblueadventures.com/...-oil-analysis/

10-17-2016, 08:46 PM	#1
Mr.Impreza Mr.Fujitsubo Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: 2018 STI Location: Woodbridge Posts: 1,719 Thanks: 4,055 Thanked 1,552 Times in 784 Posts Mentioned: 31 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Oil Change Intervals (Winter Storage Advice) Hey guys. Just need advice on the following oil change interval options. I drive about 10,000KM (about 6000 miles) per year. My question is, how should i go forward with oil changes. Option 1 Change oil in November/or (when i put it in winter storage) Change oil in May 6 month interval (I bring out the car usually in March/April so i would drive with the oil that was in storage for 1-2months) Option 2 Change Oil in November/or (when i put car into storage) Change Oil in March/April (when I bring car out of storage) My issue with Option 2 is that I would drive almost 8 months with the same oil when I heard you should change oil every 6 Months if you don't reach your necessary miles. While option 1 it would be an evenly 6 month interval. So advice would be much appreciated. __________________ 2018 Subaru WRX STI ~ The Weekend Car ~ 2015 Toyota 86 ~ The Sold Car ~ Build Journal OFT Stage 1 Tune Review

10-19-2016, 10:11 PM	#13
D_Thissen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: '13 Argento FR-S (Sold) Location: Ontario Posts: 2,126 Thanks: 3,209 Thanked 1,439 Times in 855 Posts Mentioned: 19 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Leave the current oil in the car, and change it in the spring. No reason to change it now, park the car, then change it in the spring. You're wasting money. __________________ My FR-S Build IG: dthissen

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
winter storage... what are you doing?	sledheadguy	Cosmetic Maintenance (Wash, Wax, Detailing, Body Repairs)	92	11-22-2016 03:37 PM
What's a reasonable starting point for fluid change intervals?	hpde_addict	Tracking / Autocross / HPDE / Drifting	14	09-16-2016 08:42 PM
What are the oil change intervals listed for 2015 cars?	pantdino	Issues \| Warranty \| Recalls / TSB	8	09-06-2015 02:36 PM
Oil change intervals?	nickw14	Mechanical Maintenance (Oil, Fluids, Break-In, Servicing)	10	08-10-2014 05:06 PM
Change oil before or after winter storage... or both?	switchlanez	Mechanical Maintenance (Oil, Fluids, Break-In, Servicing)	1	11-07-2012 05:30 PM

10-17-2016, 09:01 PM	#2
new2subaru Weight Weenie Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: 15 FR-S Location: Canada Posts: 2,660 Thanks: 5,238 Thanked 2,434 Times in 1,397 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I will be driving about the same as you. 10K/year in the warmer months I plan on doing the oil first thing in the spring and around August/September. It's overkill but not by too much.

10-18-2016, 01:27 PM	#4
humfrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, white, MT Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 30,432 Thanks: 29,826 Thanked 32,845 Times in 16,844 Posts Mentioned: 715 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I don't think it would make a damn bit of difference to the car ...... humfrz

10-18-2016, 01:31 PM	#5
MuseChaser Feeling like thinking.... Join Date: Oct 2015 Drives: 2013 FR-S Location: CNY Posts: 1,664 Thanks: 1,664 Thanked 2,433 Times in 1,064 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	This is easy... Drive more! seriously, what Humfrz said.... you'll be fine w/ any of those plans. The three changes a year scenario is probably overkill.

10-19-2016, 11:24 AM	#10
jasonojordan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 2013 satin white brz limited Location: Cottage Grove MN Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 162 Thanked 511 Times in 326 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The main killer while storing a vehicle over winter is temperature swings. Try and keep the area where you store it a some what stable temperature. Large swings can cause condensation and that is where you will get your issues from.

10-19-2016, 12:33 PM	#12
Summerwolf Panda Trueno Join Date: Jan 2015 Drives: No twin now. Location: North Indiana Posts: 3,349 Thanks: 2,113 Thanked 2,409 Times in 1,332 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	This is a pretty big topic on BITOG. General consensus: As long as you use synthetic, and basically get the vehicle to operating temperature if you start it during storage times you won't degrade the oil and can basically go all your storage time and use it like normal mileage wise. The only way to be sure though, is if you get the blackstone test. Condensation was brought up earlier in this thread, and that is the main worry (why you're bringing the vehicle to operating temp when / if it is started). Personally, I just go off mileage and use a good oil. Even doing regular oil changes is probably overkill according to all the testing on current synthetic oils. You're not storing the car for years at a time in this situation. I don't think starting it up / driving it here and there during "winter storage" is a bad thing since it gets all the parts moving for a little while at least.

10-21-2016, 02:19 AM	#14
Stang70Fastback A.K.A. Starlord Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2015 Series.Blue Location: Illinois Posts: 1,842 Thanks: 845 Thanked 2,100 Times in 834 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	I realize you're more concerned with time than mileage in this thread, but FWIW I just added this post to my blog today which you might find interesting. It includes all the oil analysis results from my oil changes, which I do every 10,000 miles (~16,000 km), which for this latest change, happened 6.5 months apart. http://www.seriesblueadventures.com/...-oil-analysis/

User Name		Remember Me?
Password