Low, low mileage....change oil or not?

[JDgreen227]

Thanks to all for the input...I should have mentioned that both vehicles have been very well maintained since new and the GMC is not used for heavy towing...if it was then I would have no hestitation about changing the oil after a year. Wife's car is an '04 Saturn, driven daily and I change the oil and filter on that twice yearly (every 4000 miles) because she commutes 13 miles to work with a lot of stops for traffic lights. Decided to do the Buick this week but let the GMC wait a while...it takes 6 quarts and the oil looks like it was changed only a month ago.

 

[Combustix]

Winters here are severe and I am reluctant to run either vehicle thru a second winter without an oil change, both do get driven in cold temperatures. A filter and oil for the Buick is about $15, for the GMC $25. It's not the cost I am concerned about, but I have read that changing oil when the oil life monitor registers there is ample life left is simply wasteful. Both are parked in unheated garages.

JD you said it right there if you are reluctant to not run them without the change then just do it for your own peace of mind. It definitely isn't going to hurt

 

[Turbys_1700]

To be honest, I doubt that not changing would hurt either vehicle if you are under the specified miles...
I know that habits are hard to break but with my last two cars I went with the GM oil life monitor and never had an issue...
Those monitors typically run in the 6K to 7K range for recommended changes...
I change my F350 Powerstroke out every 5K...
If I was in your shoes, I would go ahead and schedule changes yearly anyway...
That's just me...
But I doubt that the engine would be harmed either way...

 

[Gary Fowler]

IIRC my GM manual says change per computer monitor or once per year. My truck still shows about 9% on life monitor and about 15 months. It has full synthetic oil in it so I am going to change it soon but dont want to be wasteful. I have made a couple of trips with a trailer to the tune of about 1600 miles but mostly is just sets in the enclosed garage. The oil is still on full and very clear. The oil life monitor is set for Dino oil not synthetic so I am sure it will go more than what is on the monitor. $$$ Cost is not the issue but wasting our non-renewable resources is. My vote is to leave it as long as you feel comfortable with it. Oil doesnt spoil and if you are running it long enough to evaporate any condensation, then leaving it set is not damaging. I was going to change my boat engine oil and when I pulled the dip stick it looks like new oil so I am leaving it for now. The boat likely doesnt have 10 hours on the oil and 2 years of setting in the enclosed garage so little temp changes to worry about. Synthetic oil in it too. I for one am not concerned with the oil damaging the engine from setting without use.

 

[JESSE1]

Don't take a chance, change the oil. It's not like the oil is going to waste, either a dealer or oil change shop saves the oil and it is recycled. The big problem is acids build up in the oil and will work on your bearings.

 

[crashz]

I always recommend changing at least once per year, as others have said acids build up in the and need to be removed. Other additives will also expire over time as well as miles.

That being said, I don't always practice what I preach. The dump truck is going on 3 years on the same oil (less than 100 miles) and the tractor about 2 years. The dump truck has been under repair for all this time, and the tractor has a good synthetic in it right now with only about 25 hours on it.

A few extra months is not a bad thing. I think you are doing fine with your Buick. But I would re-think the GMC. Even though the oil might be fine for the winter, I would want to get under the truck for a detailed inspection and grease everything you can. Grease does degrade over time. Oil changes are a good time to clean, grease, check and top off all the other fluids. Especially before winter.

 

[JDgreen227]

Don't take a chance, change the oil. It's not like the oil is going to waste, either a dealer or oil change shop saves the oil and it is recycled. The big problem is acids build up in the oil and will work on your bearings.

I have always done the oil changes and I do recycle all the used oil.

 

[dodge man]

One reason I switched to synthetic oil was peace of mind. I was often changing my oil only once a year, even though the book would say twice a year. I change all my own oil so if it means I only have to do it once a year, it seems like a huge time saver to me.

 

[Bird]

I, too, am one of those who will change oil once a year whether it needs it or not.:laughing: And that's for cars, trucks, tractors, lawnmowers, and all motor machines. My current lawnmower says 100 hours or one year. After one year, it only had 35.6 hours on it, but I changed oil & filter.

 

[LD1]

Honestly, I cant recall a date when they were last changed. I change then strictly on mileage alone. All my trips are highway though. Never any issues at all and one car has 160k miles.

But that said, if I were in your shoes Id change it. Simply (as others said) for peice of mind. Odds are, if you go another year. you will have no problems ever related to that. BUT...it will ALWAYS be in the back of your mind everytime something goes wrong, or everytime you hear a funny noise.