I travel often and leave my car sitting for weeks at a time. How often should I change my oil?

Question

Because I travel often, I sometimes leave my car in a garage or parking lot for weeks at a time. It might take me months to get to 30, 000 miles. Should I change my oil more often than that?

Answer 1

not only are oil changes due every 3000 miles, but it also says to be changed every 3 months if you reach that first. NOT running the car does not allow the engine to get warm enough to burn off water condensation or contaminates in the oil, and these remaining in the system can cause damage down the road. my recommendation? stick to the 3 month/3000 mile rule for changing your oil. i would also recommend an extra oil additive (such as Lucas oil stablizer or Slick 50). this will adhere to the top areas of the engine (having the car sit for long periods of time allows all the oil to drain to the bottom, then at startup, you have no top-end protection). the oil additive(s) will help in critical area of engine wear, where cars get the most of their wear.
hope this helps

Answer 2

You should change your oil about every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Even if you car sits for weeks on end, in between trips. It's not about how long you use the car, it depends on how much mileage you put on. So, if you have used it for almost 30,000 - you should have at least changed your oil, every 5,000 max! I'm surprised your oil doesn't look like a thick sludge :-(

The life blood of a car is the oil it runs on - if you change the oil - you keep the engine running alot cooler than without. Also, be sure to check your radiator fluid often. I shudder to think that you might let that go so long....

The last car I had lasted to over 124,000 miles - and only then did I have problems because my husband didn't check the water!
Juliana

Answer 3

read the instructions on the oil bottle. If there is nothing on the bottle, ask the manufacturer. most oil goes off as soon as contaminants are introduced. this means if you do a full oil and filter change and don't even start the car, the oil will be 'OFF' in about six months. change oil every six months or 3000-3500. Depending on seasonal variations in temperature you might want to change every three months(summer oil- winter oil).

Answer 4

As a rule of thumb, vehicles which travel very low mileage (Seniors, salesmen out of town etc) it is best to change the oil seasonally. It may seem like a waste of oil and service if there is only 1500 miles on it, but there is also moisture and cold start-up pollutants in this sort of low mileage oil.

Happy Motoring

Answer 5

I don't know how you found out 30,000 miles but it is actually 3,000 miles or if it is really dark then you know it is time to change it. I just changed the oil in my truck a month ago and already put 300 miles on it so change it every 3,000 miles.

Answer 6

Heck, it takes my mom a year to get on 3000 miles(and that is going to work every day)
Change oil every 4 months.

Answer 7

If your putting 30,000 miles on your vehicle in months time then change the oil everytime you get in it / Thats a lot of miles

Answer 8

i exploit a synthetic oil (Royal pink) and regulate each 8000 miles besides the actual shown reality that it claims you are able to pass ten thousand miles. It prices more effective money yet I do get more effective powerful gas mileage. the save that variations my oil places a clean oil filter out on at 4000 miles and tops off the oil if it desires it for no value.

Answer 9

i hope 30,000 is a typo , change it every 3 months , or go with a synthetic and go 6 months , if you get some highway driving in to burn off the moisture that accumulates

Answer 10

Change it by the color of the oil. Check it and when it starts getting brown change it. Never let the oil get black.....