Need for a spring oil change?

[twobone]

I was always told that you need to change your oil every spring as the oil builds up acids from just sitting there.

However I only drove 250 miles on my last change before putting it away last November....

Can I drive it for 3000 miles this spring or should I get it changed?

Mike
81' SC

[Rot 911]

If it was stored in a heated garage I would say no problem. If left outside or an unheated garage then you may have had multiple days where you had enough change from cold to not so cold temps to get condensation in the oil tank. If that is the case changing the oil is cheap insurance.

[1982911sc]

Woudn't the oil heat up enough on his first long drive to rid itself of any condensation, not too mention the fact that it is oil not water. I always change my oil on the last day of the driving season and let the car sit with fresh oil ready to go the first day I take it out of storage. Which for me was Saturday, the car ran amazing!!!!

[buster73]

I would also rather change the oil before putting the car away for the winter break than in spring (of course there is no winter break here in California - sorry guys). Otherwise the contaminated oil has all winter to cause corrosion and do other bad things. Acids build up more from driving than from sitting in the garage. From that point of view you should be fine. The 3,000 miles number is no absolute limit and +/- 250 miles won't make a big difference. Moisture will evaporate once you have heated up the car and driven at temperature for ca. 30 min.