Stupid oil change question...

I own an 81 SC with 115,000 miles... anyhow, I hardly drive it and it sits in the garage. Time usually passes before mileage, for an oil change. I know that oil picks up moisture and stuff, but if I only put a few hundred miles on it a year in the spring/summer, do I really need to change the oil every few hundred miles? Time passes so quickly I feel all I do is change the oil and park it in the garage. By the way, I don't use synthetic... I use Kendall GT1 20W50, and the dip stick oil is never ever dirty and I don't burn hardly any oil... more leaks than burning.

By the way, I know what they say "so many miles or so many months" before changing the oil... but I feel that is a rule of thumb for those who need a calendar schedule as opposed to looking at the odometer... it's more an avergae I think rather than oil brakiing down over time... What you think?

Oh yeah, what I'm really asking is can I safely get 2 seasons out of it instead of one? I obviously don't think I can go years on it with the same oil.

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Cy

[This message has been edited by CT911SCDriver (edited 04-30-2001).]

[This message has been edited by CT911SCDriver (edited 04-30-2001).]

I can't believe you would actually use the same oil for two years! Yes I know this subject has been brought up before, but that is like buying your kid a size 12 shoe, and saying they will grow into them. I use Kendal GT-1 20-50w as well. A case of it a Mahle filter, and new gaskets for the sump cost me $40. I change my oil every 6 months or 3,000 miles ( usually time before miles). I consider it cheap insurance against a costly re-build.

Just my 911 cents.



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Matt Chamblin
78 911 SC

You own the car to enjoy it. So few miles, I'm sure they are just putt aroud miles. I doubt you would any damage to change every other year. If the oil is clean it should be ok.

OR

You could enjoy it moooooore.

Put 5k a year on it.

Hey now that I think of it, my dog has the same petigree. I can walk it for you.

I'm sure you wont hurt anything.

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GT911
GordonTaylor@ev1.net
'81 911 SC very very fun
'84 BMW 318i very very economical

Just change the oil every year. YOu will get moisture and other things in it if you run the engine at all. Its cheap insurance.

Cheers,

Mike
83 911SC (driven EVERY day!)

CT911SCDriver

Why do you own this car?
Quote"I hardly drive it and it sits in the garage. "

sell the car (to me) and you won't have to worry about the oil...ever again..Chris


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Shakenbake (Chris Baker)
1974 911 Sunroof Coupe

I don't drive it because of bad weather here in the NE, either raining or too hot or snowing... Also, some people don't know how to drive and it freaks me out! My car is perfect, original red paint, no dings, no scratches... no fade...perfect interior... red wheels to match etc... I want to keep it nice and besides I got other cars to drive to home depot!!!

Hey is it me or do you notice that everyone is a race car driver when you pull up to a light or just cruisin along? I hate that... and I can't stand those drivers that get up real close to the rear bumper at every light because they can't judge the distance from their huge SUV and your tiny porsche (in comparison)... hence, I hardly drive it...

There are other reasons too...

My oil question is a curiosity one... I have always changed the oil every season... but I just wanted to know "what if"??? that's all... I think there is a lot of hype over oil changed every 6 months... usually a rebuild from oil problems is due to loss of pressure, or no oil, etc etc...

Cy

[This message has been edited by CT911SCDriver (edited 04-30-2001).]

Cy, I understand your fears about taking out a perfect car and to have someone in their clunker pull up too closely behind/next to your car. People love to take a closer look at these cars and yes, kids love to race these cars at lights. BUT, a Porsche needs to be driven and its ok to drive it hard at times. they are build and designed to be driven. You actually do more harm than good to the engine/oil collecting condensation and the only way to get rid of the condensation build up is to drive it....

You are saving your car cosmetically while killing it mechanically.

Every system on your car is breaking down as the car sits. Every gasket is drying, the oil is pooling, and the top of the engine has no oil at all. It will begin to leak badly and smoke a lot upon start up. The skunked fuel will clog the injectors and the piston in the fuel distributor will seize. Your brakes will begin to rust, leak, then fail.

The reduced depreciation (if any) that you may get upon selling will be more than eaten up by repair costs. You must drive this car or it will die.

If this is not possible then change your oil anually, brake fluid every 2 years, and put stabilizer in the fuel tank, and overinflate the tires. This will slow the death, but not stop it.

RarlyL8 is 100% correct and how do you think I know this? I found a 73"S" in a garaged collection in California and the car had virtually no miles on it having not been registered since 1976. After having purchased the car, I had them steam the engine and transmission off and when it was started up again, it leaked from ever gasket known to mankind. I didn't register the car for ten years, but it was run every week and the oil was changed twice a year regardless of runtime. The car runs great, but it has a few little leaks (nothing serious), but it is my own fault. When these cars are not driven, the gaskets dry out, the rings can stick and worse, the oil does get contaminated. Moisture is your enemy and you should change your oil, especially because of where you live.

My cars are stored 60 feet undergound in a garage that is warm all year round and still, I have to change my oil due to moisture and contaminants. Oil changes are very cheap insurance in maintaining your engine, but a word of advice... please drive your car more often so things don't dry out.

Best Regards,

Marc

Marc, how are you getting on with your Early 911 club in NYC? And, how are those fabulous bars and resturants down 3rd Avenue?

Bill '79SC

Step one: change oil

Step two: promptly drive 3000 miles

repeat as necessary if grin fades

Keith
79 930

These cars love to be driven. There will be 3-4 drops of oil on my garage floor every time the cars sits idle over 7-10 days. Drive it every 3-4 days, never leaks a tear.