Engine oil....is Fuchs good?

[Silvia]

I have taken this matter up with oil companies and engineers as my car sits for a month or more while I'm overseas often, so gets very little use. All say you must change oil anyway at time intervals as there is breakdown in the oil and loss of protection even with the car parked...

[Steampunk]

... my car sits for a month or more while I'm overseas often, so gets very little use....

I hope you realise there are other problems associated with not running the engine for so long.

[Silvia]

Why not say , 1Red5 ?. You might actually be of some help

[hks_kansei]

And if oil doesn't go off, why do they specify oil changes by time as well as mileage?
When I ask mechanics about this they invariably say oil deteriorates after exposure to air,humidity etc.

Simple answer, money.
More often oil change = more times at the workshop = more bills from the workshop.

My old mechanic told me to go from the KM not the time, yes, oil deteriorates over time, but it's a matter of how much it deteriorates, over how much time.


Brake fluid is much more prone than oil to absorb humidity and other garbage, do you change that at each oil change?

[Silvia]

You'd better take that up with Bruce "oil does not deteriorate" (above)

I change engine oil, brake fluid and coolant according to time.
Timing belt,plugs, and to some extent, diff. and GB. oils are well sealed and will last for years and are good for mileage recommendations.
I find with quality oil, 10,000km change intervals with filter are fine but will reduce this if the car is standing for a month or so.
I think a 100km highway run will drive out moisture otherwise....and remove the need for upper cylinder cleaners etc.

[JBT]

There are two different schools of thought from two manufacturers on oil changes.

2003 BMW - every 25,000 km (ish). The car will tell you when it needs to be serviced by (I believe) counting down the distance since last service and counting the fuel used. 25,000 km or 2500 litres used means it's service time. If you only drive around town then you will need to get it serviced before 25,000 km because you'll get worse than 10l/100km.
Note: I change the oil and filter every 8,300 km (ish). I only use BMW LL01 approved synthetic oil - Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40.

2008 MX5 and 2002 Astina - very 10,000 km or 6 months, whichever comes first.
Note: I change oil and filter on the Astina about every 9 months using an everyday cheapish (Castrol or Penrite) synthetic. The MX-5 is tracked/hillclimbed and changed with same stuff as the BMW every 6 months.

[bruce]

You'd better take that up with Bruce "oil does not deteriorate" (above)

Are you truly thick and have trouble reading posts?
Of course oil IN an engine has a limited lifespan (whether it is run or not).
Oil in a SEALED container (ie. you do the top up) has a much longer life measured in years.
They don't throw out old oil stock from shelves like expired milk. There is no expiry date on the container.
Throwing out the last litre of un-used oil is the stupidest thing I have heard of in years.