13 Months and 4200 miles Since Last Change... Should I?

[gmcjetpilot]

SHOULD I change my oil early or later. Is TIME or MILAGE more important criteria to base oil changes on.

I am not driving my 2010 TDI JSW as much as I use to. I have second car, a 2015 Nissan Leaf I bought the Nissan used about 4-5 years. I use it for local driving. However summer I typically go on two long cross countries (1500 miles) and several short trips (400 to 600 miles). I am doing two short trips in May about 1000 miles total. I think I will wait until I do those trips.

I had my phone app service reminder set to 7500 miles and 13 months. So it says over due. However I am debating waiting to get closer to 7,500 miles and 18 months.

I just picked up a Mann filter and 5 liters of Mobil 1 ESP 5-30W.

 

[lemoncurd]

Youre probably fine to do it after the next trip, but the biggest issue with age is water contamination from moisture and just deterioration of the oil from age. Synthetic oils are better at fighting age but i dont think it would be wise to go beyond 18 months regardless of miles

 

[oilhammer]

I think it depends on the type of driving it gets. If it spends much of its time just sitting, or does it get driven a lot of very short trips? Either would result in low(ish) mileage, but are different for what it does to the oil.

I have a LOT of cars, many of which don't get driven very often. So I stick with the mileage, regardless, because when the DO get driven, it is not typically a short trip... as I live 50 miles from anything except for the few in-town things.

Most of the European flexible intervals max out at two years. MB does in the US as well. For some reason, VAG sticks with one year here. But as I said, if it isn't driven much, I'd not worry about it even if it took a little longer than two years to hit 10k miles.

My F150 hasn't had its oil changed in over two years, and that is a 5k mile interval at that! I just don't drive it much.

 

[gmcjetpilot]

Thanks for the advice..... I am just going to change it. Takes 30 mins and oil filter total of including tax, $52 ($12 MANN filter at local Adv Auto, $40 Mobil 5-30W 1 ESP 507 Spec). I have a suck oil out machine so all work done from top, 30 min not including warm up. Why not change it? Lazy? Cheap? I have the stuff just do it. Just do it.

I WAS SPOILED.... Remember Diesel GATE? Remember the $1000 please don't sue us money, $500 to spend anywhere debit card and another $500 spend at dealers? Well I bought engine oil and filters, DSG oil and filter, It lasted years. Ran out of my stock of goodies. I had to go buy oil and filters last oil change.

SPEAKING OF MOBIL 1 5-30W ESP.... Is it any good? Adv Auto store had LIQUI MOLY TopTec 4200 5W-30 $57 ($62 w/ tax), which is a good price, but $40 is hard to beat. Mobil 1 ESP is VW 505 and 507 Spec.... so..... What do you think of Mobil 1 ESP (507 Spec). I called VW dealer and they don't sell Castrol anymore, they use Mobil 1 ESP.

PS I just saw Advanced Auto also has Castrol Edge L04 (507 Spec). I was married to that oil for 10 years. But last year I could not find it, so I went with Mobil 1 ESP (because my dealer uses it). However I see but see Advanced Castrol Edge 507 Spec in Qrt bottles. $12 each. Seems that Advanced Auto with MANN filters, Liqui Moly 507 oil, has stuff for German cars, VW's, other auto stores don't (Auto Zone, O'Reilly, NAPA). The MANN oil filter was $5 cheaper at Advanced Auto than my local VW dealers filter (which I think is MANN.

 

[turbobrick240]

I wouldn't worry about brands of 507 spec oil. They are all pretty equivalent. My Ford 7.3 truck has four gallons of 4 year old oil with several hundred miles on it, and it isn't getting changed anytime soon.

 

[gmcjetpilot]

Thanks Gang..... I got off the couch and changed engine oil and filter.

I also sucked out some old DOT 4 and refilled with fresh. As well sucked out G12 from reservoir and added new 50/50 mix.

It is always good to get into the car. Now to fix air Pressure light. I have tried serval things I am about to try and just turn it off.... I have the transmitter type. I have Ross Tech cable.