infrequent usage and oil changes

hi,

My 1997 Altima is being used very lightly for the last 6 months now - only racked up about 1500 miles or so. Should I get the oil changed done now? Or can I go for a month or two more? The manual prescribes a time interval of 6 months or 5000 miles for light usage.

thanks,

Reply to
RB
Loading thread data ...

Change oil at least twice a year. If you live in a reezing winter temperature area , change oil in spring to remove the oil contaminted by water condensation from inside the engine during winter.

DANiel Montreal

Reply to
Daniel

Yeah I'd second what the Montreal guy said

Running only some 1500 miles a 6 months / 3000 miles a year, a once a year oil change would be plenty ok in MILD CLIMATES only

If your place has severe Winters (pretty much all of USA except California, Florida, and the Texas/Luoisianna etc near coastal regions, then by changing your oil in Spring and Autumn (="Fall"), you can use the recommended Summer and Winter grade oils

......but if you live in an area surrounded by Orange tree groves and Palm trees, and where Summer and Winter engine oil is the same, then

3000 miles between changes sounds ok

Remember to change the oil filter at the same time too. Do it with a nicely warmed up engine, so all the old oil drains out well

After replacing the sump bung and re-filling with new oil, start the engine and just let it IDLE, do not rev it up un-necessarily when it first fires up. With some cars it takes quite awhile, sometimes even

30 seconds, for the oil filter to become re-filled the first time, and for the low oil warning light to go out. (mostly old English cars, which run a higher pressure, but lower pumped volume, oil system)

cheers

Spam-block in action

Catherine Jemma.......(Keeper of The Gem of Amara) Outback Western Australia .... snipped-for-privacy@agn.net.au.knickers

(Remove knickers before replying)

Reply to
Catherine Jemma

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.