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I have a 2004 VW Passat that is rarely driven, maybe 1000 miles a year if that. Mostly it sits in my garage. Occasionally one of the kids will borrow it if their car is broken down/in for repairs ect. I'll probably give it to a grandchild someday.
My question, does synthetic oil really have to be changed once a year? I pull the dipstick and it looks like I just poured it in after a year. Seems like a waste.
I have a 2004 VW Passat that is rarely driven, maybe 1000 miles a year if that. Mostly it sits in my garage. Occasionally one of the kids will borrow it if their car is broken down/in for repairs ect. I'll probably give it to a grandchild someday.
My question, does synthetic oil really have to be changed once a year? I pull the dipstick and it looks like I just poured it in after a year. Seems like a waste.
Not really - at least two I would think but there is lots that can go wrong with the engine and suspension of it is not driven. You need to take it out at least every two weeks and get the engine up to operating temperature and bring it back to the garage hot - like after a 20 minute interstate drive. And once a year a bottle of dry-gas to remove water and perhaps Techtron to keep the fuel system in order. That should do it.
I have a 2004 VW Passat that is rarely driven, maybe 1000 miles a year if that. Mostly it sits in my garage. Occasionally one of the kids will borrow it if their car is broken down/in for repairs ect. I'll probably give it to a grandchild someday.
My question, does synthetic oil really have to be changed once a year? I pull the dipstick and it looks like I just poured it in after a year. Seems like a waste.
much depends upon:
1) the climate where the car is sitting?
2) when the car is driven, is it driven long enough to keep it at operating temp (oil temp, not water temp) for at least 20-30 minutes?
If you're in a dry climate area with the car stored in that garage where it's not subject to wide temperature swings AND it gets driven a reasonable time/load each time it is started, then ...
an annual oil change is unlikely to be needed with your high quality synthetic oil.
Of course, consider:
What are your expectations for this vehicle? How many years do you intend to operate it? How many miles do you anticipate putting on it?
OTOH, if the car sits for a prolonged time and then is driven only a few miles, it will build up acids/combustion by-products and moisture much more rapidly in the oil, especially if it's in a humid climate with temperatures where the metal of the engine "sweats" and delivers moisture into the engine. In that scenario, if the engine isn't brought up to temperature long enough to drive out the moisture from the oil, you'll have rapid wear in the engine. But keep in mind your goals ... if the car isn't expected to be used for many more years, than the engine internal wear from your limited use may be of no consequence because other wear/deterioration items will be a more significant factor in keeping the car on the road.
I drive my 79 T-Bird anywhere from 900 to 1500 miles a year...I use cheap wal-mart dino oil...I have done once a year oil changes since 2010 with no issues yet...however, every trip I take is 138 miles or so at hwy speeds so I have no problem with acid/water build up from short trips.
Not really - at least two I would think but there is lots that can go wrong with the engine and suspension of it is not driven. You need to take it out at least every two weeks and get the engine up to operating temperature and bring it back to the garage hot - like after a 20 minute interstate drive. And once a year a bottle of dry-gas to remove water and perhaps Techtron to keep the fuel system in order. That should do it.
Yeah, that's not happening. It's used more like a golf cart. If my wife drives it it's less than a couple of miles.
Not really - at least two I would think but there is lots that can go wrong with the engine and suspension of it is not driven. You need to take it out at least every two weeks and get the engine up to operating temperature and bring it back to the garage hot - like after a 20 minute interstate drive. And once a year a bottle of dry-gas to remove water and perhaps Techtron to keep the fuel system in order. That should do it.
Everything is right except the dry gas issue is taken care of by the 10% ethanol in gasoline. Letting the car sit with a full tank all that time invites corrosion and destruction of rubber parts. Common advice on this forum is to add Seafoam to the tank to avoid some off that corrosion.
Take it for a drive every couple of weeks is good advice.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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What engine? W8 / VR6 / 1.8T / TDI ?
With indoor storage and synthetic oil in a seldom driven modern car... I would drive to temp every 4 months and cool it slow (not outside at night if chance of condensation), then let her sit. I would trust 5 + yrs is no issue with synthetic oil in a garaged vehicle. If a TDI, she will be happy to sit a VERY long time with no need to change Crankcase oil or FUEL.
I have driven many a brier patch VW rabbit home that had been sitting in the rain / damp and mold 5-10 yrs... none of them had premature engine failures (and they were well wrung out to start with).
Of course I changed to dino oil and flushed them out before putting them into fulltime service. (usually with synthetic if they had a healthy engine)
I have a 2004 VW Passat that is rarely driven, maybe 1000 miles a year if that. Mostly it sits in my garage. Occasionally one of the kids will borrow it if their car is broken down/in for repairs ect. I'll probably give it to a grandchild someday.
My question, does synthetic oil really have to be changed once a year? I pull the dipstick and it looks like I just poured it in after a year. Seems like a waste.
the issue isnt the oil itself, that never loses is lubricity. the problem comes when the additive package breaks down over time, and combines with the moisture in the air to create acids and sludge. at a minimum change the oil at least once per year, twice is better.
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