How much does the TIME between oil changes matter? Its been about 4 months since my last oil change, but I've put less than 2000 miles on the car since then. I plan on getting it changed this week, but I was just curious how much of a factor time was in the life of oil if the miles are low and not very hard.

For a car that accumulates VERY low miles in a year (less than the amount normally recommended until your next change), the rule of thumb is change it every 12 months anyway. I believe this is supposedly because combustion develops acids in the oil that are detrimental over longer periods of time. If the car goes zero miles in a year, the oil probably can sit in there indefinately.

I change the oil in our cars every 3 months or 3,00 miles, whichever comes first...usually the latter.

For a car that accumulates VERY low miles in a year (less than the amount normally recommended until your next change), the rule of thumb is change it every 12 months anyway. I believe this is supposedly because combustion develops acids in the oil that are detrimental over longer periods of time. If the car goes zero miles in a year, the oil probably can sit in there indefinately.

Cool, thanks. I doubt I'll go a year between changes, but I just wanted to make sure waiting 4-5 months wasn't going to cause any serious problems.

For a car that accumulates VERY low miles in a year (less than the amount normally recommended until your next change), the rule of thumb is change it every 12 months anyway. I believe this is supposedly because combustion develops acids in the oil that are detrimental over longer periods of time. If the car goes zero miles in a year, the oil probably can sit in there indefinately.

the last part... depending on what kind of car it is i bet the gas sitting in the tank would be worse to use in the engine than the oil. hehe.

personal habits make me change mine every 4 months, at least, unless i somehow drive a whole lot more in 3 months than i do now, or obviously the oil is bad looking.

Yup- gas goes bad very fast. You are supposed to use fuel stabalizer if the vehicle is going to sit (I believe) 6 months. I bought a car that had sat 15 years; the gas had.... solidified into an inch-thick layer of cracked crustiness. I had it boiled out, used a length of chain, tried coating it- could not get it to stop oozing Slurpee mix into my fuel filter. Ultimately had to find another tank.

Usually I change the oil at 3/3000...

But since I live close to work-it can take a while to get to 3000 miles...

I wait no longer than 6 months to replace the oil...just to be on the safe side....

Yes, true.

But as crazy as it sounds my Super 88 started and drove on

the 23 year old gas in the tank, not well but it did run & drive.

Does synthetic help with the time factor at all?

Does synthetic help with the time factor at all?

Yes, but not that much....

Agreed: if I am correct in my recollection, the acids are by-products of combustion; those should occur in either 'dino' or synthetics.

Agreed: if I am correct in my recollection, the acids are by-products of combustion; those should occur in either 'dino' or synthetics.

Yep, with the synthetics it just takes longer for that to happen...