2 Years Without Changing Oil?

Hang on a minute, let’s put this. In perspective.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
..... only gets driven 50 miles a month.

50 miles a month is 600 miles a YEAR.

BurbMan wrote:
Unless you're talking about a lawnmower you're accelerating engine wear unnecessarily

Accelerated wear? At 600 miles a year? So then the engine will wear out in just 40 years instead of 60 years?

I went several years before changing my genset oil because I only put 10 or 12 hrs a year on it. The dipstick was always clean and the level was good. When I did change it there was a lot of white creamy sludge in the bottom that did not show up on the dip stick. So condensation is a real problem especially over the winter, and even though I ran the genset before I drained the oil it did not burn off all that sludge. I don't know what an oil analyses would cost but I am sure it is more than my oil change and filter. I am sure there are a lot of variables as to were you live how long the engine sits between use etc, but I think a yearly oil change or every 12,000 miles is good advice.

Gas or Diesel?
The reason I ask if that Gas engines oil changes tend to be around 65 dollars at most of the shops I visit

Diesels 100 and up

There are labs. You drop a drop or 2 of oil from the dipstick onto or into what they send you and mail it back and they tell you if it's time to change. Never used one so don't know the price (gas engines)

Especially with synthetics ... I change the Mobil 1 in my motors (vehicles plus generators) only when it looks too dark colored. IMHO, "fresh oil" is far less important than unbroken down oil that still appears relatively clean/clear.

I once had an uncle that - with his first brand new car (a Ford) - drove it at least 90,000 miles before he changed it's oil. The oil as black as pitch when he had it changed but it still ran like a top.

Kindof related to oil changes ... our motorhome has over 81,000 miles on it and it's still on it's good original front and rear brake pads.

At 600 miles per year, who cares if you only get 20,000 miles out of the engine? That's over 30 years, so yeah, I'd change it no more than every couple years, maybe longer.

I come from an industry that tests the oil and only replaces it when it becomes contaminated. So I do not get real excited about intervals.

I would go at least two years. At 600 miles a year and always put away hot I may never change the oil again.

I have a jeep as a fun vehical, i have gone a year but not over changing the oil. Not much money to do it. I did have the calibers lock up from non use. Thats was $$$.

Yes but condensation forms as temps drop in the overnights...why vehicle mfrs also specify a time interval and a mileage interval "whichever comes first".

Also assuming vehicle gets started more than 1x per month, the engine doesn't get enough heat cycles to burn off contaminants.

Unless you're talking about a lawnmower you're accelerating engine wear unnecessarily