Oil change now or later

[tricky1138]

I'm sure this will be a controversial post but here it goes.

I usually do an oil change / service just before the MOT in April and after she's brought out of winter hibernation.

Because of lockdown etc, the car didnt come out till July and has only done a few hundred miles this year.

Also the MOT got extended till October and decided that it was actually a better time to get it done so that I had winter to fix anything.

The car will be SORN at the end of the month till probably March.

Do I therefore, service it now and it will sit for 5 months with the new oil in, or do I just leave it and service it in March before using it again?

[Carolyn]

I'm sure this will be a controversial post but here it goes.

I usually do an oil change / service just before the MOT in April and after she's brought out of winter hibernation.

Because of lockdown etc, the car didnt come out till July and has only done a few hundred miles this year.

Also the MOT got extended till October and decided that it was actually a better time to get it done so that I had winter to fix anything.

The car will be SORN at the end of the month till probably March.

Do I therefore, service it now and it will sit for 5 months with the new oil in, or do I just leave it and service it in March before using it again?

I'd leave it.

[scm2004red]

I'd leave it.

Why I wonder?

Is it better to leave it stored with fresh fluids, or with the old contaminated stuff?

I usually use the winter when my cars are Sorned to service them and do odd jobs.

[Carolyn]

I'd leave it.

Why I wonder?

Is it better to leave it stored with fresh fluids, or with the old contaminated stuff?

I usually use the winter when my cars are Sorned to service them and do odd jobs.

As he engine is not going to be run, it has little bearing on looking after the engine.  As the oil does deteriorate over time - might as well start driving with fresh oil?

[Joesson]

Very similar to my situation but I only used the 2 in the month of September when it passed it's MOT and is now back on SORN.

[thetyrant]

Presuming you used decent oil on last change i would leave it as well and change when it comes out next year.

Also before it goes away for hibernation i would make sure it gets a proper good run out with plenty of heat to evaporate any moisture in the engine/oils etc, not essential but always good idea if car is going to sit.

[Zxrob]

Probably get a kicking here, however, why would you want to change your oil after a few hundred miles, waste of time and money

Folks really do get hung up about oil, they read, joe up the road changes his regardless every year even if the car aint moved off the drive, todays modern oils dont break down for years, totally unnecessary

I await the backlash

Rob

[Bossworld]

I usually garage mine Dec > Feb and start it up/let it get up to temperature once a fortnight. Accordingly I don't do the service until the end of Feb.

Similar boat to me, it seems a waste junking plugs/air filter etc. after 3k miles this year but when it's £40 for all new bits from Toyota I just do it

My MOT date has pushed back to Nov which is ideal as it means any remedial work can be done over winter now, rather than delaying time with the car in the Spring.

[1979scotte]

Probably get a kicking here, however, why would you want to change your oil after a few hundred miles, waste of time and money

Folks really do get hung up about oil, they read, joe up the road changes his regardless every year even if the car aint moved off the drive, todays modern oils dont break down for years, totally unnecessary

I await the backlash

Rob

Are you from Yorkshire?

IMHO the 2 worse things for an engine are lack of regular servicing and lack of use.

1zz and their oil control rinds especially

[Chilli Girl]

Probably get a kicking here, however, why would you want to change your oil after a few hundred miles, waste of time and money

Folks really do get hung up about oil, they read, joe up the road changes his regardless every year even if the car aint moved off the drive, todays modern oils dont break down for years, totally unnecessary

I await the backlash

Rob

Are you from Yorkshire?

IMHO the 2 worse things for an engine are lack of regular servicing and lack of use.

1zz and their oil control rinds especially

He's a Yorkshire man and biker, what more do you expect?  Nothing wrong with being from Yorkshire and a biker Scotte. Ha ha!  I have missed you.

[Chilli Girl]

He's a Yorkshire man and a biker, that's what we are like Scotte      I have missed you.

[tricky1138]

Probably get a kicking here, however, why would you want to change your oil after a few hundred miles, waste of time and money

Its not a few hundred its a few thousand, as it should have been done in March this year but didnt due to lockdown and the car not being used.

Totally agree with the fact that it should be ok.

I usually garage mine Dec > Feb and start it up/let it get up to temperature once a fortnight. Accordingly I don't do the service until the end of Feb.

Similar boat to me, it seems a waste junking plugs/air filter etc. after 3k miles this year but when it's £40 for all new bits from Toyota I just do it

My MOT date has pushed back to Nov which is ideal as it means any remedial work can be done over winter now, rather than delaying time with the car in the Spring.

I agree for £40 its worth doing every year regardless, and in the same situation, remedial work can be done over winter if needed rather than taking it off the road in April when the MOT was usually due.

As he engine is not going to be run, it has little bearing on looking after the engine.  As the oil does deteriorate over time - might as well start driving with fresh oil?

That was my thoughts too. I'll leave it till March.

[Zxrob]

Are you from Yorkshire?

IMHO the 2 worse things for an engine are lack of regular servicing and lack of use.

1zz and their oil control rinds especially

Hmm, Yorkshire, tut , no

I have run many cars and motorbikes for many years, I would not change the oil every 12 months if I had done say 1000 miles in a year, I have left it a couple of years and never had an issue FACT

Obviously its personal choice how your maintain, service a vehicle

Rob

[Ardent]

In answer to original post.
I would lean towards. Leave it.

My deep down answer would be. Use the car.

[shnazzle]

Run the car all year. Problem solved

[Joesson]

@Ardent and @shnazzle both singing from the same hymn book!

[Ardent]

@Ardent and @shnazzle both singing from the same hymn book!

From @Joesson who isn't.

[Mr2paul]

Yep, leave it and run the car imho.
My old coupe forum had folk dropping oil every 3k and were imho paranoid about it !
Doing that (unless used on track) is a complete and utter waste of time/money.
Yes I am from Yorkshire ! 😇👍

[JohnGee]

@Mr2paul - Your last remark explains a lot 

[1979scotte]

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[1979scotte]

Changing the oil on the 1zz is a must. The design is flawed which is why it got late life revisions.
This is exacerbated by the lack of miles that are generally covered in an mr2.
By all means dont bother changing plugs but do the oil and filters every 12 month.
It isn't exactly expensive and you can do it yourself to limit expenditure even more.

[Mr2paul]

Yep, no problem at all changing yearly as you say regardless, but some do it way too often. I won't comment further on my home county 🤔🤔

[Call the midlife!]

I change the oil annually, every time I take the engine out and at least twice a year on top of that...

[tricky1138]

Topic revival.

MR2 is coming out of hibernation on 1st April    

I'm going to service it before then, but the question is:

As its been sitting for 5 months without starting, should I do the service before starting her up, or start her up, get her up to temperature and then service?

I know air filter, sparks are prob ok, but what would be best for oil wise?

Edit: And does everyone still use a washing up bowl? Mine has gone missing so going to get a new one - are them fancy ones what collect the oil in the bottom and can be sealed any good?

 

[Call the midlife!]

I cut the side out of an empty 5 ltr oil can.