I have always changed the engine oil and filter every year on my Riot. However I've been wondering if it is absolutely necessary given that I
only do c.1000 miles a year.
I would normally do it at this time of year, before its winter hibernation, but the oil still looks like new.
What do you all do?
I would say you've been changing it at the wrong time of the year!
Fresh oil and filter after the winter,ready for using the car 
For the cost I would say keep doing it yearly,sitting over winter you can get moisture in the oil,and if you start the car up over winter and it
doesn't get up to full temp the moisture in the oil/crankcase doesn't evaporate.
Think you're all missing the point, you're not doing enough miles
Think you're all missing the point, you're not doing enough miles
Modern synthetic oils it's not required, you wasting your money in my opinion, modern synthetic oils last at least 20000, even if your doing very low mileage every 3 or 4 years will be fine
i change oil 600-1000 miles, i don't look to kmh, just hear the engine. engine will tell you then to change - sound, pressure. Time also depends
driving style.
Theoretical modern oil change 20K, but is buslhit. I was in laboratory where they do tests, they comfirm, almost all "20k oils" getting
worse from 10K, marketing trick
I don't bother, as owning a xflow, means just toppimg up every week, has the same effect 
Seriously, I do mine every year, regardless, and my tintop every 5k
Change the oil and filter annually just before you put the car back on the road after winter.
As said above the oil will gather moisture and replacing the oil and filter does no harm.
Oil and filters don't cost a fortune either!
Might be worth looking at why you do only 1000 miles a year
Lack of weather protection? is it even the right kind of car to suit your circumstances? when you add the cost of MOT, insurance, road tax & fuel
for so few miles it's probably working out very expensive for what you getting out it...
Maybe a sporty production car say an little MX5 would get much more use and be almost as much fun
Just a suggestion.....
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Might be worth looking at why you do only 1000 miles a year
Lack of weather protection? is it even the right kind of car to suit your circumstances? when you add the cost of MOT, insurance, road tax & fuel for so few miles it's probably working out very expensive for what you getting out it...
Maybe a sporty production car say an little MX5 would get much more use and be almost as much fun
Just a suggestion.....
Seems that everyone has a different opinion on the oil change thing. Personally as long as long as the car is run up to temp every month or so during
the winter I think you'll be fine changing at the manufacturers recommended intervals.
Are some of you saying then that oil has a shelf life of less than a year? Because I very very much doubt it. How is it going to absorb water once
its in the sealed oil system? From the exhaust valves?
Wow you can tell you car needs a oil change from the engine sound?
Thanks for the pointers here. I don't think that there is a clear conclusion, but I will probably change it before it goes back on the road next year.
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Change the oil and filter annually just before you put the car back on the road after winter.
As said above the oil will gather moisture and replacing the oil and filter does no harm.
Oil and filters don't cost a fortune either!
Agreed. I’m much to stingy to Chang that often 5k 5 years for me. Do let it go for more than 6 months without starting it!
I don't use mine over the winter and it just sits in the garage under a cover usually for 5 months.