How would you advise?

[Gibbo2286]

My neighbour, 80 year old is getting fussed about oil changes.
He has a ten year old Honda serviced religiously to schedule at the main dealer, it's done just 19k miles from new.
He asked me yesterday if he should get the oil and filter changed, he's done just 900 miles since the last time.
I told him to save his money but he's worried the oil might have 'gone off'

[myglaren]

I'm sure that you are better informed than I and have far more experience but I think it depends a lot on how the car is used. If it were just short trips all the time then I would definitely change the oil and filter annually. Blow-by fumes are acidic and have a lot of initial moisture that will degrade the oil and possibly corrode metal surfaces in the engine if the engine id never warmed up enough to evaporate the moisture off, and also clog the filter.
If those miles have been done in several 100+ mile journeys then would do it bi-annually.

While it is reassuring to have a car available at all times, if he is only using it for shopping and visits withing short distances then it would probably be more economical to use the bus and taxi's considering the annual costs of keeping the car. Selling it would pay for a lot of taxi rides.

I understand that he would be reluctant to go down that path, as I would too.

[xantia_v6]

If the oil looks clean and not milky I wouldn't bother changing it, nor the filter. Oil doesn't "go off" at room temperature.

[bobins]

I'd be more concerned about a build-up of mayo (oil emulsifying) over all those short distances than actual annual oil changes. It could probably do with a serious Italian tune up and then a hot oil change.

[PaulC5]

Could also depend on whether he can afford the oil change cost, if short of money then do less often, if loaded at 80 years old then spending money should be a priority. We probably all know somebody who has passed leaving a large amount of money when they should have spent it on themselves.

[CitroJim]

If the oil looks clean and not milky I wouldn't bother changing it, nor the filter. Oil doesn't "go off" at room temperature.

I'd agree, I do my two AXs on a yearly basis.

I'd be more concerned about a build-up of mayo (oil emulsifying) over all those short distances than actual annual oil changes. It could probably do with a serious Italian tune up and then a hot oil change.

Yep, that too... Mayo is a risk in a lightly used/driven vehicle and I have a policy of always doing my best to make sure I run mine right up to temperature and take them out for a good blast (by my standards) every time I need to start them up.

That said, mayo is nowhere near the problem it was back in the 60s and 70s...

[PaulC5]

Worst car I had for mayo was a 1998 Saab 9-5 with the 2.3 t petrol engine that they started using when taken over by GM. The engines did not breath well despite official mods but I found undoing the oil cap after switching off would allow the water to evaporate.

[mickthemaverick]

I've only ever experienced mayo once, which was in a Vauxhall Chevette with a blowing head gasket that I purchased from Peterborough auctions for £45 to get home in, as my own Montego Turbo of the time had expired along the Fletton Parkway and been taken to a garage for repair. !!

[bobins]

I bought a lightly used Fiesta from an old boy in town many years ago. He'd literally only used it to go in to town for his weekly shop so it had very low mileage but was in very good condition..... apart from the engine. The rocker cover was totally full of mayo. I scraped it all out and sold it to the local Maccy D's and they used it in their Fillet 'O' Fish for the following week and I don't think anyone noticed

[Stickyfinger]

I would NOT change it at 900 miles, waste of a filter and oil IMO

[wurlycorner]

How much does it cost him to have it done?

[CitroJim]

The rocker cover was totally full of mayo. I scraped it all out and sold it to the local Maccy D's and they used it in their Fillet 'O' Fish for the following week and I don't think anyone noticed

Ahh, now we all know the secret of their horrid mayo

[Michel]

Modern oil, modern engine.. leave it. Won't do it any harm at all.

The mechanic I use told my neighbour not to change hers - when he could have made money out of her for a similar issue so I'd not worry about it.

I really should change the SX4 oil... not done it in 28k miles and 2 1/2 years. It's *still* clean though.

[Gibbo2286]

Some interest replies. I'm in the don't waste your money bracket but the guy's well enough off to keep chucking money at it, it'll be a fine car for the second owner every time he takes it out he washes and leathers it before putting it away in the garage.
He's got lymphatic cancer and most of his journeys now are to the hospital for treatment.

[PaulC5]

That puts a slightly different slant on it, he is possibly worried the car might break down when he needs to use it so having the oil change will give him less to worry about although it likely does not need one. If you advise not to have the oil change and the car does break down then you might feel a bit guilty. When I was having daily radiotherapy somebody bumped our car so we had to go out of our way to ensure we got a hire car since being without a car was not an option.