prepreludesh

Here are the facts:

Car: 1998 Honda Prelude

Last oil change May 2010 using Royal Purple 5W-30

Car has been started maybe 15 times since then.

Car has not been driven over 150 miles during that time

Engine is a rebuilt H22, supercharged from Golden Eagle with around 25,000 miles on it.


I plan on driving the car from Ohio to Colorado in May this year (2000 miles), meaning the oil will have been setting for over a year. Should I get it changed before I start the drive or after I arrive?

Concerns:

After reading some of the national car publications and running across similar questions about owners who don't drive their cars often, it is recommended to get the oil changed once every year if you haven't hit the mileage recommendation by the oil companies. The reason is because water accumulates in the oil and breaks it down or degrades it or something like that. People who run their car regularly don't have a problem with this since it takes 15-20 minutes to evaporate that water out of the oil.

I always use Royal Purple in the Prelude with a K&N Oil filter, so getting an oil change before and after the drive isn't really an option, because each oil change can cost me close to $60 or so.


I'd like to hear some real facts to back up your answer, but opinions are always welcome.
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csmeance

All I can add in is that regular DINO oil will become slightly acid and as well contaminate while sitting. I'm not sure about RP since it's supposed to be a full synthetic oil.

fsttyms1

With that little use i would change it to help eliminate any moisture that has built up in the motor from sitting.

CCColtsicehockey

I would say change it now. Since you say your trip is only 2000 miles and you normally put very little mileage on it a new change of full synthetic should be good for 5000. If you want to be on the safe side with the added heat from the supercharger then you could go with 3000 miles but thats over 1000 you plan on putting on it. Not to mention I assume most of those miles with be highway and not stop and go. So I say it do it before you go.

dallison

change it now and then about 1000 miles after you get back

black label

Changing it now will absolutely not cause damage to the engine. Not changing it now could potentially cause damage to the engine. I'd just do it. Can't really compare a Prelude to a Porsche, but Porsche recommends an oil change every 12000 miles or 12 months which ever comes first. They are also using synthetic oil so they feel that at a certain age it's time to replace the oil regardless of how many miles it was used for.

Costco

Change it. I was told by one of my auto instructors that even if a car sits for a year or more, you should change it every 6 months or something like that.

Moog-Type-S

Change it. It's very cheap insurance.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

I would change it.

prepreludesh

Looks like I've got my answer then. Thanks for everyones input!

OperationDarkie

iTrader: (1)

meh just start it once a week, its a honda...

well at least that's what my cousin said while he was deployed for 2 years...lol

dallison

They also use 9-10 quarts, hence the longer duration.

Legend2TL

I would change the oil if the time has reached a year. I would not change the filter however, time does not harm the filter.