Add 1 Quart of oil or change oil completely?

[AMG_LAWL]

Hey guys, so I haven't had to change my oil in a while because I don't drive the car too often. But I just got the +1 Quart warning light on the dash. Should I add 1 quart or change the oil completely? Its a pretty basic question but would like some input so I don't waste money.

[Kong Sheng Han]

Define "a while." If it's been a year or more, change the oil. If not, just add oil.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by Kong Sheng Han

Define "a while." If it's been a year or more, change the oil. If not, just add oil.

[burtonsbs5114]

Curious, whats the logic behind changing the oil after a year if it doesn't have a lot of miles on it?

[Flying Ace]

What's your annual mileage and when was the last oil change?

Please tell me you know these answers

[bstone801]

Personally I add until it is time to change. If I drive enough before it is time to change the oil I just continue to add what is needed.

Almost seems like it would have fresh oil all the time if you are just constantly adding, but then if you are doing that you may have an issue.

[Get lit]

Originally Posted by burtonsbs5114

Curious, whats the logic behind changing the oil after a year if it doesn't have a lot of miles on it?

Oil is changed once a year or at the recommended mileage interval. Which ever comes first.

Oil also has a shelf life, it can break down overtime!

[burtonsbs5114]

Originally Posted by Get lit

Oil is changed once a year or at the recommended mileage interval. Which ever comes first.

Oil also has a shelf life, it can break down overtime!

Right, i get the recommendation for the first part, but I just have a hard time buying into the oil is bad after one year theory. But, then again, I don't know that much about oil and I drive enough where time is not the issue.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by burtonsbs5114

Right, i get the recommendation for the first part, but I just have a hard time buying into the oil is bad after one year theory. But, then again, I don't know that much about oil and I drive enough where time is not the issue.

I believe thats what it says in the manual too, change every year.

[SheaButter]

Originally Posted by burtonsbs5114

Right, i get the recommendation for the first part, but I just have a hard time buying into the oil is bad after one year theory. But, then again, I don't know that much about oil and I drive enough where time is not the issue.

Well heat cycles have a lot to do with it as well. If the car is driven a few miles every week for a year, then yeah the oil should still be fine after 12 months @ a few hundred miles. But if the car is driven 2 miles per day for a year, that doesn't mean your oil is good for the next 11-15 years. The whole oil business is so much like the tire business, it can be such a scam.

OP- I'd suggest simply adding a qt of oil rather than changing it. However if you're at like 9k miles since the last oil change, you might as well just go change your oil.

[Craigy]

Regardless of if it's time to change or not, you shouldn't run the car a quart low.

I guess you could immediately change oil. But in the meantime if you're driving the car, top it off.

[Honda]

Add 1qt and call it a day

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by burtonsbs5114

Right, i get the recommendation for the first part, but I just have a hard time buying into the oil is bad after one year theory. But, then again, I don't know that much about oil and I drive enough where time is not the issue.

A lot of factors play into it, but your engine is hardly airtight. Moisture and condensation can build up if the car sits a long time.

However, if oil is in it's sealed bottle on your garage shelf, then you should be fine, provided the temperature isn't to extreme.

[Edward]

Am I missing something? Your car is a 2013 isn't it?

You should have had an oil change at 1500-2000 miles, then another one every 10k miles or every 12 months. Whichever comes first.

And if your car is a 2013 those minimum 1/yr oil changes are covered. So if it hasn't been a year yet, top it off.

I have my second annual oil change happening tomorrow at the dealer and my car asked for a qt three days ago so I just burned a qt even tho it's all going in the drain anyway so soon.

[SheaButter]

Originally Posted by Edward

Am I missing something? Your car is a 2013 isn't it?

You should have had an oil change at 1500-2000 miles, then another one every 10k miles or every 12 months. Whichever comes first.

And if your car is a 2013 those minimum 1/yr oil changes are covered. So if it hasn't been a year yet, top it off.

I have my second annual oil change happening tomorrow at the dealer and my car asked for a qt three days ago so I just burned a qt even tho it's all going in the drain anyway so soon.

Maybe his is out of warranty or something? Like from a salvage title, engine mods, etc? Who knows, lol.

[AMG_LAWL]

My bad, I've been working all morning.

The last time I had a full oil change/filter change was about 10k miles ago.. and it is just giving me the +1 quart warning sign. I drive about 40 miles a day/4-5 days a week all highway and the temperatures outside vary from 58 degrees to about 75 degrees.. (I know temps play a roll on how fast oil is eaten up)

[AMG_LAWL]

Thanks! Ill just stick to adding a quart then and hopefully my engine doesn't blow up..

[Beemdog]

Re: The 12 month oil change

I'm betting that even Blackstone could not tell the difference between a synthetic oil that was in the engine for 12 months versus oil that was left in service for 16 months, given the same number of miles (in the same engine). At least for me-- the car is stored inside an insulated garage, dry climate, never driven in rain, etc. That, and not taking a bunch of short drives where the car doesn't warm up, keeps moisture from building up in the oil.

While 12 month oil change intervals couldn't hurt, going a while longer on a weekend car that sits in the garage all week doesn't matter at all. If the car is a daily driven "grocery getter", by all means, do the 12 month oil service. My M3 gets less than 4k miles per year, like a lot of others I've seen, and those are the ones that could get by with longer than 12 months.

[Yoddha]

Originally Posted by AMG_LAWL

Thanks! Ill just stick to adding a quart then and hopefully my engine doesn't blow up..

If you changed it 10,000 miles ago then I would highly suggest changing the oil. The castrol TWS 10W60 should be changed every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. It's a lot safer for your engine. Best of luck mate

[burtonsbs5114]

Originally Posted by Beemdog

Re: The 12 month oil change

I'm betting that even Blackstone could not tell the difference between a synthetic oil that was in the engine for 12 months versus oil that was left in service for 16 months, given the same number of miles (in the same engine). At least for me-- the car is stored inside an insulated garage, dry climate, never driven in rain, etc. That, and not taking a bunch of short drives where the car doesn't warm up, keeps moisture from building up in the oil.

While 12 month oil change intervals couldn't hurt, going a while longer on a weekend car that sits in the garage all week doesn't matter at all. If the car is a daily driven "grocery getter", by all means, do the 12 month oil service. My M3 gets less than 4k miles per year, like a lot of others I've seen, and those are the ones that could get by with longer than 12 months.

This has always been my take on it as well.

[SheaButter]

Originally Posted by Beemdog

Re: The 12 month oil change

I'm betting that even Blackstone could not tell the difference between a synthetic oil that was in the engine for 12 months versus oil that was left in service for 16 months, given the same number of miles (in the same engine). At least for me-- the car is stored inside an insulated garage, dry climate, never driven in rain, etc. That, and not taking a bunch of short drives where the car doesn't warm up, keeps moisture from building up in the oil.

While 12 month oil change intervals couldn't hurt, going a while longer on a weekend car that sits in the garage all week doesn't matter at all. If the car is a daily driven "grocery getter", by all means, do the 12 month oil service. My M3 gets less than 4k miles per year, like a lot of others I've seen, and those are the ones that could get by with longer than 12 months.

I agree with your overall point (just so we're clear, lol). However, I would be willing to bet I could run a viscosity test and see a difference between 12 month and 16 month old oil with the exact same driving/engine. Much like how the viscosity is measured for calculating which oil is best for certain conditions. At least with synthetic we don't have to do the ole' 3k oil change, man those days sucked.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by AMG_LAWL

My bad, I've been working all morning.

The last time I had a full oil change/filter change was about 10k miles ago.. and it is just giving me the +1 quart warning sign. I drive about 40 miles a day/4-5 days a week all highway and the temperatures outside vary from 58 degrees to about 75 degrees.. (I know temps play a roll on how fast oil is eaten up)

In this case, i would change the oil at this point. There are oil reports that show OCI is a major driver of excess engine wear. 10k IMO is too high. (I have reports for my own car to show this if you want to see this). I recommend changing Castrol Edge at most at 7500 mile intervals.


So my answer to your question is: Do Both, add oil now and change your oil.
But as others have said, until you can change it, add 1/2 bottle to maintain proper level.