360 - Oil Change or not to Oil Change | FerrariChat

360 Oil Change or not to Oil Change

Discussion in '360/430' started by russomanno, Apr 18, 2019.

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  1. russomanno

    russomanno Karting

    Dec 16, 2011
    173
    The car has been sitting for just over year and hasn't been driven, oil is almost fresh, should I get another Oil Change? Can I get the oil in there tested?
     
  2. CarAholic

    CarAholic Formula Junior

    May 10, 2016
    514
    I would especially if it’s just been sitting. I change mine once a year no matter what. You’d most likely be fine not doing it but it’s cheap and easy.


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  3. RedTaxi

    RedTaxi F1 Rookie
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    Mar 1, 2012
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    Glen
    Change it every year regardless. With sitting around, condensation is your enemy.
     
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  4. ShadowLAP

    ShadowLAP Formula Junior

    May 15, 2017
    544
    SW Suburbs of Chicago, IL
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    Lawrence P.
    Totally agree with the above. Cheap insurance and then you know you are starting with a fresh/non-contaminated fill.
     
  5. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    no, waste of money.
    engine oil won't degrade over time, especially 1 year, such a short time. I go by 5000km. however long time it takes. even 4 years.
    sometimes i go by 8000km.
     
  6. Zanny1

    Zanny1 Formula Junior
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    Dec 19, 2003
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    Arizona
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    Mike
    Dry climate here in Arizona.
    I do it every couple of years.
    Brake flush and coolant change also important.
     
  7. jcurry

    jcurry Two Time F1 World Champ
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    True, but how does that impact the oil? Condensation matters most on those components that the oil should be protecting not the oil itself. Go run the car hard, get the oil up to temp and any moisture in the oil will evaporate. Starting the car to get the oil warm and then draining will have done nothing to protect wear items that did not have an oil protected film on them.
     
  8. KC360 FL

    KC360 FL Formula 3

    Jun 20, 2017
    1,677
    Melbourne Florida
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    KGC
    I have to agree with the misconception of condensation. Oil sitting, not a big deal. Guys who only start their cars to "warm them up" mode every so often are truly creating a condensation situation that could be harmful. Starting your car and driving it a good bit to operating temps I would agree, will indeed evaporate moisture and coat all the inner parts of your engine. Just my take on it. But I'm no chemical engineer. Just a lifetime sports car owner who regularly drives his cars and keeps them for years.
     
  9. Need4Spd

    Need4Spd F1 Veteran

    Feb 24, 2007
    6,644
    Silicon Valley
    Testing the oil isn’t a bad a idea. Much less $ than an oil change. Personally I’d change it, but that’s me.


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  10. jcurry

    jcurry Two Time F1 World Champ
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    If your car is going to sit for extended periods of time may want to use some of this
    https://aslcamguard.com/
    Popular in general aviation, where piston engines with overhead cams and flat tappets (lycomings) tend to shed their protective oil film during periods of non-use. As I recall the guy who developed this was a longtime chem engineer with a major petroleum firm developing engine oils.
     
  11. Jgivoo

    Jgivoo Formula Junior
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    Jan 22, 2016
    432
    New Jersey
    When in doubt.....Change it
     
  12. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #12 f355spider, Apr 19, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2019
    There is an interview on youtube or website (can't recall exactly) with the owner of Blackstone Labs that does oil analysis. Based on their decades of experience with testing car oil samples, he said one thing he could comment on definitively, is you do not need to change your oil based on time. Oil does degrade based on amount of use, the type of engine and driving habits.
     
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  13. todd6363

    todd6363 Formula Junior

    Jan 20, 2007
    270
    Ohio
    Full Name:
    Todd
    Just starting you car every now and then, without getting oil up to temp - will cause more water in your oil- along with more fuel dilution caused by engine cold start mode richness. Getting you oil up to temp for awhile will usually burn off most of the water content and fuel products. From my research and understanding, your base oil really never wears out, the additive package that's blended into it becomes overwhelmed in time with different particulates ( blow-by, dirt from normal intake air / normal combustion and water) thus causing your oil unable to properly do its job of lubrication and heat dissipation. Oil testing is cheap , I have commercial account's due to the nature of my business, but generally its under 20 bucks for a standard analysis. Blackstone Labs is a good source of information, and do good work, I speak with them frequently, and also quote then on my website. I also use ALS Tribology, they have labs all over the country.

    Just my 2 cents
     
  14. MikeR397

    MikeR397 Formula 3

    May 9, 2010
    1,469
    SE Michigan
    It’s fine, so long As you get it hot on good long drives occasionally. Once a year regardless of miles is a environmental, time and money waste.

    Go ahead and do the cheap oil test and prove to all the “cheap insurance” guys.
     
  15. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 19, 2008
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    BS to those who say do not change it. At least once that way, you will have to get the oil hot.
     
  16. jcurry

    jcurry Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Because?
     
  17. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Exactly, because.
     
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  18. RedTaxi

    RedTaxi F1 Rookie
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    Why muck around getting the oil tested. For a hundred bucks it's gone and brand new again. I know of big industrial machines where the oil never gets changed. Just the additive package gets topped up via the testing. This can save $1000's not $100. Those machines don't do 8500rpm either.
     
  19. bellwilliam

    bellwilliam Formula Junior

    Oct 25, 2014
    398
    here it is. at 10m 20s mark:
     
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  20. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #20 f355spider, Apr 22, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2019
    That is not actually the interview I saw, but same information, so great, thank you. The interview I saw the owner and interviewer were seated during the discussion.
     
  21. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    Never changes the oil cause unbolting two drain plugs and refilling with oil is too much hassle or cost but tells everyone: "I have a FERRARI!"

    Belts don't degrade either just sitting around... right? If you bought a car that was sitting for 10 years you'd just hop in and drive it across the country right? Cause' oil doesn't do anything when it sits in the pan? Change it, document it and for gods sake drive it!
     
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  22. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    Nice hyperbole, but doesn't change the fact that the experts at Blackstone Labs that test used oil as their business, say oil doesn't significantly degrade sitting in the engine. USE degrades it. Go back to post #19
     
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  23. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    For some applications oil analysis is very valuable. Telling anyone whether they should do a sub $200 oil change isn't one of them in my eyes.
    And I didn't see this on their website.. but get me a written warranty that tells me that they'll pay the cost for damages that might result from NOT replacing the oil until their test deems it.. and I'm all ears.
     
  24. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    That is a ridiculous argument and you are using it because you know that no oil analysis company can or will do that, as there are too many variables to do so. They offer general advice based on tens of thousands of oil analysis and comparisons of those data sets. It is up to the customer to decide if they follow such advice and use their judgement. So great, you win, because the only way you are convinced of their expertise is when they offer a guarantee for following it. Do doctors offer a written warranty for their advice and will pay all costs for damages that might result from following it?
     
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  25. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    You know that there are at least 3 lawyers out there waiting in baited breath for me to "warranty" my clinical decisions. And yes.. they want me to pay all the costs and more. :)
    There is no "winning" or "loosing" the debate. My point being that of course they're going to argue that. They don't have any skin in the game. Anyone who has no accountability for their advice doesn't matter in my eyes. If you buy a Dino that just had an oil change when it was put away in some barn 20 years ago and the oil analysis says "it's like new", you're going to go out and drive it 1000 miles?
    It's about practicality. You're going to change the fluids and then take it out. I don't get Ferrari owners that don't do annual oil changes or have 10 year old batteries in their cars that they just recharge. You just do the oil change or swap out the battery. It's too easy not to. Same thing with oil filters. I'm sure that lab studies indicate don't ever have to change them in 10 years of ownership because the filter company says you don't have to. It's 40 bucks.. just change it.
     

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