TR6 Would you change oil?

[Gliderman8]

At the end of every driving season (I'm in the northeast US) I typically change my oil prior to putting the car away for the winter. Then it sits all winter with fresh oil in it.
This driving season I only managed to put about 600 miles on the car.
My biggest concern if I don't change it is any condensation that mixed with the oil and letting it sit over the winter.
So, would you dump the oil in the car with so few miles on it before putting it away for the winter?

 

[NutmegCT]

noop

But I'm the frugal zealot. If I find condensation in the oil (dipstick test), then just drive the car 'til hot, and the condensation will evaporate. If the car will sit for a couple years, then I'd change the oil before putting it to rest.

Doesn't hurt to change the oil - but not if I don't have to. (1957 Morris - not a daily driver)
Tom M.

 

[Sarastro]

I also don't think you need to change it. We all regularly assume that water+steel=rust, but that's not the case when the water is slight and dispersed in oil. The chemistry just doesn't work. A bigger concern is sludge formation, but that won't happen with 600 miles of use. I'll bet that the oil still looks clear.

 

[Hamish Racing]

Don’t bother changing it.
as above put it away nice and hot to get the vapour out.
it’ll drain off all the components and just sit in the sump anyway.

Question
Is it worth running it up to hot every month to circulate the oil and give the components a regular coating ?

as for me I put the car away with the oil and filter as used that year and I race my 3a so it’s gets some hard work!!
on nice winter days I’ll take it out for a run as well.
I do all my fluid/filter cleaning/ changes at the start of the season so I know it’s all new and fresh.

 

[Gliderman8]

Thank you all for your replies. Once the car goes dormant for the winter I will not have access to it to start it so I can’t run it up to temp.
sarastro’s advice about not worrying about rust issues is reassuring.
I’m going to take the recommendations and leave it “as is” for the winter.
Thanks again everyone!

 

[charlie74]

For quite a number of years I’d change my oil only at the end of an even year driving season. I’d take it out for a fairly lengthy drive before putting it to bed and leaving it dormant until the next years first start. Due to my work schedule and having young kids the mileage is pretty low like yours, and even after two years the oil is still clear.

When I pulled my engine for a rebuild, I was surprised at how well oiled the internals were even after having been emptied weeks previously and there was no surface corrosion anywhere. I think starting a car over the winter and just idling does more harm that good. If you’re worried about seals drying out etc, just pull the spark plugs out and spin it over on the starter. Otherwise an idling engine won’t get hot enough to blow out the nasties…


Edit: just saw your post, we were writing at the same time…