Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
to time (and how long) or the mileage?

It is for an 00 Explorer

"Kurt Ullman" <kurtullman@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:kurtullman-DFE8BA.16270603102008@70-3-168-216.area5.spcsdns.net...
> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
> changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
> according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
> to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>
> It is for an 00 Explorer

It's getting on for 10 years old, so service history is less of an issue
than condition. A few months isn't going to make a huge difference. But
don't let it go for much longer than 18 months.

"Kurt Ullman" <kurtullman@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:kurtullman-DFE8BA.16270603102008@70-3-168-216.area5.spcsdns.net...
> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
> changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
> according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
> to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>
> It is for an 00 Explorer

Except in extreme cases (e.g. no usage for several years), go by milage.

On Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:27:06 -0400, Kurt Ullman <kurtullman@yahoo.com>
wrote Re Oil change time or mileage?:

> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
>changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
>according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
>to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>
>It is for an 00 Explorer

Mileage. Actually, total cumulative engine revolutions since last oil
change is what is important. But mileage is a close enough
approximation.

On Oct 3, 5:47*pm, "IB" <i...@ib.com> wrote:
> "Kurt Ullman" <kurtull...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:kurtullman-DFE8BA.16270603102008@70-3-168-216.area5.spcsdns.net...
>
> > * * Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
> > changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
> > according to the sticker. * Going forward should she pay more attention
> > to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>
> > It is for an 00 Explorer
>
> It's getting on for 10 years old, so service history is less of an issue
> than condition. A few months isn't going to make a huge difference. But
> don't let it go for much longer than 18 months.

It depends on how it's driven. IF there are a few long trips, it may
be ok. IF there are many short trips and the engine never gets warm,
that is a bigger problem, because water from condensation may build up
in the oil.

JEff

unless you live in a climate with severe temperature changes.
if the car sees constant hot cold cycles, the oil should be changed every 6
months or so regardless of the mileage to get rid of the condensation that
will accumulate in the oil.
"Caesar Romano" <Spam@uce.gov> wrote in message
news:sa6de494rdnjj1fcvpce71m3i0tv76nhbf@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:27:06 -0400, Kurt Ullman <kurtullman@yahoo.com>
> wrote Re Oil change time or mileage?:
>
>> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
>>changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
>>according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
>>to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>>
>>It is for an 00 Explorer
>
> Mileage. Actually, total cumulative engine revolutions since last oil
> change is what is important. But mileage is a close enough
> approximation.
>

unless you live in a climate with severe temperature changes.
if the car sees constant hot cold cycles, the oil should be changed every 6
months or so regardless of the mileage to get rid of the condensation that
will accumulate in the oil.
"Caesar Romano" <Spam@uce.gov> wrote in message
news:sa6de494rdnjj1fcvpce71m3i0tv76nhbf@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:27:06 -0400, Kurt Ullman <kurtullman@yahoo.com>
> wrote Re Oil change time or mileage?:
>
>> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
>>changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
>>according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
>>to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>>
>>It is for an 00 Explorer
>
> Mileage. Actually, total cumulative engine revolutions since last oil
> change is what is important. But mileage is a close enough
> approximation.
>

On Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:27:06 -0400, Kurt Ullman <kurtullman@yahoo.com>
wrote:

> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
>changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
>according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
>to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>
>It is for an 00 Explorer

Both. If you are racking up lots of miles, you go on miles.

If it sits a lot but gets a long trip and properly warmed up every
few weeks, go on time, within reason. 12 to 18 months.

If it rarely gets used and all the uses are very short trips where
it barely warms up and keeps the battery charged (two miles to the
train station, to the supermarket, to Church...) then you stay with
time for the oil changes and drop the intervals to six months.

--<< Bruce >>--

In article <voqde45hhpq0sseamn2i8pva29d3ec92ja@4ax.com>,
Bruce L. Bergman <blnospambergman@earthlink.invalid> wrote:

>
> If it sits a lot but gets a long trip and properly warmed up every
> few weeks, go on time, within reason. 12 to 18 months.
Most of its 2-3 miles to work, although she usually does trips of 10
or more (like to the lake or downtown to her favorite haunts) on
weekends. Then of course the occasional hundred miler to her
grandparents or the 500 mile run to see her bud in Chicago. That sound
like a 12 month pattern?

BTW: Thanks to all for the help, it was MOST appreciated.

i eould go with a 12 month change instead of the 3000 mile change.
"Kurt Ullman" <kurtullman@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:kurtullman-3FADF5.07492404102008@70-3-168-216.area5.spcsdns.net...
> Most of its 2-3 miles to work, although she usually does trips of 10
> or more (like to the lake or downtown to her favorite haunts) on
> weekends. Then of course the occasional hundred miler to her
> grandparents or the 500 mile run to see her bud in Chicago. That sound
> like a 12 month pattern?
>
> BTW: Thanks to all for the help, it was MOST appreciated.