can you change oil to frequently?

alexlyons

As above, is it possible to change the oil in your car to frequently?

Forget it not being worth it, but could it actually do damage or lower performance?

something like new brakes say, they take a while to settle in and they say to take it easy until the pads wear down slightly and "mould" to the discs to offer optimum breaking performance.

does the same happen (extremely roughly) with oil?

After refilling with fresh oil and starting up the engine the oil pressure is very low as the new stuff is pumped around. Not many (if any) people allow pressure to build in the engine while disabling ignition, this is exaserbated by anyone who doesn't even fill the new oil filter with oil.

Aside from that there'd be no bother and it the above wouldn't result in disaster for the vast majority of makes and models (the priming bit, not filling the oil filter wouldn't be good for any engine really as it would take a bit more to prime the system, of course some filters can't be filled prior to fitting too)

Just making an analogy to your brakes example, draining oil and replacing it and the filter will result in oil pressure taking longer than usual to get to normal levels.

If an engine has been stood for a while without being used it's always recommended to crank it with disabled ignition too.

But the actual new oil does nothing negative.

Wheelnut

alexlyons wrote: »

is it possible to change the oil in your car to frequently?

No, but why?

jimmyw

RoverJames wrote: »

After refilling with fresh oil and starting up the engine the oil pressure is very low as the new stuff is pumped around. Not many (if any) people allow pressure to build in the engine while disabling ignition, this is exaserbated by anyone who doesn't even fill the new oil filter with oil.

Aside from that there'd be no bother and it the above wouldn't result in disaster for the vast majority of makes and models (the priming bit, not filling the oil filter wouldn't be good for any engine really as it would take a bit more to prime the system, of course some filters can't be filled prior to fitting too)

Just making an analogy to your brakes example, draining oil and replacing it and the filter will result in oil pressure taking longer than usual to get to normal levels.

If an engine has been stood for a while without being used it's always recommended to crank it with disabled ignition too.

But the actual new oil does nothing negative.

I am a big believer in priming the system before start-up.What I do is disconnect the plug leads, and turn over the engine until the the oil light has gone out and then reconnect.Changing the oil is always good for bearings etc, at least every 5-9000 miles.I know some makers recommend 10-12k, but I dont know how oil can be any good at this stage, but I suppose car makers and oil makers know what their doing:p

spiggotpaddy

jimmyw wrote: »

I am a big believer in priming the system before start-up.What I do is disconnect the plug leads, and turn over the engine until the the oil light has gone out and then reconnect.Changing the oil is always good for bearings etc, at least every 5-9000 miles.I know some makers recommend 10-12k, but I dont know how oil can be any good at this stage, but I suppose car makers and oil makers know what their doing:p

Its not good for the ignition system to crank the engine with the leads disconnected. And some cars don't use oil pressure to switch off the oil light.

Ignition systems are cheaper than engines typically though
Pulling the fuse for the fuel pump is an option too, before you drain the old stuff to rid the system of fuel too.

C4Kid

RoverJames wrote: »

After refilling with fresh oil and starting up the engine the oil pressure is very low as the new stuff is pumped around. Not many (if any) people allow pressure to build in the engine while disabling ignition,

Whats the best way to do it James ? Disconnect the HT leads while cranking or something.

It only needs to be done for a few seconds, again, I wouldn't know the ins and outs of it but cutting the fuel supply prior to switching off the engine before draining would seem to me to be the best option. In saying that, wear on an ignition system would be minimal but it is a rough around the edges approach.

Personally, I don't prime the system at all

I would though if the old oil had been drained out for more than a few minutes or the engine hadn't been started in a long time (months and months)

Esel

No - if your wallet can stand the pressure.