Does a car need an oil change if it hasn't been driven?

I have a spare car that hasn't had an oil change since 2005...but hasn't been driven more than 1,000 miles in all that time. Asked by KGL 27 months ago Similar Questions: car oil change driven Recent Questions About: car oil change driven Transportation > Automotive.

Similar Questions: car oil change driven Recent Questions About: car oil change driven.

I would drive it with the old oil... it hasn't changed at all in this time... unless water is in it. I would check the oil for water... if it is clear and fresh then I would drive it with that oil in the engine. All the oil has drained down and little protective film left on internal parts.

If you haven't turned if over every so often it is a "Dry engine" now and suceptible to some damage in starting it. I would turn it over without starting it to build some oil flow (with coil unplugged, etc to prevent starting) before I started it. Then let it idle some at low speed to get the oil flowing again.

Depends Depends on how it was driven. If it was driven for a good long while, like 30 miles at a time, the oil is probably okay. But short trips lead to lots of water and acid condensation into the oil, so if there weer a lot of short trips it does need an oil change.

I recall one small plane that was rarely flown, but the acid in the oil etched the crankshaft into uselessness. Many $$$$$ burned there.

1 Yes,short drives are bad because the cars engine doesn't get warm enough to get rid of the condensation and that get gets into the oil ,I would change the oil,now after this if you drive the car at all,change it every 6 months or if your going to drive it more than every 3000 miles,or even this if you only drive it once a year than you only have to do it once a year,and years that you don't drive it than skip that year.

Yes,short drives are bad because the cars engine doesn't get warm enough to get rid of the condensation and that get gets into the oil ,I would change the oil,now after this if you drive the car at all,change it every 6 months or if your going to drive it more than every 3000 miles,or even this if you only drive it once a year than you only have to do it once a year,and years that you don't drive it than skip that year.

2 Yup...change the oil and filter at least once a year regardless of mileage to clean out the condensation and crud that accumulates. If it hasn't been driven for a year or more, you ought to change the fuel filter(s) too since the gas in them may start to deteriorate and plug them with varnish.

Yup...change the oil and filter at least once a year regardless of mileage to clean out the condensation and crud that accumulates. If it hasn't been driven for a year or more, you ought to change the fuel filter(s) too since the gas in them may start to deteriorate and plug them with varnish.

3 I recomend that your oil be changed every 6 months regardless of the miles you have traveled. Why is it, that it is not being used. Don't you have to go to the store once a week or sooner?

You are doinmg more harm to the car by not driving it. The tires a dry rotting, the oil settles in the bottom and there is no oil protecting the engine, so when you do start it you have medal against medal wearing out the engine. You need to at least start it once or twice a week and let it run for 10 minutes, just for the sake of the engine.

The same also applies to the transmission. Your car is being worn out and wrecked by not using it.

I recomend that your oil be changed every 6 months regardless of the miles you have traveled. Why is it, that it is not being used. Don't you have to go to the store once a week or sooner?

You are doinmg more harm to the car by not driving it. The tires a dry rotting, the oil settles in the bottom and there is no oil protecting the engine, so when you do start it you have medal against medal wearing out the engine. You need to at least start it once or twice a week and let it run for 10 minutes, just for the sake of the engine.

The same also applies to the transmission. Your car is being worn out and wrecked by not using it.

Oil prices are driven by Wall Street speculators, not supply and demand or threat of war....." (11 answers) "They say you should change your car's oil every 3k miles. That seems too often. Is it OK to go 5k miles?

" "What have you driven away with on the roof of your car? LOL" "should you really change your car's engine oil every 3000 miles or can you let it wait till 4000 or 5000 miles? " "Haven't driven my car in a month & replaced the battery yesterday...still nothing.

Brand new alternator and clutch. Help" "Did Frank Zappa drive a car, or did was he generally driven by a driver? " "I am 13 weeks pregnant and usually do most of my basic car tasks on my own, can I still change my own oil?

" "howling noise from car while driven and it jerks some time during acceleration.

Oil prices are driven by Wall Street speculators, not supply and demand or threat of war....." (11 answers).

They say you should change your car's oil every 3k miles. That seems too often. Is it OK to go 5k miles?

Haven't driven my car in a month & replaced the battery yesterday...still nothing. Brand new alternator and clutch. Help.

Howling noise from car while driven and it jerks some time during acceleration.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.