How often do you change your oil?

[RichieG1]

Am I asking for trouble trying to get 4 track days out of one oil change? New oil in my Caterham R400D in July, since done Snetterton and Silverstone, Donington tomorrow and Rockingham end of month....

Wait for November, or change it between Donny and Rock? What would you do?

[QBee]

I change the 10w60 Valvoline in my TVR every 3000 miles, which is about twice a year, and twice as often as the normal service interval, and do around 6 track days a year plus a load of road miles.
Of course more often cannot hurt and could be better, but I would have thought you would get a season's track days out of one oil change.

(Ducks to avoid getting shot down in flames)

[Wh00sher]

I abuse my car on track. After 12 months of use at UK tracks and 5 days at the Nurburgring on trackdays I sent the oil to be tested. Still all within spec and hadn`t broken down.

I now change the oil and filter annually but no more frequently than that. Some may baulk at the cost of getting it tested, but I`ve saved that many times over by not changing it 2 or 3 times a year when it isn`t necessary or beneficial.

If you really feel the need to do something, replace the filter but I really can`t see the point of doing the oil.

[CABC]

Wh00sher said:

If you really feel the need to do something, replace the filter but I really can`t see the point of doing the oil.

some argue the other war around - change filter every other oil change. reason being is that we do not have swarf flowing around modern engines and the filters work better after some use. changing the oil on the other hand removes chemicals, broken down oil and replenishes additives. but as you say, modern day engines and oil can last longer than most feel comfortable with.

[veehexx]

well, mine has variable servicing that calculates when it wants one.
daily driver (around 8k/yr) with 2 trackdays this year i seem to be getting around 6-7k miles between oil changes.
next year i'm planning 4-5 trackdays so expecting to see more around 5-6k between changes.

[magooagain]

My 5 cylinder Fiat engine is over twenty years old but only about 70,000 miles. Half the miles have been on generally hot(France) track days.

I also abuse the car,so it's changed at least every other track day. Works for me.

[NickGRhodes]

I'd ask Caterham.

[Rovinghawk]

veehexx said:

well, mine has variable servicing that calculates when it wants one.

It doesn't calculate anything- it follows an algorithm decided by someone at the manufacturer; you can suspect a huge safety margin added in for warranty purposes.