Oil change before or after winter storage, or both?

M

M-ster

Member
I have an ///M roadster and had the oil changed at the beginning of this driving season, late April. I’ve added about 10K Km since that change, which would be the time I would normally have the next oil change done.

Thing is, the M-ster’s (seasonal) insurance expires 24 October, about two weeks from now, and after which, she’ll be stored in an attached garage for winter until next driving season.

Question is, should I have the oil and fluid changes done together with any other necessary winter storage preparation, or simply postpone oil and fluids for the start next driving season, early spring?

Thanks, in advance.
 
The usual wisdom with regard to marine engines, which have very seasonal usage, is to change the oil when the boat comes out of the water in say, October, and not wait till Mar/Apr, just before it goes back in the water. That's because you don't want to leave in oil, with all the accumulated crap from the summers activity.

I can't see why you wouldn't follow the same procedure for your car.

I would suspect that changing now, and then doing a 2nd change before you go back on the road next year, would be overkill.
 
I always do an oil change before laying up for the winter - just seems sensible to get rid of the 'dirty' oil
 
As above. When laying up motorcycles for the winter you empty out the old dirty stuff before you put it away for winter. Also petrol "goes off" when left for a while, you can put an additive in or like I do just fill the tank to the brim.
 
Always before as others have posted.

I would also recommend over inflating the tyres by a few PSI to keep then round. Not worth the hassle of jacking it up for a few months. Handbrake off and in gear.
 
Petrol won't go off between now and next spring, and neither is the oil likely to. Certainly if you change it before it goes away, it will be wasted money doing it again when it comes back out. I would however pull the fuel fuse and crank the engine a couple of times before starting the car after winter to build oil pressure. Might also be worth hand cranking it a couple of times before that to prevent any premature wear.
 
Always best to drop your oil and replace with fresh BEFORE winter storage. Oil gets acidic when it's been run for a while so is pretty nasty to have lay in your sump for prolonged periods festering away to itself. Your new fresh oil will be fine come next spring - it wont have oxidised too badly, but I'd replace it earlier than you would usually.

Your fuel WILL go off a bit over the winter - you will loose the 'light ends' of the fuel, but nothing catastrophic as the evaporative system in the Z4 is pretty good to minimise that as it is fully closed. Problems with fuel quality arises when the tank is vented to atmosphere only. Best to have about quarter to half a tank when you store and as soon as you start in spring drive gently to your friendly fuel station for a top up with high octane loveliness..! :thumbsup:
 
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