Oil change interval

[Sam Skelton]

I'm new to Stag ownership, and I've a query about the oil change interval given conflicting figures I've read and my relatively high mileage.


I've seen a lot of people claiming that a change point of 3000 miles is essential, whilst I've also read 7500 as a supposed early figure from Triumph and 6000 in my handbook.

I do a fairly hefty mileage in my car by Stag standards, I would imagine (Bought on 9th July, currently at about 1800-1900 miles in my ownership). The oil is still perfectly clean and showing no signs of age.

As such, I'm unsure which figure to believe. I'm wondering if the 3000 mile thing I've read is aimed at lower-mileage users to ensure frequent changes, as it's a different annual use to that which Triumph envisaged at the time. I do know Stag engines don't take well to neglect though. At what mileage ought my oil be changed - is it 3000 regardless of rate of miles?

[Motorsport Micky]

The oils are not the problem, modern oils are far advanced from the 1970s when these cars were designed and built.

However the dirt, carbon and general cack that are to be found in engines and especially engines that run at the emissions of those for a Stag, (if you can still see out of the rear view mirror when accelerating it's still ok !) mean that an annual flush at 3000 miles remove those various particles and nasties suspended in the oil. That in itself is worth keeping your oil changes down to low levels and will pay back in less general wear to the vehicle as a whole. Cost is not a factor when you consider what you will spend upon your Stag for other items. If you do more than 3000 per annum I'd be doing 2 oil changes a year, it's not arduous and well worthwhile.

Micky

[Sam Skelton]

The oils are not the problem, modern oils are far advanced from the 1970s when these cars were designed and built.

However the dirt, carbon and general cack that are to be found in engines and especially engines that run at the emissions of those for a Stag, (if you can still see out of the rear view mirror when accelerating it's still ok !) mean that an annual flush at 3000 miles remove those various particles and nasties suspended in the oil. That in itself is worth keeping your oil changes down to low levels and will pay back in less general wear to the vehicle as a whole. Cost is not a factor when you consider what you will spend upon your Stag for other items. If you do more than 3000 per annum I'd be doing 2 oil changes a year, it's not arduous and well worthwhile.

Micky

Hi Micky,

This has left me unsure, still. I understand why I need to do it, and I understand the principles at work, but what you've said hasn't really helped me re change intervals at my mileage. You've said an annual flush at 3000 miles, or two if I'm doing over 3k. In all seriousness I'd be very surprised if I don't do 12000 in it (It would be more but the Montego's my show car and the SAAB's my winter daily). I have notched up almost 2000 miles in under a month so far.


Should I thus be changing the oil every three months, every six months, every three thousand miles, or something different?

[Motorsport Micky]

Down to you Sam, given that you will be doing decent mileages you could make a decision based upon what you consider your likely total to be and the divide by 3000 or just decide that 2 oil changes a year are reasonable and go with it.
As said it's the flushing the crap that makes a good benefit, the oil being drained will very nearly be the same quality as the oil being put in ! There's going to be so many views on this they'll be like bums...everybodies got one lol.

Micky

[Guest]

I'm new to Stag ownership, and I've a query about the oil change interval given conflicting figures I've read and my relatively high mileage.


I've seen a lot of people claiming that a change point of 3000 miles is essential, whilst I've also read 7500 as a supposed early figure from Triumph and 6000 in my handbook.

I do a fairly hefty mileage in my car by Stag standards, I would imagine (Bought on 9th July, currently at about 1800-1900 miles in my ownership). The oil is still perfectly clean and showing no signs of age.

As such, I'm unsure which figure to believe. I'm wondering if the 3000 mile thing I've read is aimed at lower-mileage users to ensure frequent changes, as it's a different annual use to that which Triumph envisaged at the time. I do know Stag engines don't take well to neglect though. At what mileage ought my oil be changed - is it 3000 regardless of rate of miles?

Hi Sam,

You tell us that your oil is relatively clean this shows us that you have little blow-by past the piston rings witch is a very enviable position to be in. Blow-by is what introduces nasty acids and carbon into engines, for this oil has detergent which encapsulates the harmful elements and deposits the larger partials into the filter.

Modern day oil in the U.K is formulated to, under good conditions to last for at least 10,000 miles; remember oil does not wear out but the addictive package does.

Should your oil get very! black and sludgy this means that it has been subjected to contaminants such as carbon blow-by and condensation from cold starts which has not been evaporated by running for long enough to get it hot and dry out the condensation. The latter is what really kills an engine it mixes with the carbon and creates an acid which corrodes and promotes rust inside an engine.

In my years foraging in scrap yards have encountered sump pans and valve covers rusted all the way through indeed have had one oil pan welded up for this reason.

For us with low mileage and short runs it pays us to buy the cheapest recycled oil* and replace often say 3,000 miles and not to start our engines unless we intend to run them long enough to evaporate the condensation.*(This does not apply to engines that over heat or raced or have been turbocharged) Let this be a warning to those who start up in layovers to keep things loose or to show friends how good she sounds. Over 90% of engine wear occurs during cold starts and 100% of corrosion which in turn enhances degradation of the oil which protects our engines.

John

[Andy Rundell]

Frankly you're unlikely to get a consistent answer to this question.... Too many people with loads of differing opinions!

in terms of sharing experience, I was, up until a couple of years ago, doing about 10k miles per year..... I'd change my oil (Valvoline VR1) every 5/6000 miles
Since my usage has reduced I'm changing every 3000 miles..... Which still works out at once per year!

Whatever you choose to do, more frequent oil changes are better than less frequent.

........ Andy