Oil Change Interval--Time v. Mileage

I have a ‘75 Nova with 174k miles on it with the original engine. For quite a while, it was my daily driver, but now it’s semi-retired.

I now drive it about once a week. I know that very short trips are bad, what with the water in the exhaust, and so forth. So when I do drive it, I try hard to make trips that are 5 miles or more each way, to give the engine time to get hot.

I know that the standard recommendation for oil changes is 3,000 miles OR 3 months. But lately, I put only about 300 miles on the Nova in 3 months. Changing oil that has only 300 miles on it is a waste of time and everything else. So, in your opinion, how often should I change the oil?

I have a ‘75 Nova with 174k miles on it with the original engine. For quite a while, it was my daily driver, but now it’s semi-retired.

I now drive it about once a week. I know that very short trips are bad, what with the water in the exhaust, and so forth. So when I do drive it, I try hard to make trips that are 5 miles or more each way, to give the engine time to get hot.

I know that the standard recommendation for oil changes is 3,000 miles OR 3 months. But lately, I put only about 300 miles on the Nova in 3 months. Changing oil that has only 300 miles on it is a waste of time and everything else. So, in your opinion, how often should I change the oil?

i would change it every 3000 to 3500 mls. in that year of car and as for water coming out exhaust they all do it and when you drive it for awhile in a day it will quit coming out but every time you start it next day after setting it will come out again. i suggest you let car run long enough to let the water dry out because if you don't it will rust your exhaust off.

good luck.....

I have a ‘75 Nova with 174k miles on it with the original engine. For quite a while, it was my daily driver, but now it’s semi-retired.

I now drive it about once a week. I know that very short trips are bad, what with the water in the exhaust, and so forth. So when I do drive it, I try hard to make trips that are 5 miles or more each way, to give the engine time to get hot.

I know that the standard recommendation for oil changes is 3,000 miles OR 3 months. But lately, I put only about 300 miles on the Nova in 3 months. Changing oil that has only 300 miles on it is a waste of time and everything else. So, in your opinion, how often should I change the oil?

with very low mileage I would use synthetic engine oil. this will last so that every year you can change the oil.water/condensation in the crankcase will not mix with synthetic. I myself have reduced driving to a very low amount it is the way to go.

regular oil absorbs the water and gets acidic then your engine gets damaged..