I would like some opinions regarding oil change frequency. I have an ‘08 ALPHA X with 50 K miles and when I changed the Mobil 1 last November it had only been driven a little over 900 miles in the previous year. It has been driven even less during this past year. It has always been garaged and I try to drive it and bring it up to operating temperature at least twice a month. Am I wasting money or does the oil become contaminated by temperature and humidity changes when just sitting? Thanks in advance for comments!

 

I have an Oldsmobile that I keep in the garage as well, and I only put maybe 100 miles a year on it. It only gets driven once per year, but I change the oil before that trip, every year. If I was driving it more regularly (every month), I would probably try to stick with a few changes every year (3-6 month change intervals). Cheap insurance as they say.

 

Best to monitor color. When I was driving daily, twice a year(spring/fall) now not driving much, once a year(fall). Mobil1 full syn/acd filter, just changed this morning, caught a nice sunny 78° day. Currently @ 91,173 miles.

 

Your H3 has the GM Oil Life Monitor System (OLMS). Use it, when it says change oil, change it. Trust science and technology, that is why engineers spent tons of hours creating this stuff.

 

I've only used that technology on my Wife's leased vehicles, never on a vehicle I have owned!
Oil life is based on engine revolutions and engine temperature, and will be the same no matter how many miles on the vehicle nor the type of oil used.
Btw, per GM: "your engine oil and filter must be changed at least once a year"

 

Sure it does, and they want you to bring it to the dealership to change it. If it makes you happy, change your oil every month.

THE OLMS is based upon a computer algorithm regarding many factors, not just miles and revolutions, but idle time, coolant and outdoor temperature, load, short and long runs, includes duration sitting between uses and much much more. It's monkey chit braindead stuff. All one needs to do is follow it. Synthetic oil sitting in a jug never breaks down, and it won't just sitting in your crankcase either. Ordieh has the right idea, start and run it to operating temp will burn out humidity related moisture.

 

The clock runs @ operating temperature! I changed my oil 5x last 5yrs, NEVER RESET, and still have not received "CHANGE OIL". Work close to home, you can go a long time between oil changes, relying on the monitor, which I do NOT recommend.
Btw, I have synthetic oil (sealed) stocked in my garage for years, and always transparent, when I drained the engine oil today, not so, yet less than 2k miles since last oil change, last fall. My cost is around $30, for 6qts Mobil1-5w30 full syn & ACD61EPF6, a lot cheaper than a new crate engine from GM.

 

I too use full synthetic oil in my H3 and change it and filter when I see the color look different to my (old) eyes.
And synthetic oils are supposed to last many miles more than petroleum oil.

But what about oil filters, have they too caught up to synthetic oil life span and can they last thousands of miles more
than before? I look at the PF-61E and it doesn't seem to have any other special paper of filter material
I'd like to know. . .

 

Engine oil turns black because of dirty air, carbon buildup and other residues. As long as you are using a good quality engine oil and changing it and filter regularly, it is totally okay...

 

BUT be sure to check the oil level regularly and don't ignore it until it is time to change. I have to add some every ~1,000 miles, depending on the type of driving.