# How often should I change oil if not driven much?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-often-should-i-change-oil-if-not-driven-much/28978>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [April 11, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-often-should-i-change-oil-if-not-driven-much/28978 "2009-04-11T15:22:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wme1221](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@wme1221](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wme1221)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-often-should-i-change-oil-if-not-driven-much/28978/1 "2009-04-11T15:22:29Z")

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My 16-year-old daughter only drives her '03 Tribute about 400 miles a month–the vast majority of it within 10 miles of home in our rural community. Obviously I don’t want to wait for her mileage to dictate an oil change, but how often should I change it? Last time I waited 5-and-a-half months; is that too long?

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-often-should-i-change-oil-if-not-driven-much/28978/2 "2009-04-11T15:25:42Z")

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Check the manual, there’ usually a time and mileage interval, often 6 months. I would use 6 months.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-often-should-i-change-oil-if-not-driven-much/28978/3 "2009-04-11T15:26:46Z")

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Read the “severe service” maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual. The short trip nature of this vehicle’s use probably qualifies as severe service. Follow the recommendations in the maintenance schedule.

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-often-should-i-change-oil-if-not-driven-much/28978/4 "2009-04-11T15:45:35Z")

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For that kind of driving, twice a year would be about right. My mother-in-law has a similar driving pattern and changes oil and filter spring and fall. She also gets the car checked over at that time.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-often-should-i-change-oil-if-not-driven-much/28978/5 "2009-04-11T16:19:41Z")

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I’m with Texases and McP on this one. Check the manual and use the “severe service” schedule.