Series 3 Is it worth changing oil filter each time for a low use Series

My Series 3 2 1/4 Diesel spends most of its time stored in a garage.

I know that the oil should ideally be changed once a year or every 3000 miles for this engine. I have a 2.5 NA filter holder fitted to use screw-on cartridge type oil filters.

I covered less than 1000 miles in the last year. I know that the oil absorbs moisture so should be changed, but is it really worth spending money on a new filter each time for this low usage?

Thanks for any replies.

I deliberated the same thing - I also do less than 1,000 miles a year. I always change both oil and filter every year.
On the basis filters are cheap I continue to change them each time - a little pain as mine has the canister type so it's a messy job. In reality, in an old engine, I doubt there would be any real negative impact to just replace the filter every other year given your low mileage. My biggest concern in connection with changing the filter cartridge was the losing of oil pressure as when you start up after a change, it takes about 6-7 seconds for the green pressure light to go out. I cringe every time!

What for 4 quid

If you have a cartridge type filter youcan pre-fill the filter with oil to minimise the period its running essentially unlubricated on its initial start-up. Obviously you cant do this with the older canister type though.

Surely any moisture the oil manages to absorb will be evaporated when you run the engine back up to temperature.
I did 2000 miles this year my oil and filter will get changed around 4000 or two years [200di] the chart I made for my maintenance has 6000miles listed for change, I am using mineral 20/50oil.

I find asda own brand mayonnaise is best for mine. It saves the engine making its own....................

filters are cheap, i think its a no brainer to change it

Blackburn said:

Surely any moisture the oil manages to absorb will be evaporated when you run the engine back up to temperature.

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That's what I always thought, although some sources claim that the moisture is never all gone.

Most car manufacturers used to recommend that the oil was changed every 6 months or 6000 miles. To me every six months seems too often, although there was some thought that was done to stop warranty claims from those that don't bother (or don't know how) to ever check their oil.

On my daily use vehicle, which is a Japanese 1.6l petrol from the 1990s, I simply change the oil and filter once a year after it passes its MOT.

I will be using shell 15w 40 mineral oil intended for HGV diesel engines. I have a part used 20l container of that oil.

Webley1991 said:

My Series 3 2 1/4 Diesel spends most of its time stored in a garage.

I know that the oil should ideally be changed once a year or every 3000 miles for this engine. I have a 2.5 NA filter holder fitted to use screw-on cartridge type oil filters.

I covered less than 1000 miles in the last year. I know that the oil absorbs moisture so should be changed, but is it really worth spending money on a new filter each time for this low usage?

Thanks for any replies.

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Ok why not change the oil once say every 1000-2000 miles and change the filter twice and top the oil up that way it saves changing the oil every time you change the filter and helps keep the oil cleaner and still keeps within the service intervals

I tried 15/40 once in mine....most of it ran out.

But, if you're changing the oil, might as well do the filter while your hands are dirty. Can't hurt, can it?

Re the wait for the light to go out...A) there's still lubricant on the surfaces, and B) watch how long the light stays on when you hit the brakes when heading down hill as the oil slops away from the pickup. Design failure, no baffles in the sump...but you wouldn't hit the brakes if you were that worried.

Hi Sandy nice too see you back.[AKA Serious Series from an earlier forum which by the way has now died]

Hi matey, good to see you

i do mine every 6 months or 3000mi

yeah modern engines run a bit cleaner the difference also is the oil itself, the sole purpose of modern semi and fully synth is to extend service intervals (i.e save money) but since oils secondary job is engine cooling and removing /suspend bypdroducts of combustion i would change it more regularly than the stated service interval. there is no downside other than cost (especially on series which take 7.something litres

The oil and filter are now changed. It was surprising how black the old oil looked even with such low usage.

Webley1991 said:

The oil and filter are now changed. It was surprising how black the old oil looked even with such low usage.

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Diesels, especially old ones, put a lot of carbon into the oil. And that is one reason you should change the filter every time.