If you are only driving 500 miles preyer, I see no harm in changing the oil every other year but not longer. I will drive about 3k miles this year- if it stops raining- and will change the oil/filter this fall before putting it up for the winter. My recollection is that it is better to change the oil before storing your car - not after.

Also, there is no reason to go to a dealer for something as simple as an oil/filter change. (The dealer quoted me $650). Order an oil change kit and 10-60 oil from Rich at Redpants for less than $200 and do it yourself or go to any competent garage and have it done for easily under a $100 - far less than the cost of a dealer.

 

Yes your right on this, I honestly never have had a car where it wasnt started every day or so. This is a first for me, and with me being deployed it exacerbates the whole process. It is being cranked, warmed up, and moved this weekend and the last was June 2nd when it was put up. I honestly worry more about flat spotting the tires than the engine. But for some reason weird things happen when cars sit for long periods. Dont want that to happen, mine is totally 100% reliable to drive, and I don't like Gremlins. So having my father warm it up once per couple months makes me feel better at least. In reality it may or may not even affect things.

 

Thank you for your service.

My e46 ///M had the rear main seal seep after 8 months (was not the common CPV). After a week of driving it went away so I can definitely see benefits to keeping things circulated.

 

Local garage and have instructions from REDPANTS with you to walk them through it. Its not hard and its just like any car. For $250 or less, why not have it changed. $650, I would wait the two years, or just swap the oil and leave the filter by doing it myself. If anyone else does this, best to swap the filter at the same time. Bottom line, all these choices are likely just fine.



Brake Fluid------ the Fluid will pick up moisture through the cap area and some from through the lines themselves. The more saturated the surrounding air is (deep south) the more the fluid picks up. However, for a normal driving car (not tracked or run hard) I would think even 4 years would be fine or more. Question is how many daily driving Chevrolet Suburbans or Tahoes or Impalas get their brake fluid changed within 5years. I would bet less than 50%, yet they seem to function just fine with no countrywide epidemics happening. So that is why there is always the controversy about how long to keep the fluid working. Dealers of course like AM or Bentley include it on their services to jack up the price. Does a 500mile a year car that sits in a garage need the brake fluid changed every 2 years. Of course not, unless its a rare situation. Does the fluid break down, sure, but no one can tell you by how much, and the timeframe for it doing so. So use your best judgement on how you proceed. I wouldn't hesitate to wait 3 years. But mine, although changed and flushed last DEC, will get done again whenever I am home for 30 days or more. Might be this year, might be next, but I have to change the color of my calipers so they will get done then. Using a $50 pressure pump you can change out and flush your fluids within an hour or so easily. So much like a oil change, why not do it. Fairly cheap when doing it yourself or at a independent garage.

 

Ok, 500 miles a year. In my opinion the car needs to be driven. Astons seem to love the road not the garage. The only harm I see is the lack of movement in the parts that are meant to move, lubricate, energize and flow. The A/C unit for one has oil in the system to move to parts to lubricate them. Yes, sometimes a car will need to be stored. If a trusted family member or friend can at least start the car regularly I believe less chance for gremlins or mice to get interested in the car. Some of our Northern members deal with these questions annually, they are the pro's with experience. We in the southern states are blessed with 12 month of driveable conditions !

 

Thanks buddy---- Happy to do so; it pays the bills

2011-2012 AFG in uniform

Now contractor

 

I'm blessed with 51+ weeks of drivable conditions, and a few days the snow keeps me stuck inside when it's too deep. Otherwise I can highly recommend driving in January on cold tires and cold roads for the easy loss of traction. There is no more fun time of year, and it's much less stress on the drivetrain

 

Here is a thought but just a thought. I have heard of this but have never done it. Just drain the oil and replace it without a filter change. The filter has only 500 miles so you will be fine there. But you have new oil. Like I said I never have done this but heard of a guy who did it for his Ferrari. He was like you just drove it on the weekends.

 

IMHO horrible idea. Changing the oil at 500 miles makes no sense ( unless it's time related) If you change the oil because it's old, whatever the mileage, Then change the filter.

 

I go by time and not miles. Oil absorbs water, so change it every year.

 

I don't do it on purpose. If I could, I'd drive that thing everyday. My job has me traveling most of the time etc... I buy all my stuff from RedPants and my local indie shop just charge me labor. The Wife drives stick too so she takes it out once a week around the block sometimes.

BTW that message that comes on "its time for service" how hard is it to reset?
The last time the car was serviced at the AM dealer was 2 yrs ago and I think the clock was still running from that date.
My local indie shop didn't reset it last year (because it didn't come on at the time of service).

 

I usually do about 2k a yr on it. Its just I've only had time to put 500mil since last service a yr ago. Been overseas so zero time behind the wheels.

My daily driver at work cost 1000+ times my AM with rotary wings, fully loaded and fast as hell with more miles on it.

 

Can't remember who posted it but got it here while searching

Question:
Does clearing the service light require the AMDS or can it be done without specialized equipment?

Answer:
DB9 and V8 can be done without the AMDS. I have yet to find one that this doesnt work on.

1. Shut all doors
2. With key in position 1 hold the t1/t2 button in the center stack.
3. Turn key to position 2 still holding the t1/t2 button.
4. Watch for the yellow triangle to start to flash at least three times, let go of t1/t2 button after three flashes. Should hear a audible beep.
5. Turn key on making sure service light is off

Might take you a couple of tries to get it. If you have a ECU key the same process works. Just keep your foot of the brake so car will not start.

 

For some of you in the humid climates I could see changing the oil yearly. When my family lived in the Midwest, we would change the oil in the toys every spring for the summer driving season. I live in the Arizona desert. 10 months out of the year the humidity is in the single digits. I service my toys every 18 months or 2500 miles, whichever comes first. And even then I feel that is excessive. I send oil out for analysis and the results come back with no signs of moisture.

 

Sweet Ill try this next!


Thanks again