Can Mineral Oil Be Changed Once a Year?
3 Answers
Mineral oil cannot be changed once a year. Generally, the replacement cycle for mineral oil is 5,000 kilometers or six months. It is recommended that car owners perform vehicle maintenance in advance, change the engine oil, and better protect the engine. Below is a related introduction to engine oil: 1. Classification: Engine oil is divided into three types: full synthetic oil, semi-synthetic oil, and mineral oil. 2. Mineral oil: The base oil of mineral oil is refined from petroleum, with irregular molecular sizes and shapes. It is the lowest grade among engine oil classifications, and its performance characteristics and service life are inferior to those of semi-synthetic and full synthetic oils.
Back when I drove a taxi, I also thought about this. Mineral oil is cheap, but I really don't recommend pushing it to a full year before changing. This stuff has a shelf life of about six months—it oxidizes and deteriorates over time, losing its lubricating effectiveness. Especially in summer traffic jams, when engine temperatures rise, degraded oil simply can't handle it, and accelerated part wear is no joke. Nowadays, I stick to changing it every eight months. I've also developed a habit of checking the dipstick every two months to monitor the oil color—if it's black with metal particles, I change it early. Repairing an engine costs way more than an oil change, so it's smart to do the math.
From a vehicle maintenance perspective, changing mineral oil once a year depends on specific conditions. If you only drive a few hundred kilometers per month on smooth highways, it might barely last a year. However, most family cars used for daily stop-and-go commuting with engines running at low RPM for extended periods are more prone to oil contamination with gasoline and impurities. During last week's maintenance, I disassembled an engine where one-year-old mineral oil had turned into sludge, with carbon deposits covering all the valve lifters. It's advisable to install an OBD scanner for real-time engine monitoring and conduct quarterly oil viscosity checks for better reliability.
