Hi. I normally change my engine oil and filter every 12 months. However, I only do about 5,000 miles per year, mostly short journeys plus around 800 miles of caravan towing. As I hate changing that bloody filter, I'm thinking of ignoring the 12month change and waiting for 7,000 miles . This would take me nicely into spring and the beginning of the towing season. What do you all think?
Auto with 130k on the clock.

Calendar

If you are mostly only doing short runs then I would chang the oil every 12 months or sooner you could consider changing the filter every other oil change? 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented

thehelper wrote:

Hi. I normally change my engine oil and filter every 12 months. However, I only do about 5,000 miles per year, mostly short journeys plus around 800 miles of caravan towing. As I hate changing that bloody filter, I'm thinking of ignoring the 12month change and waiting for 7,000 miles . This would take me nicely into spring and the beginning of the towing season. What do you all think?
Auto with 130k on the clock.

7000 miles would be fine normally. The towing would put me over the edge to just replace it at 12 months/5K though. That's what I do, and I do tow. I never make it 12 months though, always hit the mileage first.

Well good question, me personally with approximately 5000 per annum with 800 miles of that towing I always change the engine oil and filter every year, experiencing the once in a lifetime egr replacement with the agony of re alignment of body members wouldn’t like to replace the turbo let alone buy one.
So my advice is to suffer the pain and change the oil and filter every year, and wishing I’d done the auto gearbox oil sooner that is now a once a year as well as the engine.

I’m so guilty neglecting the auto gear oil as the main dealer advised (“lifetime oil), I’d wished the oil was flushed years ago, but anyway if you look after the car driving it with respect it should last this so called Life time! Now it’s so easy to change the gearbox oil and at the same time engine oil and filter just for peace of mind.

Time is the answer for me

I change my oil and filter every six months and if I could be convinced to let the oil go longer then I would still change the filter every 6 months.

I did go just past 1 year because of COVID on my Audi 2.0T and the filter element was crushed. There are a few different things that can do this but one of them is particulates in the engine oil that blocks the filter and then the oil pressure crushes the filter. It is also possible that the bypass valve in the housing is sticking and the pressure gets too high. I did change the housing just in case and I haven't seen a crushed filter since but I wouldn't want to operate the engine with a crushed filter.

So every six months I inspect the filter and I replace it and I put in fresh oil.

Take care

Paul

That bloody filter 😆 Al C

Yes that filter, what I do is remove the intercooler pipe having previously positioned the pipe clamps to access, also last time I timed this was to remove the fans, 7 mins to remove them taking time with the wiring as the little connector shown by one of Gasman’s photos.
You can then easily do the filter without losing skin, abrasive tempers and the usual what was landrover thinking siting this here!
Simples, plus you can have a look around and remove any bugs, leaves and suchlike crap caught over the summer months and winter depending when you do this, over time this becomes less of a pain and less of a chore.
Hope this assists with many of you?

I've never found the filter to be a problem at all if got from underneath - plenty of access room if you have a flexihead spanner of the right size

I certainly wouldn't be removing fans or anything else to get at it!! 2014 Freelander 2 TD4 Manual Dynamic
1956/7 88" Series One Land Rover
1956/7 88" Series One Land Rover - undergoing restoration

Same here if you use the correct flexi head ratchet spanner its easy just gently push the rubber turbo pipe to one side comes out easy and I have big hands ! ! 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented

I'm not saying it's to difficult to change the filter. I have the correct spanner and it only takes a few minutes. I just find, as I get older, I find it more uncomfortable, and usually manage to get oil running down my arm.
After consideration this for a while and reading all your posts, I have decided to postpone the service until 7,000k. If the filter looks distorted at this time, I will report back and change to annual changes. Though realistically neither oil or filter are likely to deteriorate with age (within reason). It is the mileage and use that matters.

I'm not saying it's to difficult to change the filter. I have the correct spanner and it only takes a few minutes. I just find, as I get older, I find it more uncomfortable, and usually manage to get oil running down my arm.
After considering this for a while and reading all your posts, I have decided to postpone the service until 7,000k. If the filter looks distorted at this time, I will report back and change to annual changes. Though realistically neither oil or filter are likely to deteriorate with age (within reason). It is the mileage and use that matters.

BossBob wrote:

Calendar

Because the recommended service interval is based on a time or mileage, whichever is reached first! So a high mileage car would have to be serviced more often than annually, and a low mileage car, which was the question that was posed, would be serviced annually.