If you are in an area of high humidity and wide temperature swings you can
end up with water condensation in the oil.  This condensation is normally
removed when the engine gets up to running temperature and it vaporizes out
of the oil and is vented out.  However in an engine sitting idle it needs to
be run long enough to bring it up to operating temperature for 10 to 15
minutes every week in the high humidity areas.  This also helps to keep
things running better for the rest of the engine as well.
jimt

On 6/29/05 4:56 PM, "Eric Unrau" <eunrau@YAHOO.CA> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> We use our '89 Westy very infrequently and as a result we end up putting on
> only about 2000 miles per year.  I've been using the calendar as my guide
> rather than the odometer and changing oil (20w50) and filter (Mann) every 4
> months.  Is this excessive?  Would it be ok to drop down to 6 month intervals?
> Seems like a waste of oil and filters when there is only about 700 miles
> between changes; but always think of it as cheap insurance...  Suggestions?
>
> Thanks
> Eric
>
> Vancouver, BC