Oil changes are easy!

[lagolag]

I personally change oil in spring when I start to use my cars for the season as I never start my cars during the storage period, why should I do that?
Boats are normally serviced when they are stored for the winter, I’ve never heard about boat engines are started now and the during winter storage.
I don’t know what’s best but spring oil change works fine for me.

[thelews]

change the oil before storage and get the crud out rather than give it months to coagulate into sludge.

[mdsalemi]

I personally change oil in spring when I start to use my cars for the season as I never start my cars during the storage period, why should I do that?
Boats are normally serviced when they are stored for the winter, I’ve never heard about boat engines are started now and the during winter storage.
I don’t know what’s best but spring oil change works fine for me.

Where I lived in the USA, there was a huge difference between "laying up a boat" for winter storage, and an old collectible car. Of course it's different in different climates.

The boat has all the cylinders fogged with a special fogging oil. As boat engines don't generally have a closed loop cooling system, you need to add some antifreeze into the system to get into the "nooks and crannies" to prevent freeze damage. Many also fill the tanks, adding a special additive such as Sta-Bil or Sea-Foam. Bilges are purged dry, pumps are dried, etc. Doing this doesn't lend itself to a quick run around the lake on a nice day in January (even if the lake isn't frozen) since you'd have to repeat all these steps once again.

I suppose some may fog their Pagoda engines prior to winter storage, etc. but mainly you change the oil and fill the tank if that's your chosen protocol. Stabilize the fuel if you choose. If you have a nice dry day, no harm in warming it alll up and taking for a good "Italian tune up". I did not always get a chance to do this...

[Cees Klumper]

I add a fuel stabilizer to the fuel before laying up the cars and motorcycles for the 8 months they will not be used.

I don't replace the oil in the spring. I know it's the thing to do, but I don't expect that good engine oil will contaminate or deteriorate just by sitting inside an engine that does not operate for 8 months. Last year I changed the oil in the 3 cars here in France and 8 months later it 'looks' brand new. Since these cars get relatively little use for the 4 months that we do use them, I generally only replace the oil after 3 years.

[Merc_Girl]

This is a handy device that I use and store it under my 230SL when not used

Love it

Wonder if Santa will buy me for Christmas, albeit I’m not sure I’ve been THAT good this year
🤣

[merrill]

i have a mityvac oil evacuator for my 98' c230 that i use when changing the oil on my other cars.
I evacuate as much oil on my other cars as possible before pulling the drain plug. 

the next challenge is the oil filter on the 230 sl.   
i can replace that filter on my own but its always nice to have a helping hand to apply the counter hold on the top bolt

[Benz Dr.]

So, how much moisture do you expect to find in 5 liters of oil over winter storage? If your engine is running at proper temps, and you put it away fully warmed, why would there be any condensation in your oil.

All oil changes are messy without a hoist. 

[MikeSimon]

The volume of air in the engine above the oil level will cool and moisture will condensate out of it. It is a very common scenario in exhausts and that's why they rust from the inside out. No matter how hot they are getting. The procedure to change oil BEFORE storage is a common practice for anybody who stores vehicles over the winter. I have 19 of them.

[Benz Dr.]

The volume of air in the engine above the oil level will cool and moisture will condensate out of it. It is a very common scenario in exhausts and that's why they rust from the inside out. No matter how hot they are getting. The procedure to change oil BEFORE storage is a common practice for anybody who stores vehicles over the winter. I have 19 of them.

There's really only one way to tell for sure. Do an oil test before you store your car and another one before you start it in the spring - don't start it all winter. This test will tell you if there's any moisture in your oil and TBN difference from fall to spring will tell you if it's become acidic.

[ja17]

It's not just moisture. Other contaminants from combustion of fuels and dirty air end up in the oil to form a toxic acidic mix. Dirt settles, in time, forming sludge which will clog those tiny holes on your cam oiler when you start the engine in the spring if the situation is really bad. Changing oil before winter storage is good.