Changing the Oil

I don't drive that car all that much, just a few hundred miles a year. How often should I have the oil changed?

Probably every 4 months or so...

3 months or 3,000 miles. The reason you should change it even if you dont drive much is because the oil breaks down anyway, the chemicals that help lube and protect break down. Also your engine still gives off debris into the oil, this is the reason for the filter, small particles of metal and any build up that might be in the engine. The longer the old oil is in the engine the more chance you have of buildup and possible clogs especialy in the smaller cars as the oil passages are smaller and the engine runs much faster causing more debris.
Its normal wear and tear, keeping the oil changed helps keep the engine in good running order for much longer and if your anything like me you will want to hold onto not having a car payment as long as possible. Its also one of the cheapest maintinence items and easiest way to keep it going longer.

If you have the book that came with your car, that would sure help. Otherwise, you better listen to Draven! :)

Yes, Listen to Dravecat! We did ours on every 3,000 miles.

Kelli, a few hundred miles a year? Change the oil in the spring and fall. I change my bike oil once a year. About 1500 miles. My car is every 5k. It gets mobil 1. Bike gets even fancier stuff. If your car is only a few hundred miles a year, change the oil and filter before you put it to bed for the winter. Make sure you warm up the engine to get any water vapor out before you shut it down for the season. Frank

I drive the car year-round, but not every day. It's not a collector car, just a regular ol' car. My husband and I used to work at the same place until recently and he drove all the time. We also go everywhere else together. Now that he is out of work, he still drives me to work because it makes him feel useful. Even so, we only live about 2 miles from where I work. About two or three times a month I have to drive because I have to go to the other facility at work, but it is only 3 miles from home. Back before I was married I drove a lot more and had the oil changed every ~3,000 miles, but now it takes years to get to 3,000 miles. Just to put it all into perspective, I buy gasoline about twice a year. (The car is a 1989 Honda Civic with about 67,000 miles on it.)

Holy Shmoly. Its still a good idea to go by time and mileage recommended. Oil has added chemicals to it to protect/viscosity and what not. Mobil 1 is a synthetic oil wich is very good (less natural byproducts) you do have to be careful with it if you have any oil leaks, especialy if they leak alot, Mobil1 and other synthetics are known to actualy break down the clogs and clean them out and that can make the leak worse.
In my 88 mercedes we use mobil1 but in the beater car, 87 pontiac 6000 sw, we use regular oils, no telling how long its gonna last now but it still runs great and we change the oil in it every 3 months since it isnt driven hardly at all like yours. You might want to consider putting an additive in the gas for moisture in the tank, use one with "isopropil"(sp?) alchohol in it, thats the one that really works, it actualy helps the moisture(water) in the gas tank to blend with the gas so when you drive it it burns out of the system instead of sitting in the tank rusting it from the inside out. That can actualy take a long time to happen but better safe than sorry if your keeping the car. The stuff is fairly cheap too and you only need to add it every couple of fill ups, just go by the label.
Sorry I used to be a service writer at Pat Goss Car World, (hes on Motorweek if you ever watch it), P.G. county car expert and does numerous lectures. It was great working in that shop but it has been about 6 years now since I decided to be a Domestic Referee for my kids. LOL