Our friends at Driven Racing Oil are always on top of getting the critical information out when it comes to maintaining your vehicle’s oil upkeep, after all, shouldn’t the lifeblood of your automobile receive just as much love and care as any other component?

From hot rod oiling tips, to breaking down their oil specially formulated for older vehicles, one thing you notice about Driven Racing Oil is that their passion for classic cars goes hand in hand with their dedication to diffusing the knowledge and know-how to ensure the longevity of your ride.

A recent tech article that they published was geared towards clarifying consumer FAQ. Below are just a few excerpts of the honest and expert guidance that these folks provide:

How often should I change my oil?

“Quite simply – it depends. This certainly isn’t the ideal answer, but it is the most honest one. Temperature plays a major role in the frequency of necessary oil change intervals. Every 20°F increase in oil temperature beyond 220°F shortens the life of the oil by 50%. This means cars that run very high oil temps will have much shorter oil life than cars that have moderate oil temperatures. Interestingly, the same also goes for low temps. It may be surprising, but low oil temperatures (below 180°F) can also shorten oil life. In fact, low 120°F oil temps pose greater risks to your engine than 260°F oil temperatures do. The reason is because low oil temps allow more moisture and fuel dilution to build up in your engine.

Street rods that see many miles of highway driving at moderate oil temperatures can expect to go up to 5,000 miles between oil changes.

Owners of street rods that only see short-trip driving should change their oil every 3,000 miles, or at least once a year. It is important to always change the oil in the fall before you put your street rod away for winter storage. You want to drain all the moisture, fuel dilution and used oil out of the engine before you stop driving for the season. Make sure the crankcase has been refilled with fresh oil, and then you are good to go when the weather warms up in the spring. The oil will not go bad just sitting in your crankcase over the winter.”

Do I need to do anything special for winter storage?

“Using an oil with storage protection additives is recommended. Some motor oils have extra rust and corrosion inhibitor additives that make them better suited for wintertime. Also, it is important to change the oil before you put your street rod away for the winter. You don’t want to store the engine on used motor oil. Fresh oil with extra corrosion inhibitors provides excellent winter storage.”

Do I need to use a high zinc oil after break-in?

“You do if you have a flat tappet cam or very high valve spring pressures on a roller cam. Flat tappet and aggressive roller cam engines require higher levels of ZDDP than modern, stock engines from the factory. As a result, these engines need a steady diet of high Zinc oils.”

The folks at Driven Racing Oil really show the value in putting some vested interest when it comes to expanding one’s awareness of properly oiling an older vehicle, or any vehicle for that matter. Be sure to check out the full FAQ article on Driven Racing Oil’s site along with a list of other helpful articles to help you keep your hot rod or custom in tip top shape.