OP in answer to the question about overfilling, if the oil is 25mm over the max mark you've overfilled it and i'd be inclined to remove a pint if twer mine.

Good wind ups though John, you give us all a smile..:-)

Not quite all, it seems!

Actually, there is some merit in my advice - car engines have to have enough oil for working flat out in a desert as well as trundling around subzero cities which is why they are overprovided. In theory they should have as little oil as possible but changed often. Big old performance engines, e.g. Merc gullwing, could be ruined because the vast oil reservoir never got hot enough.

I sometimes wonder if this uncomprehending poster's first language is English.

That type of comment could be considered racist, does not bother me but might bother some.

My records show that I have changed the oil and filter in my TR7 seven times since 1985, even though it has done only 32,000m since then.

I have done about 45,000 miles in my 2 Caterhams since 1989. In that time I have changed the oil/filter anually, probably that is 27 changes plus when I have carried out engine upgrades I change the oil/filter after 100 and 500 miles to ensure a) it cleans out any bedding in particles and b) allows me to bed it in on mineral oil before I go onto synthetic. That is probably another 10 changes. So at least 37 changes in 26 years.

In those years I have only had one engine problem which was caused by a sticking oil pressure relief valve. It was probably a manufacturing fault in a pattern part (not a cheap one) but impossible to prove.

My steel Ford x-flow was revved to 8,400 regularly and never gave any problems.

Will continue to carry out annnual changes as long as I have the car. At about £25 for oil and filter why would you want to skimp.

Despite the low mileage I also change Zetec cam belts at the Ford recomended interval of 10 years. Far cheaper than a new engine.

Hope you understand that Mr JohnF.