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[LeanBurn]

I have changed my own oil for 20 years +. I have different reasoning for changing it cold, such as when its cold all the contaminants have flowed down to the pan along with all the oil that has not been trapped in gallies etc. You will a complete drain of oil after it has been allowed to sit overnight and pehaps a couple of ounces more than in an engine that has just been shut off, you just have to let it drain. Unless you are changing oil in the near zero temps and the oil really thickens up it is a moot point. All the contaminants that have not been picked up by the filter remain suspended in the oil, that's the oils job, and if that isn't happening, you are using really low grade junk oil and filter.

I have never, ever seen a car sit long enough in a shop ready to have its oil changed (or other service completed) and see them start it to warm it up. A good shop, heck even a mediocre shop has constant movement of cars coming and going as they are being serviced. If they have time to let your car sit long enough for the engine to cool down they are not doing well business-wise and have way more repair bays than they know what to do with.

Search BITOG (most of these guys know more about oil than most mechanics) and you will find it doesn't really matter. Regular oil changes with good oil and filter trump any of these details.