Oil Change Interval

"Joe" <guichov.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:fkc9t1$1jb0$1@ihnp4.ucsd.edu...
> All,
>
> I'd like to change the oil to my Camry and 4Runner every 3000 miles.
> However, I think the user's manual and dealers recommend to do it every
> 5000 miles. I'd like to get some comments from you guys in this forum
> about how often it is done.
>
> Thanks much.
>
> -Joe.

I change oil in my two Toyotas approximately every 5-6 K miles. I use no
oil in either car, and it seems to stay clean on the dipstick, so when it
takes on a brownish tinge indicating that it's getting dirty, it gets
changed. But I'm certainly not religious about changing it exactly at 5000
or 6000. It's when I have some free time.
I think, what with efficient oil filters and air filters it's not necessary
to change at 3000 or so. (and with better oils than in the old days, too.)
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval 

On Dec 19, 7:19 pm, "mack" <macke....RemoveThis@dslextreme.com> wrote:
> "Joe" <guic....RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:fkc9t1$1jb0$1@ihnp4.ucsd.edu...
>
> > All,
>
> > I'd like to change the oil to my Camry and 4Runner every 3000 miles.
> > However, I think the user's manual and dealers recommend to do it every
> > 5000 miles. I'd like to get some comments from you guys in this forum
> > about how often it is done.
>
> > Thanks much.
>
> > -Joe.
>
> I change oil in my two Toyotas approximately every 5-6 K miles. I use no
> oil in either car, and it seems to stay clean on the dipstick, so when it
> takes on a brownish tinge indicating that it's getting dirty, it gets
> changed. But I'm certainly not religious about changing it exactly at 5000
> or 6000. It's when I have some free time.
> I think, what with efficient oil filters and air filters it's not necessary
> to change at 3000 or so. (and with better oils than in the old days, too.)

I change at 5k miles when my MAINT REQD lights up. This is on a 5-7
month interval depending on my trips. I have never gone more than 8-9
months with the same oil.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval 

You're right. Toyota lowered the 7500 mile interval down to 5000 miles
in 2004 because of engine sludge concerns.

For me, 3000 miles with 69 cent/qt dino oil on sale. Premium grade
Purolator PureOne or Bosch Filtech filters only.

Don't play the extended interval game while under warranty. Even with
synthetics if you're past 5000 technically the warranty voids.
Besides, the small crankcase and filter in Toyotas mean that they are
NOT designed for extended drain like many European cars, where 15,000
mile intervals are typical.




On Dec 19, 3:36 pm, "Joe" <guic....DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
> All,
>
> I'd like to change the oil to my Camry and 4Runner every 3000 miles.
> However, I think the user's manual and dealers recommend to do it every 5000
> miles. I'd like to get some comments from you guys in this forum about how
> often it is done.
>
> Thanks much.
>
> -Joe.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval 

On Dec 19, 4:17 pm, "Jeff Strickland" <cr....DeleteThis@verizon.net> wrote:
> I think the actual oil change interval is more like 7500 miles.

Toyota reduced it in 2004 from 7500 miles down to 5000 miles because
of engine sludge concerns.



> There is NO reason to change oil at 3000 mile intervals. All manufacturers
> use a much better grade of oil that can easily give 7500 miles of service,
> some give upwards of 12,000 miles -- but these hold 7 quarts of oil. I see
> no reason to expect any less than 5,000 miles from your oil.

European cars typically go 15,000 miles between oil changes. New GMs
and Hondas up to 12,000 miles with oil sensor.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval 

"Joe" <guichov.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:fkc9t1$1jb0$1@ihnp4.ucsd.edu...
> All,
>
> I'd like to change the oil to my Camry and 4Runner every 3000 miles.
> However, I think the user's manual and dealers recommend to do it every
> 5000 miles. I'd like to get some comments from you guys in this forum
> about how often it is done.
>
> Thanks much.
>
> -Joe.

Use a full synthetic and change it at 5000 miles. You will be far better off
than using conventional oil and changing at 3000 miles.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval 

"Joe" <guichov.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:fkc9t1$1jb0$1@ihnp4.ucsd.edu...
> All,
>
> I'd like to change the oil to my Camry and 4Runner every 3000 miles.
> However, I think the user's manual and dealers recommend to do it every
> 5000 miles. I'd like to get some comments from you guys in this forum
> about how often it is done.

My SO has a 2007 RAV4. It has an oil change reminder (a nice feature), so
the oil is getting changed at or shortly after the 5000 mile mark. After
about 9 months and around 20K total miles on the car (5K on that oil), I
took a sample and sent it off for analysis. The report said the oil was in
good condition and was probably good for at least another 3K miles.

Unless you are doing something unusual (taxi service, package delivery,
extensive idling), there is no reason to go to an oil change interval less
than the recommended 5k miles.

Ed
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval 

"Ed White" <cewhite3 DeleteThis @mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:13mjrsl43fc5j07@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Joe" <guichov DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:fkc9t1$1jb0$1@ihnp4.ucsd.edu...
>> All,
>>
>> I'd like to change the oil to my Camry and 4Runner every 3000 miles.
>> However, I think the user's manual and dealers recommend to do it every
>> 5000 miles. I'd like to get some comments from you guys in this forum
>> about how often it is done.
>
> My SO has a 2007 RAV4. It has an oil change reminder (a nice feature), so
> the oil is getting changed at or shortly after the 5000 mile mark. After
> about 9 months and around 20K total miles on the car (5K on that oil), I
> took a sample and sent it off for analysis. The report said the oil was in
> good condition and was probably good for at least another 3K miles.

May I be nosy and ask how much this analysis of five bucks' worth of motor
oil cost? To me, it seems as futile as testing the tensile strength of
toilet paper.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval 

<johngdole DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:a5b1a7a6-1df7-4eb4-8c6a-229df65c6063@i29g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> You're right. Toyota lowered the 7500 mile interval down to 5000 miles
> in 2004 because of engine sludge concerns.
>
> For me, 3000 miles with 69 cent/qt dino oil on sale. Premium grade
> Purolator PureOne or Bosch Filtech filters only.
>
> Don't play the extended interval game while under warranty. Even with
> synthetics if you're past 5000 technically the warranty voids.
> Besides, the small crankcase and filter in Toyotas mean that they are
> NOT designed for extended drain like many European cars, where 15,000
> mile intervals are typical.

Except in Europe Toyotas have 10,000 mile oil change intervals with the same
small crankcase and filter. Supposedly the European Oil spec require a
superior grade oil, but there is nothing else that greatly differentiates
some European Toyota engines from the equivalent American engines (see
http://www.toyota.co.uk/bv/OwnerServices/BriefGuides/RAV4.pdf for an
example - the 10,000 mile intermediate service includes an oil change)

Ed
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval 

Joe wrote:
> All,
>
> I'd like to change the oil to my Camry and 4Runner every 3000 miles.
> However, I think the user's manual and dealers recommend to do it every 5000
> miles. I'd like to get some comments from you guys in this forum about how
> often it is done.

Apparently, you know often it is done.

However, it should be done every 5000 mi. As others have said, the oils
today are good for at least 5000 mi. Any more frequent than this, and
you're wasting natural resources.

Jeff

> Thanks much.
>
> -Joe.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval 

"Jeff" <kidsdoc2000.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Dulaj.28808$JW4.13228@trnddc05...
> Joe wrote:
>> All,
>>
>> I'd like to change the oil to my Camry and 4Runner every 3000 miles.
>> However, I think the user's manual and dealers recommend to do it every
>> 5000 miles. I'd like to get some comments from you guys in this forum
>> about how often it is done.
>
> Apparently, you know often it is done.
>
> However, it should be done every 5000 mi. As others have said, the oils
> today are good for at least 5000 mi. Any more frequent than this, and
> you're wasting natural resources.
>
> Jeff

Spare us the LIEbrawl lectures. It won't be society that pays for a new
engine if I delay my oil changes for too long. I use synthetic oil and have
it changed every 6000 KILOMETRES or so (about 3600 miles). I don't NEED a
newsgroup to agree with me before I change my oil.




>
>> Thanks much.
>>
>> -Joe.
>>
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval 

"mack" <mackerel.TakeThisOut@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
news:13mjvq7o89egc9e@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Ed White" <cewhite3.TakeThisOut@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:13mjrsl43fc5j07@corp.supernews.com...
>>
>> "Joe" <guichov.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:fkc9t1$1jb0$1@ihnp4.ucsd.edu...
>>> All,
>>>
>>> I'd like to change the oil to my Camry and 4Runner every 3000 miles.
>>> However, I think the user's manual and dealers recommend to do it every
>>> 5000 miles. I'd like to get some comments from you guys in this forum
>>> about how often it is done.
>>
>> My SO has a 2007 RAV4. It has an oil change reminder (a nice feature), so
>> the oil is getting changed at or shortly after the 5000 mile mark. After
>> about 9 months and around 20K total miles on the car (5K on that oil), I
>> took a sample and sent it off for analysis. The report said the oil was
>> in good condition and was probably good for at least another 3K miles.
>
> May I be nosy and ask how much this analysis of five bucks' worth of motor
> oil cost? To me, it seems as futile as testing the tensile strength of
> toilet paper.
>

15 years ago when I last had oil tested, it cost about $50 Canadian. Back
then, I had gotten into the habit of having both oil and tranny fluid tested
every 3 years--worrying about major repairs sneaking up.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval 

"mack" <mackerel.RemoveThis@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
news:13mjvq7o89egc9e@corp.supernews.com...

> May I be nosy and ask how much this analysis of five bucks' worth of
> motor oil cost? To me, it seems as futile as testing the tensile
> strength of toilet paper.

The test cost $22.50. I was curious. I have sent off a sample for many
vehicles over the years to try and get an idea if there were possible
engine problems brewing. In the case of the RAV4, given all the
stories about sludge, I wanted to make sure that if the engine
developed sludge, it wasn't my fault. It was nice to see that the oil
was still in good condition after 5,000 miles, even though I was
changing it. I'll probably send off another sample when the vehicle
has been driven around 60,000 miles.

If you are only paying $5 for 5 quarts of oil, you must be getting the
minimal quality stuff. The cheapest 5W20 oil I can find is nearly $2 a
quart. Castrol GTX is $3 a quart and Mobil 1 is $5 a quart.

Ed
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval 

ED:

have to echo your bit about .69-cent oil.....haven't seen that price
for at least 7-8 years, and probably much longer.....Nowadays, here in
the Pacific Northwest, $2.40- $2.89 a quart for all the major
dinos....You can catch the CarQuest or NAPA house brands for something
like $1.39 on sale,,,more like a $1.90 normally.

But, as I wrote in a thread on the camry group today, I bought high-
mile dino for $1.89 a quart last September. All of the major brand
dinos were cheaper than the standard dinos.....

I stick to 3-month change intervals because I am in an extremely damp
climate and most of the rigs never go more than 7 miles per day --
about half of that on dirt backroads.....also Toyota has me paranoid
about the gel issue.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil Change Interval