Six Month Oil Changes

The maintenance guide for my 2000 Toyota Tacoma recommends changing the oil either every 5,000 miles or 7,500 miles, depending on driving conditions, but at least every six months. I was wondering why change it at least every six months if, for example, I only drive 1,000 miles in six months? Is there some reason why new oil can last more than six months in it's original bottles in my garage but once I put it in my truck it only lasts for six months? Any thoughts? Thanks

Reply to
Ralph
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"Ralph" wrote

Well first be prepared for the chorus of "Oh no change your oil every 3 months/3000 miles religiously!". If you want the longest life possible for your motor and don't care about the cost by all means do so. Unless you really use your engine hard it's not going to make much difference. The real enemies of oil are time and water. As soon as you pour oil out of the bottle humidity in the air and the repeated heating and cooling of your engine begins to break down your oil and form acids which can literally eat your engine from the inside out. Things that affect oil life are: dusty conditions, very cool or hot weather, short trips where the engine doesn't have time to warm up and settle down fully, and extended high speed/ high load operation, and extended idling. The additive package in quality motor oil will easy exceed six months. Oddly enough if you never turn a wheel your oil will most likely breakdown faster than if you drive your vehicle regularly. Unless of course you keep it in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. The 3 month thing is oil company Dogma but each of us is free to worship their vehicle as they wish :) One more thing, often in the owners manual it says to change your filter every *other * oil change. Change it every time. Also try to make sure the oil is fully drained each change. Fifteen minute oil changers often leave as much as a half a quart in the engine when changing it. Why mix worn out oil with the new?

Reply to
Patrick Weaver

The writers of the owner's manuals are just guessing at recommendations that suit most of us. If you make two or three long drives in six months that total 1000 miles, no problem; I'd do yearly oil changes. If you drive a mile four times daily and the engine and oil never get a chance to get completely warm, I'd change that oil every three months.

Ken

Reply to
Ken Shelton

driving

change

In damp, humid, muggy, condensation and arthritis prone UK, the recommendation has been *miles or one year, whichever comes sooner, for decades. No problem with this regime in any way. In the US the consumer has been brainwashed over so many years to change oil every three months/three thousand miles, that six months or six thousand miles is considered adventurous by many and blasphemous by some LOL

Huw

Reply to
Huw

I used to change the oil in my Toyota pickup on my birthday, that way I wouldn't forget. I had it changed last September so figure it's about due.

BTW, I change the filter and add oil about every three months, which is about how long it takes for the oil to get low enough to add a quart with a filter. I've had the truck for 16 years and it has about 175,000 miles on it...

Reply to
TOM

I used to be super religious about oil changes myself... Just did an oil change on my Celica... can't remember when I changed it last, but I only had to add half a quart in 3 months or so.. I estimate at least 5000 miles, but probably closer to 7500...

Reply to
Celica Dude

on my 85 truck I change every 4,000 miles, not by months, lasting

238,000 miles so far

On my 2003 Tacoma, switched to synthetic Mobile 1 at 5,000 miles, been 7 months so far, have 700 miles to go before I change it 10,000

Reply to
TacomaDude

Are we meant to be impressed?

Huw

Reply to
Huw

which

Wow. You believe in living dangerously o-)

Huw

Reply to
Huw

That's 60 oil changes! Think how much more work you could have done if you had an Audi engine changed at every 20,000 miles. That would be 12 oil changes, saving 48 changes at half an hour each. That's 24 more productive hours or three good working days. A friend just changed his at 190,000 miles and it went like new with only a quart added between services.

Huw

Reply to
Huw

No, I just know my engine. When I said "i didn't add any oil for 3 months" it meant that I lift the hood every couple of days at the very least and check the coolant and the oil level (because that's what I do) and make sure it doesn't change.

222,700 miles on my daily driver and no smoke comes out the tailpipe. I'd say that's acceptable... and no accident either.
Reply to
Celica Dude

"Huw" wrote in news:40ba05ef_2@mk-nntp-

2.news.uk.tiscali.com:

OR according to manufacturers spec.

Reply to
MLB

I figured you would be, being a member of the easy to amuse group...

Reply to
TOM

Are we supposed to be impressed???

Reply to
TOM

Nope. I would expect nothing less.

Huw

Reply to
Huw

You obviously miscalculated.

Huw

Reply to
Huw

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