Changed the Oil and the Usual Oil question (Synthetic) Revisited

With short intervals like this between changes, and with normal driving conditions, I don't think you'll see any difference other than price between "dino" oil and "synthetic" oil.

Yeah, I know. I've had the 3,000 mile engrained in me since I was 17, but then again, I have gone 4,000, 5,000 even 7,000 miles between changes (Toyota's Recommndation USED to be 7,500 miles!) and still managed to rack up over 250,000 on two Toyotas, and over 170,000 miles on another.

But, I'm suggesting diong this as de rigeur...

I see that even Click and Clack are now recommending 5000 miles.

How long before they realise that the rest of the World are at 15000 miles and are now moving rapidly to 20,000 and even 30,000 mile oil change intervals. Toyota has been at 10,000 miles here for around 10 years now. The trend setters are GM/Vauxhall/Opel, VAG [volkswagonaudigroup] Mercedes and BMW. All others are following as their technology allows. I don't know of anyone that changes their oil at less than 5000 miles or one year. Even back in the early 1980's VW/Audi had 10,000 mile intervals while others had 12000 mile/1 year intervals, all on mineral oil. No problem.

Huw

I tend to agree on this one. Unless youre thrashing the crackers off your car or do extended heavy duty work, id rather use dino.

Dont think ive seen a car with >12K mile intervals, but then i dont hang around new models. New stuff must be improving a lot to be able to stop the contamination of oil by combustion byproducts, especially with the recirculating of exhaust gas being so commonplace now.

The interval depends on the car and the use. Mine, as standard, has a Toyota specified 2750 mile interval if used harshly, 5K if not.

As they say in the article, usage patterns in the US are different, so that may account for some of the difference. They also note that 7500 miles is Toyota's recommendation, but they err on the conservative side and say 5000.

That's why I want to shove an extra 500 miles between changes! ;)

This reminds me of an ancient story my late father used to tell. He worked at radio station WOC in Davenport, Iowa in the mid-1920s and there was a fellow on the staff named Peter MacArthur, who walked with crutches. He checked his oil and found it a quart low, so he dutifully put in a quart (all of 30 or 35c at the time) and immediately noticed that it had been 1020 miles since his last oil change. (for you younger readers, 1000 miles was the accepted time between changes, and there were likely no oil filters in those days of yore). So poor Pete went directly to the gas station and had an oil change, draining out and throwing away his precious new quart of oil.

Now for the end of the story. One day Peter Macarthur noticed a job applicant in the office, and the young fellow was told there were no vacancies on the staff, so he left. Peter (on his crutches) went down the hall to the elevator where the young man was still waiting for the lift. He mentioned to him that while WOC had no openings, he had heard there was a spot open for a sportscaster on a Des Moines station. The young fellow thanked Pete and went on his way. Several days later, he called Pete to thank him again, saying he'd indeed gotten the job in Des Moines, and would be eternally grateful. The young man was Ronald "Dutch" Reagan, and from then till the end of Pete's life he sent him a Christmas card each year with his thanks. And after Pete died, Reagan sent his widow a card each year as well. Whatever you may think of Reagan, he did remember kindnesses....forever.

Cool, Mac! Thanks!

It didn't look like Dino oil when I drained it.

Of course, I ahd already purchased the Castrol Syntec anyway. I was betting it was already on Synthetic, and figured, since it's the first "new" car I've had in almost 20 years, it would be a good car to use synthetic in!

How can you tell from the way it looks?

Instead of being a Golden *BLACK! ;), it was a Reddish brown, like bad Tranny fluid.

Yes the US has greater distances to cover and bigger cities and less congestion in general. Altogether less harsh on the oil on average than European conditions. Here Toyota err on the side of caution with 10,000 mile intervals while most European competitors have at least 12000 and some

Huw

Maybe it _was_ bad tranny fluid. :-)

Hey Hach - Our local selling dealer (Lithia Toyota) has a "deal" that they give, well not give, an oil/filter change 4 times/year or 3000 miles. The price is/was $350 for so called lifetime. The filter is Toyota and I specify castrol 5-30. The Avalon (3.5) uses 6 quarts so return isn't to bad as I usually go 5 - 6 years on trades. BUT, I do stretch it a bit if on long freeway runs to 4-4500 or so miles but sometimes the 3 months on Avalon are under 2500 but are short trips (about 6 miles each way to wifes office) so do it often.

How is the home of the "K" boys?

Actually, if you drive a lot, $350 is about 12 oil changes using synthetic oil. I paid $35 for a '6-pack' and $6 for a filter! At 4 qts, and $5 a filter from Toyota, that's $29 for a change. After 36,000 miles, that's your $350. I used to rack that up in ONE YEAR when I was younger!

The K boys? Who are they? ;)

Mobil 1 has a new line of Extended Performance synthetic motor oils that are supposed to last 15,000 miles. Based on some oil analysis data I've read at bobistheoilguy.com, I feel completely safe using Mobil 1 Extended Performance for at least 10,000 miles between oil changes. I've got about 180K on my '98 Sienna running 7000 - 8000 miles between Mobil 1 (synthetic but not Extended Performance) oil changes (Purolator PurOne filters). Engine operates good as new. Just switched the Sienna over to Extended Performance.

Why do I run synthetic? Mainly sloth; I do half the number of oil changes with synthetic (got 5 cars to service) and never worry about matching viscosity to weather.