I drove much less these days because of gas price. So since I had
oil/oil filter change on my 2000 Toyota Camry last November, I
only drove 1500 miles.

I took my car to a shop, they checked and told me the oil is
still clean and no need to change. I often heard it should be
done at 30000 or 50000 miles or every 3 or 6 months. While it's
only 1500 miles, it's been 9 months now. Should I change oil and
the filter? If not, should I do it at 12 months?

Avail wrote:
Yes every 5,000 or about five months whichever comes first. Go to the
toyota website for maintenance. www.toyota.com

If you use conventional oil, and the 1500 miles consisted of relatively
short trips, then I would change it after 9 months. If you use a full
synthetic, you can go a longer time interval, and at least 5000 - 7500 miles
without worry.

If you take mostly short trips, I would definitely use a synthetic or at
least a synthetic blend.

"Mark A" <nobody (AT) nowhere (DOT) com> wrote

You may call me foolish, daring, a tightwad, lazy or just plain ignorant (or
all of the above) but I can't see the problem in leaving oil with 1500 miles
on it in the crankcase until you reach at least 3000 miles. Are there enough
contaminants in 1500 mile-old oil to eat up engine parts within nine months?
or 18 months? What would be the downside of leaving oil in for a year or
more with so few miles driven?

"mack" <mackerel (AT) dslextreme (DOT) com> wrote

It is not the number of miles, or the elapsed time that matters most, but
the length of each trip that matters.

If you drive once a week, but average 21 miles per round trip, then you can
ignore the elapsed time and just go by the miles driven.

If you drive every day, 3 miles per round trip (1.5 miles each way), then
your engine is not operating a normal temperature most of time and you
should change your oil by the elapsed time rather than miles driven.

However, using a full synthetic, and to a lesser degree a synthetic blend,
you can extend the elapsed time regardless of the miles driven.

"Bonehenge" <DwightSchrute (AT) DunderMifflin (DOT) com> wrote

thanks for the explanations to Mark A and Bonehenge!

Any collector will tell you oil is cheap, go by the 30/30 rule If the
vehicle is not driven at least once a month for thirty miles, change the oil
at least twice a year. The killer is the sulfurous acid in the crankcase
will pit the metal.


mike hunt


"mack" <mackerel (AT) dslextreme (DOT) com> wrote

"Avail" <Avail (AT) houseparty (DOT) com> wrote



Like most things used motor oil will break down with time and has a shelf life.

Follow the manufacture's maintenance schedule.


GL
Dan