My schedule is every 6 months or 3K miles, whichever comes first. Most of the time 6 months arrives first. I use Mobil 1 5W-30 and Toyota filters for normal duty, 0W-40 for track use.

If breaking in a new rig, I change at 1K miles using Chevron Delo 5W-30 dino and then switch to synthetic at 4K.

The exception is used vehicles with >60K. Then I'll stick with dino.

 

I run Castrol 10W40 in my 95 4Runner V6 and Toy filters. I change it every 3K because it's starting to look black by then and I've always changed it at that interval. I figure it's not very expensive and it doesn't hurt to change it.

I run Mobil 1 in my wife's Highlander V6 and Toy filters. I change that oil every 4500 to 5000 miles. She does all city driving and has a 10 minute commute to work so that works out to about twice a year.

I started running Mobil 1 in her car when she had a Subaru that always cooked the oil. Mobil 1 solved that problem and I've used it ever since. I'd put it in my 4runner but at 176,000 miles of all Castrol 10W40 I'm scared to make the change. I know that's a whole other debate though!

 

Just a little update:
I finally crossed over to the dark side and dropped in some Amsoil 5-30 with an Amsoil filter. I'll be running 10k mile intervals. 4k more to go!

 

I was always told that I should put 10w-40 in my truck (22re) year around for the best results, along with it's oil changes every 3 months.

 

10,000-12,000 for synthetic.
3,000 to 5,000 for castrol 10w30

hypoid oil-every 25,000 or after a good axle dunking...

 

I use Redline 10w40 and change it about every 15k miles which is 3k less then they recommend but I drive it harder then normal, also run a K&N filter

 

I go one year between oil changes. I use Series 2000 Amsoil 0w30 which is rated for 35,000 or 12 months. Even tho the Amsoil filter is good for 12,500 I change it at six months which is about 10,000 miles.

 

I have not kept up on this thread, but I will share my story.

I usually change out my Amsoil synthetic at 3K.
That is what I use to run dino oil at, but since I have been running full Amsoil in every nook and cranny on the rig since around '99, I thought I would let it go longer this time.

My last oil change before today was October 2nd of last year, and at 173,703 miles.
Today one year and 24 days later and at 182,586 miles, the match comes to 8,883 miles.

I did not burn one drop of oil in all of this time, and I check it about every three weeks.
The oil still looked very clean.
I did not change the filter out during this whole time until today when the dealer put in 5.5 new qt of Amsoil Turbo Formulated 10-30 oil and an Amsoil oil filter.

Dealer said the engine looked and sounded great, and the only attention that needs servicing is:
front brake pads
air filter (was replaced one year ago, Toyota paper filter)

I had not planned on going this long, but $$$ is tight without a Boeing paycheck.

 

Hmm...you know a local shop in town (called Tognities for you Sacramento folks...it's where i get all my synthetic fluids from, except motor oil which I just go to Costco to get the Mobil1) told me the exact same thing like you did, and that is people would generally changed their fluids at the 10K mile mark while only changing the filter every 5000 miles for the Amsoil line (filter and oil). Came out still very good. Would I do it like that? Hell no, looking at a bunch of engines this semsester and the sludge that builds up, I learned that you can never change your oil too often and 3000 mile is very good, even though they extend intervals to like 5000-7000 miles these days because of the oil additives.

 

I think sludge buildup is more the engine type than motor oil. There were some older Toyota engines that were notorious for sludge buildup regardless of oil type. Running 10K+ between changes is very common using full synthetics and the engines are still purring after 300K so maybe it's good karma?

 

Synthetic oil is made to go for extended periods.
Changing it out like I use to at 3K makes no sense dollar wise.

Why run it at all then?

 

5000 mile intervals here... as recommended by toyota maintenance...w/ Castrol Full Synthetic 10W-30

 

True that motors have an effect on sludge buildup, especially of the Camry motors, that's why a good amount of us that have Camrys run full synthetic now to help minimize the sludge buildup.

But sludge can also accumulate from other factors too and a biggie is not changing your motor oil as often.

 

My dealership recommends to change the oil every 5000 when they do oil changes. I know the oil life meter on my mom's 03 Silverado says the oil is about 50% at 3000 miles.

 

More often actually, but I'm doing the Amsoil thing...

 

I ask this in all seriousness, how does an oil life meter work? Is it really just a timer/counter devive? Or is there really something monitorint the quality of the oil?

 

"Originally Posted by ahriman
here is a related question, that i would not ask, but it is surprising the answers i have heard: do you change your filter every time you change the oil?"

Look at it this way, after you take a shower do you put your dirty underwear back on?

 

From my understanding it monitors RPM's, idle time, cold starts, engine temperature, etc. to determine the life of the oil. I know new BMW's also have an oil life meter, but don't know if it differs from GM's. Most of European cars are now coming with synthetic and have long drain intervals of 10k+ miles.

 

Hmm, that's pretty cool. It'd be extra groovy if it new what sort of oil you were putting in (dino vs syn). I'd imagine that the ones in BMW's are set up to assume synthetic, if thats what they come with, whereas your moms truck is set with dino in mind...

 

2500-3000 miles Mobil 1 synthetic 10w30 with Toyota filters

I believe oil is never too clean...it looks the same the day I change it as the day I put it in!