Oil Change Frequency

I have a 2001 Taco with a 2.4L and 230K miles, is every 5000 miles still a good interval to change oil or should I do it every 3000?

 

If you have a lot of money to waste, 3k. If you have a little to waste, 5k. If you go by the book, probably 7500. And if you do synthetic... about 15k or once a year.

Of if you have an oil analysis done you will get a pretty good idea of what your particular engine needs. I've never had one myself but I understand its pretty cheap.

 

Go synthetic and every 12500, its what I have done for years and all my cars. I always check the level every 3rd tank of gas when I check fluids and tires.

 

Jumping from 5k to 10k+ on a vehicle that has 230k miles may be best done in steps.
Does it use any oil now? It is in the ballpark where various forms of oil usage show up.
Be really diligent about monitoring oil level.
Also if you are getting any blowby the oil will get dirty faster.

All that being said, I go 7500 between oil changes and 15000 between filter changes and feel perfectly comfortable. Mix of highway and city, so not technically severe duty but not always easy (city, towing, hauling, short trips).

 

Wow, 12.5k? I have a 2014 4 cyl and I'm doing it every 5k with synthetic just like the owners manual recommends.

 

I use mobil 1, and I used to change every 5, but I streched it after i had the oil analyzed and found that, for me, 12500 was about the time to change it. Same went for my audi and for my yaris and for my 944. They old nissan I had leaked so much oil that I never changed it, just replaced old with new.

 

Don't over-think this. If you plan on keeping it for awhile, then play it safe and change it every 5K miles. I would use Mobil 1 high-mileage. You get the protection of a decent oil with some seal conditioners. I recommend Mobil 1 only because it's available everywhere.

Just my 2 cents.

 

I haven't noticed it using any oil but I only got it a few months ago. It had 229K and some change when I bought it and had it changed at 230K.

 

That's was what I was thinking...every 5K, just wasn't sure if having such high mileage would make a difference. I hear many on here recommend the Mobil 1 but what about a filter to go with it?

 

Use M1 high mileage 5w-30 and a Purolator PureOne filter every 5K and enjoy your truck.

 

I like the Fram Ultra filter, but at 5k intervals pretty much any brand name filter will work.

 

From toy's website.
Every 5k miles

• Check installation of driver’s
  floor mat
• Check MA State Inspection expiration date
• Check for open campaigns/recalls
• Replace engine oil and filter*
• Rotate tires and check condition (tread depth)
• Set tire pressures to correct psi
• Check that all exterior light bulbs are functioning
• Inspect front and rear brake components
• Inspect and top off fluid levels
• Perform multi-point inspection with print-out
• Road test of vehicle*10,000 miles for synthetic oil

 

http://service.actontoyota.com/recommended-maintenance/tacoma/

And if you have an analysis done, you'll find at 10k, you have good oil (probably)

They go conservative by a far margin, plus the more times you're in the better the odds of upsaleing you on something.

 

Isn't syn 0W20 spec'd for this engine? Or, more appropriately, isn't 0W20 only available as a synthetic?

 

Manual says 5W30...

 

Mmmm, yeah, for your 2001. Some posters in here are 2nd gen. My 2012 specs 0W20 which unless I'm full on retard is only available as a synthetic anyway. I guess I wasn't looking at what year 4 cyl the posters above had.

 

Change it every fall which works out to about 5K miles. Don't drive far to work and lovely wife thinks it's noisy and rough riding so we use her Audi on weekends. Use Mobil 1 5W-30 and Toyota filters. Paid about $5 each at the dealer. I don't know which filters are "good" anymore, figure I can't go wrong with the OEM filters. Change it in the fall so I get the "best" lubricating properties on cold startup. Have 75K miles on it and does not use any oil between changes. FYI.

 

Id say go 5k with synthetic or use standard and go every 3k, it made it 230K might as well keep er lubed. anything over 7500 is crazy even if the oil says it can go 15K

 

Ignore any oil change advice from all TW members including me & follow the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual.

 

Gee, let me save $30 on oil so I can spend $30,000 on a new truck. Sounds logical to me.