Oil Change Intervals and Oil Types

I have a 2012 with the 4.0 V6, and I really don't drive the Tacoma much. I am averaging less than 3000 miles a year, so I have been changing the oil once a year, regardless of how few miles I drove. Is there any reason to pick synthetic over conventional for the amount I drive? Seems like the consensus is that synthetic is better for longer oil change intervals, but that "length" is measured in miles not time.
Any advice is appreciated.

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ndisa44

 

It doesn't really matter IMO, pick a quality oil of the correct weight and grade and use it, most "non-synthetic" oils today are synthetic blends anyway.

Frequent short trips where the engine doesn't reach full operating temp breaks down oil quicker than anything, if this is the case you may consider changing it more than once a year.

If when you do drive it you run it on the highway 10 miles or so and get it up to temp your probably fine with once a year oil changes.

 

This might seem bizarre, but the majority of my driving is two 45 mile trips every two weeks. Besides that I barely drive the tacoma at all.

 

I don't think you have anything to worry about then, your running plenty long to burn off any moisture.
I'd keep doing what your doing and run it.

 

You are over-thinking this...Synthetic or dino are both fine for your type of driving. Just follow the correct oil weight...change it every six months to be on the safe side.

 

Why not just sell it and buy an electric car? I'm not even joking at all. It would cost you pennies per mile, no fluids to even worry about..

 

If you were driving 10,000 miles a month the savings with conventional oil might add up. But no more than you drive I'd use synthetic. I'm convinced it is better, and driving 3000 miles/year is harder on the truck than driving it 20,000 miles/year.

Kirkland Signature 5W-30 Full Synthetic Motor Oil, 5-quart, 2-pack | Costco

Here's 2 years worth of oil for you, $40.

 

I remember seeing on one 5-quart synthetic jug stating 15,000 miles or one year.
We have a 07 HHR that rarely sees over 4000 miles a year and I have been changing it once a year with a full synthetic. The oil life indicator always says we have 25% to 35% oil life left and most of the oil life is used up during the winter months.

 

Off topic our Honda Pilot OLM is based off mileage and months. I could reset the OLM to 100%. Not drive for a year and it would tell me to change the oil.

 

^Yep and the oil does degrade with time, rate is unknown.

How hard do you use the engine on these trips? Any burnouts or pinning the engine against the rev limiter?

My truck has similar low usage, but it's stressful trail usage, so I still change the engine oil every 6 months. I did my last oil change in June after 1400 miles with Pennzoil Platinum 0W30...

 

Dino oil is 1980’s technology.
Don’t have time to blow my engine. Made synthetic happen on minimum wage job.
If you want to risk it go ahead.

 

Once a year and you’re good to go. Don’t over think it.

 

Adding to the point about how long to run the engine. What you are trying to do is make sure your oil gets above the boiling point of water so you are getting the condensation out of the engine.

On our vintage cars... I watch the oil temp gauge to ensure the oil temps get up to around 220-230 before shut down.

 

Good Lord….

 

Me? I'd go Mobil 1 (on sale at Costco) in the correct weight and change once a year with your schedule.
But opinions are worth what you paid for them.

 

They tacoma is not my commuter car, so it primarily gets used on weekends for mountain biking trips where I am driving many miles into dirt forest roads before I go riding. It does get used some other times, but that's mostly during the summer when I am doing more work outside at home. Last week I moved 5 bed loads of mulch, and this weekend I am going to be shoehorning 4 kayaks into the bed for a family vacation (it's a tight fit but is possible)

I only commute in the tacoma if the snow is bad, otherwise my daily is a corolla hatchback that gets more than double the gas mileage of my tacoma.

 

To what? My lack of driving?

 

No