Oil change frequency? Time duration?

Hi all.

Your manual says "every 6 months or 8000 km (5000 miles), whichever comes first" for a reason ...

I do a full synthetic change every spring and fall - sometimes at very low kilometers.

Cheers
Ray.

 

Another thought is your driving habits. Even if you don't drive but 5000 or less a year, are you doing primarily short trips regularly, or do you do 20 or miles per average trip and get the engine/vehicle fully warmed up most of the time ? If short trips, I would definitely consider 2X a year oil changes, but oil analysis should help with the decision.

 

Every 5K for both my 4Runner and Taco. Both are daily drivers so I go by miles not time.

 

Every six months regardless of miles here. Just had the oil changed at 3600 miles (6 months). I do allot of short trips (4 mile commute), so I'm concerned with condensation build up in my oil not getting burned up.

 

I was changing my oil oil every 3,000 miles on a 2006 V6 mainly because most of my driving is city ,short trips.then I went 5,500 miles (1 year) and sent a sample to Blackstone labs.they tested the sample and said the additives were still good and I could have gone 7,500 miles with no problems.if you're concerned Blackstone will send free containers and instructions on how to ship a sample,it's $25 for basic testing and $10 more to test the additives. I am now changing the oil at 5,000 miles to be on the safe side.

 

When I check my oil and can't see the dipstick through the oil film on it, THEN I change it.