Oil change - mileage vs time

I’m driving about 2-3k a year, I change it every 6-8 months. It’s turned out to be some around town trips, sometimes less than 4-5 miles round trip, once in awhile, I drive a bit longer.

I’ve been told 6 months by those I trust.

at this rate, it’s only going to have 35-40k on the clock by the time I’m ready to move on.

 

Current mileage on my 2021 TRD Sport, purchased May 14, 2021, is roughly 32K miles.

I drive just under 10K miles per year so I'm at about twice a year/every 5K miles with oil changes.

I use synthetic oil and utilize the Auto Hobby Shop on Dover Air Force Base, DE.

 

I live a mile from work, so two miles a day during the week. Probably idles longer when I auto start to warm it up during the winter, than driving time. On the weekends it gets more miles, but still not a lot. In the summer, I try to drive the motorcycle if at all possible so that keeps the miles down.

 

I'm 3.5 miles from work when the North Gate of Dover AFB is open and 5.2 miles when I have to enter through the Main Gate--one way.

I have to exit through the Main Gate so it turns out my total weekly miles is 8.7 X 5 = 43.5 miles.

Sometimes, I'll take a longer route home and enter Highway 1 to reach 60-70mph for 4.5 miles.

It's a nice straight-away drive so I engage ECT...I have the OTT Tune so my truck has some giddy-up.

 

That is going to be really hard on oil especially when it's cold out, I for sure wouldn't go more than 6 months on an oil change doing that possibly less. If you want to see how your oil is doing you can always send a sample off to an oil testing lab.

 

This.

 

This was an interesting watch. Thanks 23 MGM. Based on this video a year of time with low mileage does not really make a difference. As the truck always warms up condensation shouldn't be an issue. I should be able to wait until 5k or until it spring to change it.

 

I am always way under with miles. just did oil change a 8 months.
It is always black but most here say that is normal. Black in the bucket but clean on the dip stick!

 

I mean, you're a pretty high mile driver. My 2004 Tacoma with a 4 banger and 5 speed is at 71,700 miles today and will go in for its 21 year service in 4 weeks. Since year 5 I have been doing once a year oil changes. For the first 5 years it got dead dino oil changes at the dealer every 6 months, since then it has been getting synthetic blend oil changes at the dealer once a year. Gas, oil, filters, tires -- aside from that I ain't done shit. It still has the OEM fan belt and brake shoes (dealer says the fronts still have about 30% left). If the quality hasn't changed these things are bulletproof provided you don't beat on them.

 

I don't put a lot of miles on since retirement. Oil and filter change every 12 months on all vehicles works for me.

 

I’d walk. But that’s not typical in the U.S., I know.

 

Depends if there's highway traffic to work...or sidewalks available.

Other than that, I would agree.

 

Two thoughts on this:
An hours meter would be interesting (like a boat motor).
Idling or not, waiting in a line to pick up kids from school, when there is a free* service to take them home is insanity.

*As in you already paid for it via taxes

 

My 2017 has just over 24k miles on it, I bought it with 7,500 on it. I change every 5k since purchase which takes me roughly 14-16 months. I ride a motorcycle far more miles per year than I put on the truck but when I do use the truck it's usually at least 20 miles per day. I don't use drive thrus so that's a non issue. No kids or sitting idling for periods of time.

 

Parents do this typically because the kid doesn't get a bus, or after school activities.

 

Same. All of my vehicles are on the once a year/5K miles schedule, whichever comes first schedule.
Taco just rolled over 14K miles, had its 3rd oil change this past Thanksgiving.

 

But what's the largest tire that can fit without a lift?

 

I'll go with 265/70R17s with -10 offset for my 2021 Sport.

 

I lived for 20 years in AK (Cordova, Anchorage, Valley).
Had Astrostarts in all of my vehicles. Mitsubishi, Kia, Isuzu, Toyota.
Once a year/5K with synthetic oil only worked for me. Never had oil related issues. Kia did not have a block heater, but crancked right up with synthetic 5w-30.
I tried to time my oil changes to August/September, right before the rainy season began. No garage.

PS. Folks in Lower 48 do not understand that it is hard to put miles on your car in AK. Unless you commute from the Valley or ER. When I moved to GA, my 9 year old Isuzu Axiom had less than 50K miles on it. And that was my primary vehicle!

 

So mine is 2.5 years old with 9700 mi.

I change every 6 months.

I mostly haul light stuff, bikes, mild off road and snow/winter driving.