Oil Check

Here is how my oil looks today almost 6 months ago with 2,000 miles. Do I still change it every six months (conventional oil) or once a year?

 

Don't base your oil changes off of time, always go by the mileage (unless your truck just sits for months/years at time).

For first gens using conventional oil the recommended interval is every 3,000 miles


btw I don't see a pic attached?

 

I've been trying to post it put it won't let me. I'll keep trying it. I'm doing this on my phone; can I upload a picture on this forum that way?

 

If you're using your phone that might be why, I have trouble posting pics via my phone if I don't have a solid wifi connection or cell service (stupid Sprint...)

For what it's worth, I think service techs and oil changing shops put a date on the sticker because it's easier for the layman to mark his/her calendar for their next change than it is to keep track of mileage. But mileage is primarily the determining factor.

 

I have wifi. I just can't find the option on this forum to attach a picture from my phone library. Oh well. It honestly looks pretty darn clear and still at the full mark so I'm just going to do as you mentioned because I couldn't find the recommendation mileage interval for 1st gen tacomas. Thanks man!

 

At 2,000 miles I'm sure your oil is still just fine, I change mine on my 2004 every 3,000 miles and it still looks practically new when I go to get it changed (golden yellow). I do a lot of off-roading too and it still looks good, but I go every 3,000 as recommended to be safe

 

Hit the "Upload a File" button next to the "Post Reply" one, from there it should direct you to your photo library or gallery

 

Wow I feel dumb...haha thanks. Yeah I've read a lot with the 3,000 is a myth. You can go 5,000 without worrying about it with oil today so it throws me for a loop

 

Oh yeah, that oil still looks like it hasn't even lost it's virginity yet. I think you're good esp considering it's only been 2k miles.

I bet I could go to 5k between changes but with the off-roading I do, I stick to the 3k interval just to play it safe. Conventional oil changes are cheap, I'm looking to learn to do it myself one of these days to make it even cheaper.

 

So what about me that rarely goes off roading, every 5,000 and just check it at 3,000?

 

I'd say that sounds like a safe bet, just be sure to check it at 3k. Make sure the level is okay too when you check but that should be good.

 

Thanks I appreciate it! Happy Toyo'ing

 

The maintenance booklet in 2000 specified 7500 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first: http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms/SMG100_MS0001/xhtml/SMG100_MS0001_0001.html?locale=en

The maintenance booklet in 2015, with 15 years of oil technology advancement, specified 5000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first: http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms-s/T-MMS-15Tacoma/xhtml/T-MMS-15Tacoma.html?locale=en

Moral of the story: don't exceed 6 months with conventional oil. Oil can absorb moisture, turn acidic, etc. just sitting there. @Albinator is putting fewer miles than "typical" in 6 months.

 

Todays oils are definitely better than yesterdays oil which in my opinion was garbage but if i were you I'd send in a sample to get the oil checked, and would stick to that oil from here on out running whatever extended interval the test shows is acceptable. You really can't judge oil by it's color. IMO it's easy to give shitty advice on the internet, I would personally do what i said if it were my vehicle and take the guess work out of it especially since getting oil tested is cheap. There is more to oil than color and mileage.

 

At the cost it is today, even if you don't do it yourself, I suggest changing it. With my gen1 at 140k, even using Mobil 1 full synthetic I change it every 5k.

 

Just wanted to add that his 2.7L is different than the current 2.7L. different engines wear down oil differently. 2015 2tr had 5k intervals, 2016 has 10k. I dont know if they realized the 0w20 synthetic holds up better than expected and 10k is safe or if the teflon coated parts had something to do with it. Too many unknown variables and driving habits play a big role too. 6mo would be the way to go unless he gets his oil tested.

 

There's a guy around here who has over 400,000 miles on his V6. He claims to have exclusively used Castrol Dino oil with 15,000 mile oil changes.

 

This doesn't really make sense. What kind of Moisture could oil in the sump adsorb? And what happens when the Oil hits 212 degrees? What would "acidic" oil do to the engine?

 

It's a slow and sure process, problematic mostly in cars that experience a lot of short drives as the heating/cooling cycle draws air in air from the atmosphere. Yes, water may be boiled off when the engine heats up but thats not the issue. The issue is that the water reacts with oil to change the chemical structure. You're not going to undo that with 212F. Manufacturers classify short trip driving under harsh/severe condition for a reason.

 

I'd be much more concerned about the wear metals, Fuel Dilution and Silicon then a little (Emphasis on Little is what you're describing) harmless water from the atmosphere. Run an oil separator or "Catch Can" in your PCV line sometime and get back to me.