Once a year oil changers

I had a 2002 with the I4, bulletproof!

 

Project Farm did an oil test to oil going past a year. I don't recall how much past a year, I want to say six months. I don't remember the mileage on the oil; his point was to see if there was significant oil degradation on an oil change past a year. He submitted oil samples to an oil lab and he concluded his oil had no oil degradation just by going past a year. He does recommend following the manufacturer’s recommendation on oil changes as I recall.

 

Always kinda wondered this. I mostly figured 12mo/1 year was fine. I drive 3-4k a year right now. My first one a couple months ago was at 5000 because the previous owner had done about 2000 since changing, but my next one will be a year since I doubt I'll make it to 5k.

 

And I have always wondered for the DIY oil changers how do you get rid of your oil? Where I live now they pick up with the trash but I have not always been so lucky. Once had a room mate leave a few gallons (real nice guy), took it to Autozone and they really did not want to take it.

 

I've always gotten rid of mine at O'Reillys and never had an issue.

 

We need a database of yearly or 10,000 mile oil changers so we can look them up when buying a used vehicle.

 

Some of you guys are soooo lucky that toyota built these so bad ass.....
there are many other brands that dont survive the extremely long oil changes....
you know those ones you dont see on the road much any more......all but disappeared...

 

I change the oil and OE filter every 5k or a year whichever first no exceptions. Everyone has their own belief. Peace of mind for me.

 

What would cause a groove to wear like that? Piston skirt rubbing on the cylinder wall?

 

I take mine back to Advanced Autoparts where I buy the oil. They also take antifreeze and gear oil.

Edit: I will always change my own oil since the last asshat to do it for the previous owner used permatex instead of replacing the crush washer and left the drain plug hand tight. I’m lucky the truck didn’t bleed out on the highway.

 

Yes I suppose but more likely the rings I think because usually the cyl walls are much harder than a cast piston AFIK. Piston likely loose from wear and slapping (that engine must have been noisy) which is why its just on 2 sides of cyl. Again I'm no expert but you always need at least a slight oil film on any metal to metal or parts will wear really fast - the oil control rings remove most but not all oil. And now nearly all engines have some method of squirting oil onto the piston and cyl wall (5VZE has a hole in the rod from the rod bearing) where it used to be just residual oil escaping from the rod bearing being flung around by the crank. This latter method is now not considered effective enough to ensure long lasting engines.

I once wondered how valve guides were lubricated or if they even were and I read that the valve seals are designed to leak a small amount of oil to lubricate the guides. This oil is burned but its a very small amount.

 

I'm pretty sure in my state any place that sells oil also has to accept used oil for disposal.

 

I have read a lot of shops have trainees do the oil changes - basically its beneath the certified guys which is understandable. Yes its easy but problem is that a mistake can be catastrophic. Forget to tighten a bolt on exhaust or manifold you get a leak, lose an oil plug....

 

Once a year changer here too. I use what ever synthetic oil the service department puts in it. I had just under 3,000 miles on my oil when I took it in for service in May.

Going to buy the oil and filter this next time so they don't try charging me for a extra quart when I know they only put 6 quarts in.

 

In regards to oil degradation over time, not talking high miles, just vehicles that sit a lot, when I was getting regular oil analysis done on my vehicles I questioned them on if there’s anything to worry about on vehicles that sit a lot like my duramax and blackstone told me that sitting long term does not affect the oil at all.

 

Heh, if nothing else, I figure adding half a qt. of Lucas Oil gets me thru each year. ‘03 115k so far. No oil loss. I add it for peace of mind, not an endorsement.

 

I do a 1/3 qt of the Lucas. Your biggest wear points are rings.....which frequent oil changes address.

And those cam lobes......thats were the lucas comes in, especially cold and frequent starts that a work truck goes thru.....daily.
I would at least do every year.....even at the lowest milage...for sure.......


The oil brand makes none if any difference.....its the frequent changes.... that's the magic sauce....

I was getting the napa syn blend off their ad.....5qts for 12.99.....so I stocked ahead a few changes.....

As far as the lucas...you can get if for almost half price at Lowes $13......synthenic version.......VS. $22 at autozone.

 

SuperTech 5W30 synthetic and no issues so far

 

From 2007 to 2016 my Tacoma was my every day driver and I averaged about 20,000 miles/year. I changed it every 10,000 miles which worked out to about every 6 months. In 2016 the Tacoma was relegated to a 3rd vehicle and has only had 45,000 miles in the last 5 years. I COULD probably get by with once a year, but stay with 6 month oil changes..

 

That's about where I'm at lately too, since remote work and all. I usually only put 5k miles on my vehicles in 18 months. I feel like 18 months is pushing it on the "oil age", but I have no science to back this up. I still feel like yearly changes "just because" is premature though, so 18 months feels like I'm getting a littttle more out of it.