Trying to Reduce Oil Change Intervals on a Barely Driven Taco

My Tacoma (2013) doesnt get used very often... perhaps less than 5,000 miles per year. I'd like to reduce the frequency of oil changes which are only happening because the time interval expires (not the mileage interval).

Would switching to a synthetic oil allow me to reduce oil change intervals since I dont drive the truck very often or very far?

Thanks
Joe

 

Meh, just change oil and filter once a year and be done with it. Use synthetic or regular dino. With 5K miles, it ain't gonna make a difference.

 

Agreed. Once a year will be fine.

 

More important than anything is to not take short trips. If you go out for a drive, drive around long enough to burn off any condensation that has formed inside the crank case.

This moisture, when combined with motor oil, degrades it at an accelerated rate.

I'd venture to say that you can even go with a conventional oil at 1 year intervals as long as your driving practices are good.

 

Pennzoil dino once a year FTW.

 

First, follow the owner's manual until you are out of warranty.

Then go 1 year or 5000 miles whichever comes first. Modern mineral oil (dino oil) is very good oil. Whatever you use, be sure it has the API starburst symbol and you're golden.
http://www.api.org/~/media/files/oi...ine oil/motor_oil_guide_2010_120210.pdf?la=en

Since you are driving low miles, don't let it sit longer than a month without running it up to normal temperature. It's just not good for engines to sit idle too long.