1996 toyota corolla oil change interval

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I have 1996 toyota corolla with 107,000 can I push the oil change out to 5,000 miles with conventional motor oil.

Andy
 
I ran my old 1990 Toyota Carina (same as the Corolla) out to 18,900 miles once! That was probably on Group I 15W40. The red oil light came on so I drove back to the lab, picked up the first can of oil, topped her up and just kept on driving! I gave the car away a few years later with 165,000 on the clock.

Those old Toyota engines were very robust. Taking your OCI out to 5k on conventional would be a no-risk thing. Most US conventional oils are now good for at least 7.5k miles and 10k isn't out of the question. My one word of advice is try to go with a low Noack oil if you can; a 10W30 or 20W50 if you can live with it.
 
Yes you can. 5000(or 6000 miles) is the new 3000 miles.

Of course, some things come into play such as what brand and grade of conventional oil will you be using, and how long will it take you to put on 5000 miles?

I mean, will you only be putting on 1000 mi/yr? Then I'd say NO!
But, 107000 miles is just shy of 5000/yr. So, once/yr is perfect.
 
Yea 5k is fin for that motor. I would use a high mileage oil and make sure to check the level often. Those motors will last a long time but you have to keep oil in them. They are known to use oil.

My MiLs older Corolla I run High Mileage 10w30 oil. Uses a little less now and holds up well.
 
Originally Posted by Char Baby
Yes you can. 5000(or 6000 miles) is the new 3000 miles.

Of course, some things come into play such as what brand and grade of conventional oil will you be using, and how long will it take you to put on 5000 miles?

I mean, will you only be putting on 1000 mi/yr? Then I'd say NO!
But, 107000 miles is just shy of 5000/yr. So, once/yr is perfect.


Agree.

5000 IS the new 3000, isn't it!
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That said, with MN winters I'd be using a synthetic....
 
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Will your Corolla see winter?
If so, definitely use a synthetic for those cold startups.

I mean, you could use the best of ALL worlds and use a High Mileage Synthetic 0 or 5W30 to cover all bases.
 
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1996, that's pre-timing chain, right? Should also be pre-oil burning years. I hate to say "it's a Toyota--it doesn't care" but IMO it doesn't. 10W30 and 5W30 and call it a day; 0W30 if you are trying to milk an old battery through the winter. Just check the oil once in a while. If it's not leaking then no need for high mileage oil; if you have some seeping then go for high mileage.
 
Is your car burning or using oil between changes? If yes, Id put in whatever cheap conventional that you have already been using. Like 5w30. I have run conventional through winter with zero issues. Sure synthetic will be better but on a car of that year, id keep doing what you been doing. Since those years are known for using oil, I wouldnt personally switch to syn. Thats just me. Not to say it will have any issue in doing so.
 
MaxLife Full Synthetic 5w30 would be my choice

I would absolutely disregard the 20w50 suggestion for your climate.
 
I had a 1995 Toyota Corolla. They do use oil at a rapid rate. I used 10w30 conventional changed it twice a year but pushing it to 5000 miles not a issue. Checking the oil every other week is a must they like to drink oil and oil seeps past the valves. If you have a puff of blue smoke at overnight startup definitely keep a eye on the oil level. Otherwise those engines are bullet proof I pushed mine to 230k of tough NYC traffic and bumper to bumper commute home for 19 years.
 
I had 364,000 on my '97 Corolla (same engines as the 96's) and using conventional anything is guaranteeing you end up with an oil burner, if it isnt already. I would go 5000 miles max in 5w30 using any decent synthetic and you may end up with one that does not burn to much. The oil drainback holes in the pistons were tiny and too few. I've been in at least one (not mine) where I couldnt even get the piston rings out, it was so caked with carbon. Never did find the holes on that one, gave up on that piston. I got one ring out the next piston.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd be tempted to have done 4000 mile changes since new. If that sounds like overkill and a waste of oil, towards the last 50,000 miles or so, it was going through a quart every 250 miles, give or take (and not a puff of smoke ever). Over 4000 miles, you're headed towards five gallons of oil unless you run it dry. I could have changed it every 1000 miles and not been any poorer for the effort. The last few years we had it, all the oil I drained out of my Mazda's and Sequoia got held in plastic milk gallon jugs and poured right into the Corolla, so I rarely bought new oil for it once I started doing that. I threw a new Fram Ultra filter on it every 8-9 months or whenever.

Very durable and reliable engines, adequate power and decent MPG, but the oil burning situation got out of control on far too many of them, once it gets started. And once it does, the EGR passages and intake manifold will need frequent internal cleaning or they get full of carbon deposits. Not difficult to clean out, but not fun. Been there done that too many times.

I can only offer my advice based on my own experience in owning one for 18 years, being inside a few, and being on forums talking about them (specifically the oil burning) and I can only say I would definitely not use conventional oil in any 4A-FE (1.6L) and 7A-FE (1.8L) Corolla engine.
 
Originally Posted by SonofJoe
I ran my old 1990 Toyota Carina (same as the Corolla) out to 18,900 miles once! That was probably on Group I 15W40. The red oil light came on so I drove back to the lab, picked up the first can of oil, topped her up and just kept on driving! I gave the car away a few years later with 165,000 on the clock.
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Were you young or too busy or is someone else using your computer?
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