I bought a 05 Corolla a in 2017. The car has 80,000 miles on it and was previously owned by a priest who has become to elderly to drive. The church practically gave me the car. The official Toyota guide book says change oil every 5,000 miles or 6 months. I've been changing it every 6 months with a orange Fram and Valvoline MaxLife Synthetic Blend 5w30. The thing is, I only put only about 6,000 miles on it per year. Can I extend the oil change to 9 months? I do a lot 80% stop and go big urban city driving though. I was thinking about going to a 5 30 Quacker State full synthetic. I don't do rebates and not too sure about the Supertech oil brand. Any advice, thanks...........
2005 Toyota Corrolla Question....
- Thread starter Willclark
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any or all of the above should be fine.. as long as it's not using oil. just keep an eye on it, and topped off if need be.
I would and wouldn't worry about it if it were me. I have owned a 2002 Toyota Tacoma since new and have changed the oil every 7500 miles for its entire life. That is usually somewhere around 9 months. I have 225K miles on it and it is running great. I usually use synthetic, but sometimes used semi when I find a great deal on it. I'm not mechanic, but I wouldn't think twice about it.
At your current interval I would use regular conventional oil. Using the Max Life blend, you can easily go to 9 months, I feel.
No, it doesn't use hardly any oil at all. I check every 2,000 miles. I just want to make the car last as long as possible. There is some rust on it that I spray Fluid Film on it. I wax it every 3-4 months. I'm kinda OCD with maintenance.
There is no reason you cannot go 6000 miles on Maxlife.
No reason to switch to Quaker, the Maxlife is a very good oil.
You may want to consider a different filter, but that is just IMO, because I'm not a fan of the Fram orange can.
No reason to switch to Quaker, the Maxlife is a very good oil.
You may want to consider a different filter, but that is just IMO, because I'm not a fan of the Fram orange can.
All of the above. I run ST in mine, but I prefer 5k OCI's, just makes the math easier (look at the odo).
Wild guess here but even with short trips I'm guessing conventional is going to be just fine for yearly changes. Conventional twice a year, or full synthetic at once per year, not sure there is a difference.
Me, I'd prefer to do the change in spring, get out any fuel contamination, but I'm OCD. I'd probably also just use full synth, it's a couple bucks more at Walmart.
In the end, one change or two per year, this is small money compared to gas, tags, insurance. I wouldn't sweat any which way.
Wild guess here but even with short trips I'm guessing conventional is going to be just fine for yearly changes. Conventional twice a year, or full synthetic at once per year, not sure there is a difference.
Me, I'd prefer to do the change in spring, get out any fuel contamination, but I'm OCD. I'd probably also just use full synth, it's a couple bucks more at Walmart.
In the end, one change or two per year, this is small money compared to gas, tags, insurance. I wouldn't sweat any which way.
I am in exactly the same situation as you are. My 2006 Sentra has 110K on the odometer. TBH, it was ignored as I didn't know how to take care of the car and the local mechanic was literally fleecing me. But after a while, I found BITOG and some other boards and learned to take basic care.
I run about 6K a year, 100% stop and go traffic and I am currently using a synthetic blend, change oil only once a year with Baldwin filter. I am using the synthetic blend only because I got that oil about $1.25/qt (case of 12), otherwise I would have used Walmart brand Supertech Synthetic. This year will be my last oil change with syn blend.
The next year onwards I plan to use Supertech Syn and Castrol syn high mileage 2:1 proportion. High Mileage oil just to prevent any leaks that are going to start soon.
You can run two short intervals with Synthetic oil just to clean up the engine, then run a winter interval and finally you can run an annual interval.
I was told not to use any rust preventer on the rust. It will eat the car inside. Not too sure how much I should believe it.
I run about 6K a year, 100% stop and go traffic and I am currently using a synthetic blend, change oil only once a year with Baldwin filter. I am using the synthetic blend only because I got that oil about $1.25/qt (case of 12), otherwise I would have used Walmart brand Supertech Synthetic. This year will be my last oil change with syn blend.
The next year onwards I plan to use Supertech Syn and Castrol syn high mileage 2:1 proportion. High Mileage oil just to prevent any leaks that are going to start soon.
You can run two short intervals with Synthetic oil just to clean up the engine, then run a winter interval and finally you can run an annual interval.
I was told not to use any rust preventer on the rust. It will eat the car inside. Not too sure how much I should believe it.
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Originally Posted by Willclark
I was thinking about going to a 5 30 Quacker State full synthetic ...........
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Couldn't resist, sorry.
I was thinking about going to a 5 30 Quacker State full synthetic ...........
Recommended by AFLAC?
Couldn't resist, sorry.
Well, you may be a candidate for 1 yr/6K miles
I have a 2004 Corolla with just a little over 130 K on it. I bought it new. I just finished a 7156 OCI and got a used oil analysis done.
it used 1/2 quart of oil in this distance. I did a C&P on the filter here everything looked great. You should honestly have
an easy 120K miles left in that car. You are going to get sick of it before you wear it out is my guess. I have done many 6
month OCI on this car. I switched it to full synthetic at 66K miles.
By the way I have used Valvoline full synthetic in this car with Max-life it did well on it in a 5K OCI it used about a cup of
top off oil. I usually use 5w30 in the winter months and 10w30 in the summer.
Here's my last used oil analysis about three weeks ago.
Consider the Fram TG it has the same efficiency as the Ultra for about $2 less for 8K miles.
it used 1/2 quart of oil in this distance. I did a C&P on the filter here everything looked great. You should honestly have
an easy 120K miles left in that car. You are going to get sick of it before you wear it out is my guess. I have done many 6
month OCI on this car. I switched it to full synthetic at 66K miles.
By the way I have used Valvoline full synthetic in this car with Max-life it did well on it in a 5K OCI it used about a cup of
top off oil. I usually use 5w30 in the winter months and 10w30 in the summer.
Here's my last used oil analysis about three weeks ago.
Consider the Fram TG it has the same efficiency as the Ultra for about $2 less for 8K miles.
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Originally Posted by Char Baby
Well, you may be a candidate for 1 yr/6K miles
I was going to say the exact same thing.
I actually do similar on my truck. Less than 6000 miles a year, mostly short trips. I do use a qt of oil every 1500 miles, and I am using synthetic oil (only because I got it so cheap, otherwise it would be conventional oil).
Heck, look into getting in on the $12 Mobil 1 rebate+ $5 off coupon at Walmart right now.
You can get a 5 qt jug of Mobil 1 High Mileage for ~$6 ($23 - $5 coupon - $12 MIR)
That engine won't care what filter you use on it, You could get a Supertech while at Walmart for $3 to have a
or Get a Fram Ultra and the Mobil 1 High Mileage and forget about it for 2 years.
Well, you may be a candidate for 1 yr/6K miles
I was going to say the exact same thing.
I actually do similar on my truck. Less than 6000 miles a year, mostly short trips. I do use a qt of oil every 1500 miles, and I am using synthetic oil (only because I got it so cheap, otherwise it would be conventional oil).
Heck, look into getting in on the $12 Mobil 1 rebate+ $5 off coupon at Walmart right now.
You can get a 5 qt jug of Mobil 1 High Mileage for ~$6 ($23 - $5 coupon - $12 MIR)
That engine won't care what filter you use on it, You could get a Supertech while at Walmart for $3 to have a
or Get a Fram Ultra and the Mobil 1 High Mileage and forget about it for 2 years.
I have a 2008 Corolla which is the same generation as yours (2003 too 2008 are 9th gen Corollas). My 1zzfe burns no oil in 5K but I might have to add 6 or 8 ounces if I go 6 or 7K on synthetic...which is OK because the 5Qt. jug gives me 1/2 qt. extra. It doesn't go down to the 'add' line after 6K but it might go to the middle of the 'hash markks' so I top off to bring it back to the 'full' line...
I would use the least expensive syn. you can find at WM....ST or Quaker State Ultimate Durability are fine and change it annually....but I do agree on using a better oil filter than the OCOD...
I would use the least expensive syn. you can find at WM....ST or Quaker State Ultimate Durability are fine and change it annually....but I do agree on using a better oil filter than the OCOD...
This engine is at the sweet spot where it lacks many of the enhancements of the last decade that present all of the problems-- GDI, Turbo, etc. Look at the review lists on any brand of oil-- Quaker State conventional, for example. It's full of people with fifteen year old cars who change oil every five or six thousand miles and are pushing 300,000 miles on their 2003 (insert brand here). If its a SN or SN+ oil it's also a semi-syn even if they call it conventional.
If you get a good deal on MaxLife it's a good oil.
Nine months and 5K is fine, a year and 6K is fine. The rest of the car will go long before that engine.
If you get a good deal on MaxLife it's a good oil.
Nine months and 5K is fine, a year and 6K is fine. The rest of the car will go long before that engine.
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'07 Corolla with 225K here. I have been running 10K OCI with top tier synthetic like Pennzoil Ultra Platinum or Mobil 1 Extended Performance with the oil in the sump for as long as 2 years. Car has never touched conventional oil.
Originally Posted by Willclark
No, it doesn't use hardly any oil at all. I check every 2,000 miles. I just want to make the car last as long as possible. There is some rust on it that I spray Fluid Film on it. I wax it every 3-4 months. I'm kinda OCD with maintenance.
You could probably go 1 year intervals with a synthetic and be good to go.....only 6,000 miles per year is easy.
No, it doesn't use hardly any oil at all. I check every 2,000 miles. I just want to make the car last as long as possible. There is some rust on it that I spray Fluid Film on it. I wax it every 3-4 months. I'm kinda OCD with maintenance.
You could probably go 1 year intervals with a synthetic and be good to go.....only 6,000 miles per year is easy.
Not exactly sure what the deal was with the 5000 mile recommended OCI for all conditions. It used to be 7500 miles normal and 5000 miles severe. My folks have a 2001 Camry, and they clearly show two different schedules. It's a blue band 7500 mile OCI and a white band 5000 mile OCI. However, the one thing about Toyota is that they have a single set of recommendations for their entire line of vehicles for the same model year.
https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms-s/MSTOY01_MS0003/pdf/MSTOY01_MS0003.pdf
By 2005 it was a flat 5000 mile OCI.
https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms-s/05ToyAllMS_MS0006/pdf/51e1smt.pdf
Then by 2012 they had switched to 0W-20, which implies at least a semi-synthetic oil. It was up to 10,000 mile OCIs unless in severe driving/towing/idling/etc when they changed to 5000 miles. And on top of that they recommend 5000 miles if 0W-20 isn't used. They have this note for every recommendation at 15k/25k/etc.:
Quote
https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms-s/T-MMS-12Corolla/pdf/2012_Toyota_Corolla_WMG.pdf
Note:If 0W-20 oil WAS NOT used at the last oil change, replace engine oil and oil filter. 1
I'm guessing this had something to do with the infamous V6 sludging issues. It probably doesn't necessarily affect their entire line of engines, but they had a single set of recommendations for every model year.
If it were my car - Chevron Supreme 5w30 every 5000 miles or 6 months. I do think it probably could last 7500 miles in normal service with any API SN 5w30, but for the OP's case 5000 miles might be warranted.
https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms-s/MSTOY01_MS0003/pdf/MSTOY01_MS0003.pdf
By 2005 it was a flat 5000 mile OCI.
https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms-s/05ToyAllMS_MS0006/pdf/51e1smt.pdf
Then by 2012 they had switched to 0W-20, which implies at least a semi-synthetic oil. It was up to 10,000 mile OCIs unless in severe driving/towing/idling/etc when they changed to 5000 miles. And on top of that they recommend 5000 miles if 0W-20 isn't used. They have this note for every recommendation at 15k/25k/etc.:
Quote
https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms-s/T-MMS-12Corolla/pdf/2012_Toyota_Corolla_WMG.pdf
Note:If 0W-20 oil WAS NOT used at the last oil change, replace engine oil and oil filter. 1
I'm guessing this had something to do with the infamous V6 sludging issues. It probably doesn't necessarily affect their entire line of engines, but they had a single set of recommendations for every model year.
If it were my car - Chevron Supreme 5w30 every 5000 miles or 6 months. I do think it probably could last 7500 miles in normal service with any API SN 5w30, but for the OP's case 5000 miles might be warranted.
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