annual oil changes?

[pasopaul]

Since I'm only driving about 7 or 8 thousand miles annually, would changing oil once a year be to much of a stretch? I've got about 50,000 miles on my 4runner 3.4 engine and I'm using Mobil 1 5w30 since about 4000 miles. Mostly in town driving but occasional out of town trips.

 

[JohnnyO]

With a full synthetic like Mobil 1, that should be fine.

 

[jsharp]

I've run 10K miles with the same oil in the same engine. The used oil analysis was OK so I think you'll be fine...

 

[Ugly3]

As long as the car gets fully warmed up on the vast majority of your trips an annual Mobil 1 change would be OK.

 

[Amkeer]

Change it twice a year.

Daily Drives:
-2003 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner XtraCab, 2.7 Liter , Mobil 1 Synthetic SS 5w30.
ODO 10500Miles.
-1995 Toyota 4-Runner 3.0 V6, Mobil 1 Synthetic SS 10w30.
ODO 91900 Miles.
http://community.webshots.com/user/amkeer

 

[Drstressor]

You should do an oil analysis to convince yourself that once a year or 7-8K is fine. The only problem you might run into is fuel dilution from short trips. Believe your own data rather than what other people will tell you.

For what it's worth, I change once a year with the same oil and engine as you with excellent UOA results.

 

[lukai_ca]

same concern here, Drstressor, how many miles you drive annually ? TIA

[ September 23, 2004, 04:23 PM: Message edited by: lukai_ca ]

 

[Quattro Pete]

My last OCI was 5K miles and 1 year on Mobil 1 0w-40. I wasn't happy with the 1% fuel dillution in my used oil analysis, although it wasn't very bad either. I had some short trips in this run, so that probably what caused the fuel dillution. If most of your trips are long enough to fully heat up the oil, then 1 year should be fine, I think.

 

[Spector]

I have been doing annual changes for over 5 years now on daughters car, now a grad student so when she is home for the holidays it is convenient. About 9-12,000 miles a year with a filter at 6 months or so. This year she already has about 11,000 on the oil so it will be closer to 13-14,000 by Dec. UOA each year has been fine. Amsoil 0W30 with a K&N filter. Her trips vary from around the corner to longer highway trips. So much does depend on the engine design and driving though.