Changing Oil Every 2 Years?

Joined
May 1, 2012
Messages
105
Location
Philadelphia, PA
I have my 2009 Chevy Cobalt that is my daily driver. I change the oil on that car every 5000 miles and rotate the tires as well.

I also have a 2008 Dodge Ram 5.7L and a 2008 Hummer H3 3.7L that see very little mileage throughout the year.

The truck and the hummer each get around 2000 miles per year. The truck is primarily used for typical suburban homeowner stuff and is generally not pushed too hard. The biggest workload it gets is being loaded to the bump-stops several times a year with firewood.

The hummer belonged to my late wife, and I keep it for sentimental reasons, as well as having a backup vehicle to loan out to trusted family or friends when their cars are in the shop. I drive it myself every 2 weeks or so to keep it moving and make sure to get it up to temp for a while.

I have been changing the oil and rotating the tires on the trucks every September for the past 7 years or so. I feel a bit silly changing oil that only has 2000 miles on it, though. I certainly wouldn't change oil every 2000 miles on my daily driver.

On the other hand, I have never left oil in a vehicle for 2 years, and I guess that's what I am questioning.

I normally use Mobil 1 if it's on sale, or I use Walmart Supertech Advanced (the 10k miles one) synthetic oil, and generally use a Purolator or STP filter.

As far as I know, neither of these engines are known to be particularly hard on oil.

Would you be comfortable running these vehicles 2 years/ ~5k miles?

I am not worried about rotating the tires every 2 years, as they will almost certainly "age out" before the tread wear becomes a concern.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
 
If you warm it up good most times you start it two years is fine.

If the dump's a mile away and you go three times a week, get the moisture out annually.
 
I change the oil every 2 to 3 years on my hardly ever driven '07 Accord. It has only a couple of thousand kms by then. I do take it out for a reasonably long trip now and then. A long trip around here is only about 60 miles.

I'm going to replace the valve cover gaskets in the next month or two and will take photos. The rear valve cover gasket has started leaking after only 18 years.
 
Here is a link to my uoa of HPL at 2 years 7 months, 6300 miles on the oil.
 
I have an F-150 that is driven maybe 500 miles a year. I change oil every 2-3 years. All is good.

Do you at least perform inspections in between? My newer model Explorer developed a differential leak and going this long between inspections would have certainly caused it to run low on fluid.
 
5k, okay, 6 months, NO, unless you have specific reasons (like constant short trip fuel dilution).

Yep, 5k miles or 6 months, whichever occurs first. It's specified in the owner's manual of my vehicle.

It's also recommended for all Toyota/Lexus as well by TCCN.
 
Yep, 5k miles or 6 months, whichever occurs first. It's specified in the owner's manual of my vehicle.

It's also recommended for all Toyota/Lexus as well by TCCN.
Toyota calls for 12month or 10k mile oil changes. Only for "Special Operating Conditions" do they call for 6 month of 5k miles. And even if you do hit these conditions, they only apply if the majority of your driving falls under them.

Screenshot 2025-08-18 081209.webp
 
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Toyota calls for 12month or 10k mile oil changes. Only for extreme duty do they call for 6 month of 5k miles.

In the models I own from the mid 2000's, Toyota specifies 5k miles or 6 months.

And as mentioned The Car Care Nut suggests this same interval even for the new models.
 
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