OCI and Oil recommendation

[shadow7]

Hello everyone,
My most recent oil change was on June 20th 2010, i have racked up very close to 3000 miles. When the coolant temperature is cool(there is a cool light), this little engine refuses to shift into 4th gear, in order to warm up the engine quickly, it also stays in high RPMs. Smart little car. Will synthetic oil reduce the time of warming up?(High RPMS makes me worry lol) or a well known conventional oil with a good basestock is sufficient?

1.What kind of vehicle you have?
2007 Toyota Yaris Sedan
2. What your owner's manual says -- not just viscosity, but certifications (look for acronyms like API SM, ILSAC GF-4, etc.) and change intervals as well
ILSAC 5w30. The oil cap states 5w30 API SM(engine and parts are probably produced at different times)
3. Where you live?
Northern Virginia, temperature can get down to single digit overnight.
4. How you drive (easy? hard? fast? slow?)
I try to drive it easy everyday, but sometimes when i am in a hurry i will put the pedal to the metal.
5. What your daily drive is like (short trips? long trips? city? highway?)
Short trips, 95% in town driving, from house to my college campus is about 7 miles, takes about 25 minutes 4 days a week. Highway trips are around 4 miles. Most of my trips takes around 25 minutes.
6. Whether your car has any known problems?
No problems.

Thanks.

 

[2oldtommy]

Do you have an automatic trans. or manual??-- Oldtommy

 

[shadow7]

Automatic

Oops i had a typo in there, the oil cap states 5w30 SL.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Since most of your tips are very short the oil never get to operating temperature, I would use xW20 all year.

 

[2oldtommy]

Could it be that the oil level in the transmission is low? That is the only thing I can think of with my limited knowledge.-- Oldtommy

 

[Spector]

With a 25 min drive, although only 7 miles, that may be enough to warm up that oil to operating temps so OCI can be at least 5000 IMO. Synthetic I do not believe will warm up sooner so the issue of synthetic or conventional is one of cost and whether you do your own changes or pay someone. Synthetic I would think you could go 7500-10,000 OCI so look at the cost, hassle of both and make a decision.

 

[shadow7]

Originally Posted By: Spector
With a 25 min drive, although only 7 miles, that may be enough to warm up that oil to operating temps so OCI can be at least 5000 IMO. Synthetic I do not believe will warm up sooner so the issue of synthetic or conventional is one of cost and whether you do your own changes or pay someone. Synthetic I would think you could go 7500-10,000 OCI so look at the cost, hassle of both and make a decision.

I change the oil myself, what i have in mind is to change the oil every 6 months which equals to 3k miles. Plus it's fun to change the oil!

 

[JHZR2]

For a toyota, Id run standard Mobil 1 5w30 and call it a day. Id consider the Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w30 version too, if you like.

 

[HappyLittlePony]

I've been using Quaker State synthetic in my 07 Yaris because I got some on sale cheap. Even at the regular price, it's only a few dollars more than conventional. I pretty much do what you're planning and change mine somewhere between four and six months, because, like you, I don't put many miles on mine. Twice a year is probably overkill with such low miles, but when I can do an oil change with synthetic for around $20 to $25 (less if it's on sale), it seems like a conservative thing to do.

 

[shadow7]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
For a toyota, Id run standard Mobil 1 5w30 and call it a day. Id consider the Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w30 version too, if you like.


What's the relationship between exxon mobil and Toyota? I know the genuine toyota oil is made by exxon mobil... Does exxon mobil know some stuff other oil companies don't on Toyotas?