Hi there,
My new gf drives a 1998 Toyota Corolla with 86k New England miles. She tells me she changed the oil every 3-5k miles or so previously, but thinks her last real oil & filter change was almost 20k miles ago, at her dealership. She did however add about four quarts of Mobil 1 5W-30 synthetic about 1k miles ago when the check engine light came on and she noticed the oil level was almost empty (!!), and says she may have added a little some time in between, but can't remember if she did or not (!).
Obviously, this is almost criminal negligence and she needs to be punished. But besides that, the car is somehow still running smoothly. Of course who knows what's swimming & gunking around in there. I've checked the oil level, and it's still completely full, so she doesn't seem to be burning oil. My question is which is the best option now:
1) Regular oil & filter change with M1 synthetic
2) Use a Groupon for a cheapo Midas $13 oil & filter change, then another after 1k with M1 synthetic & M1 filter (would this clear out more gunk?)
3) One of the above with some sort of cleaner/additive like MMO or Kreen. My concern about the additive option, is that I don't actually know there's an issue big enough to risk opening up varnished-over leaks. Is there a not too invasive way to diagnose whether it needs more than just an oil change?
4) Other?
Thanks very much in advance for your thoughts!
-J
My new gf drives a 1998 Toyota Corolla with 86k New England miles. She tells me she changed the oil every 3-5k miles or so previously, but thinks her last real oil & filter change was almost 20k miles ago, at her dealership. She did however add about four quarts of Mobil 1 5W-30 synthetic about 1k miles ago when the check engine light came on and she noticed the oil level was almost empty (!!), and says she may have added a little some time in between, but can't remember if she did or not (!).
Obviously, this is almost criminal negligence and she needs to be punished. But besides that, the car is somehow still running smoothly. Of course who knows what's swimming & gunking around in there. I've checked the oil level, and it's still completely full, so she doesn't seem to be burning oil. My question is which is the best option now:
1) Regular oil & filter change with M1 synthetic
2) Use a Groupon for a cheapo Midas $13 oil & filter change, then another after 1k with M1 synthetic & M1 filter (would this clear out more gunk?)
3) One of the above with some sort of cleaner/additive like MMO or Kreen. My concern about the additive option, is that I don't actually know there's an issue big enough to risk opening up varnished-over leaks. Is there a not too invasive way to diagnose whether it needs more than just an oil change?
4) Other?
Thanks very much in advance for your thoughts!
-J
Last edited:
