I haven't updated my profile, but I recently moved to Utah. The vehicle is a 2012 4Runner Limited, the factory specs 0w20 on 10k/1 year intervals, but has the exception of oil weight for towing, high speed, etc.
Since I am making a lot of trips back and forth over the Rockies for this relocation, and doing some towing, I did my last oil change with Mobil 1 EP 5w30. I really don't want to change the oil more than once a year, and figured this was best. According to Mobil's site, this oil is good for 15k OCIs with the exception of frequent towing, extremely dusty conditions, etc.
Where I am in Utah is pretty dry, like much of it. My work site is outside of town in a pretty windy/dusty area, and the day after washing the 4Runner it is coated in dust just for a one-way trip to work. My commute is extremely easy, 12 miles one way with half a dozen stop lights but mostly 45-55MPH cruising. The last bit is about .75 miles down a dirt road. The road isn't very long, but it puts out a lot of dust, and there is tons of new house construction going on in the area of my commute... which means I'm often driving through dust clouds on the way home. I have replaced the air filter twice, the second time two months ago, and it's already dirtier than probably the first 30k miles I put on the vehicle.
Having gone back and forth a couple times to Colorado, I've already put about 5k miles on the 4Runner in a couple months--way more than I usually do.
This all kind of has me thinking I need to shorten my OCI for the vehicle to maybe 6 months or so. It's a pain in the rear to change the oil on this thing due to all the skid plates, but it seems like this falls under the extreme use exceptions on Mobil's website. Should I consider something else other than the EP as well?
We just bought a Mazda in Colorado and the dealer suggests sticking with the 4 month severe service OCI due to dust and so forth in CO, but it is far less dusty there than this (and I think they want to sell the $80 synthetic oil changes).
I tried to call Mobil to ask, but they are closed on Saturdays.
Since I am making a lot of trips back and forth over the Rockies for this relocation, and doing some towing, I did my last oil change with Mobil 1 EP 5w30. I really don't want to change the oil more than once a year, and figured this was best. According to Mobil's site, this oil is good for 15k OCIs with the exception of frequent towing, extremely dusty conditions, etc.
Where I am in Utah is pretty dry, like much of it. My work site is outside of town in a pretty windy/dusty area, and the day after washing the 4Runner it is coated in dust just for a one-way trip to work. My commute is extremely easy, 12 miles one way with half a dozen stop lights but mostly 45-55MPH cruising. The last bit is about .75 miles down a dirt road. The road isn't very long, but it puts out a lot of dust, and there is tons of new house construction going on in the area of my commute... which means I'm often driving through dust clouds on the way home. I have replaced the air filter twice, the second time two months ago, and it's already dirtier than probably the first 30k miles I put on the vehicle.
Having gone back and forth a couple times to Colorado, I've already put about 5k miles on the 4Runner in a couple months--way more than I usually do.
This all kind of has me thinking I need to shorten my OCI for the vehicle to maybe 6 months or so. It's a pain in the rear to change the oil on this thing due to all the skid plates, but it seems like this falls under the extreme use exceptions on Mobil's website. Should I consider something else other than the EP as well?
We just bought a Mazda in Colorado and the dealer suggests sticking with the 4 month severe service OCI due to dust and so forth in CO, but it is far less dusty there than this (and I think they want to sell the $80 synthetic oil changes).
I tried to call Mobil to ask, but they are closed on Saturdays.
