Super severe service

[cutter]

So my mom has a 94 Camry le with 160k. She drives daily to work, under 5 miles each way. She makes every trip under 10 miles to shop for groceries, dept stores, and whatever else a 58 yr old woman does. This is all in Philly stop and go city traffic, go 100 meters and slow down for a light or stop sign. I have to take care of this car at this point. It's a brutal regimen and currently it has castrol gtx 10w30 filled since march. I think I want to change it out even though it probably has less than 2k miles on that fill. Less than 1k is possible.

What does everyone think of the interval should be for this 5sfe engine?

 

[FusilliJerry82]

Synthetic, 5k regardless of age.

 

[dave1251]

I have driven in that harsh Philly traffic not fun at all. City of Brotherly Love, I guess that part depends on who you are wearing Army ACU's helps. Back to topic severe service indeed but 3K OCI should still be conservative. I have a recommendation for you change the oil when it is convenient for you. I would do some thing like every April-November so the weather conditions should not be too harsh.

 

[The Critic]

Sounds like my mom's driving routine. 2 mi for each trip. Her Altima V6 gets SynPower 5w-30 every 2-2.5k or 6 months.

 

[ottotheclown]

94 with 160k stay with what ever you have been doing. This is not that unusal many many are doing the same. Philly, to Seattle all the same. Just 3k with a good dino like before. Syn at a short oci will gain no benefits. Some of the dino have a stout add pack even better than some watered down pixie dust you cannot see, syn. SN seems to have leveled the field.

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm thinking an OCI of every 6 months would work great for your Mom's Camry. Since
she doesn't put that much mileage on the car, a time based OCI would be just right.

 

[eljefino]

It sounds like it gets good and warm a lot of the time. Probably 15 minutes of continuous run time every day to boil out fuel and water. Not that severe!

 

[TFB1]

My mom puts approx 2500mi year on her '03 Grand Marquis, gets a once a year OCI with MC 5W-20 blend...

 

[Nickdfresh]

+1 on the six month OCI. It sounds like the car is getting to operating temp and the oil is heating up at least....

 

[Bgallagher]

Originally Posted By: Nickdfresh
+1 on the six month OCI. It sounds like the car is getting to operating temp and the oil is heating up at least....


+2 6 months regardless of miles. You can use a syn but any good syn blend of dino will work fine. QSGB or PYB would be nice for this application but if GTX is working I would stick with that.

 

[4ever4d]

Originally Posted By: ottotheclown
94 with 160k stay with what ever you have been doing. This is not that unusal many many are doing the same. Philly, to Seattle all the same. Just 3k with a good dino like before. Syn at a short oci will gain no benefits. Some of the dino have a stout add pack even better than some watered down pixie dust you cannot see, syn. SN seems to have leveled the field.

 

[cptbarkey]

that engine is indestructable. try some used bacon grease just for kicks. i'm sure it will work fine.

 

[TC]

"Severe service....It's a brutal regimen..."
I'd suggest this is really just basic "city driving," and accounted for in a basic City/Severe Service schedule. Hate to give simplistic advice, but your mom's driving is well accounted for in the Toyota manual's Severe Service recommendations. No need for ultra-short 1K, 2K, or even 3K change-outs, in my opinion.