What oil change interval for Corolla?

"geronimo" <Jamesw.RemoveThis@grandecom.net> wrote in message
news:7a5jt3paitiekdkkkrpco7lkj9lhueqp7j@4ax.com...
> Its my 2004 Corolla with 83 K miles. As soon as I got it a few weeks
> ago, I changed the oil and filter. Got premium Bosch (I think) filter.
> Installed Castrol Synth-Blend. Pure synthetic is just TOO pricey! How
> often should I change the oil? 3K? Or is 6K sufficient?

About every 5K is fine.

Cathy
 >> Stay informed about: What oil change interval for Corolla? 

"geronimo" <Jamesw.DeleteThis@grandecom.net> wrote in message
news:7a5jt3paitiekdkkkrpco7lkj9lhueqp7j@4ax.com...
> Its my 2004 Corolla with 83 K miles. As soon as I got it a few weeks
> ago, I changed the oil and filter. Got premium Bosch (I think) filter.
> Installed Castrol Synth-Blend. Pure synthetic is just TOO pricey! How
> often should I change the oil? 3K? Or is 6K sufficient?

With Synthetic Blend, 6K is fine.
 >> Stay informed about: What oil change interval for Corolla? 

"geronimo" <Jamesw.RemoveThis@grandecom.net> wrote in message
news:7a5jt3paitiekdkkkrpco7lkj9lhueqp7j@4ax.com...
> Its my 2004 Corolla with 83 K miles. As soon as I got it a few weeks
> ago, I changed the oil and filter. Got premium Bosch (I think) filter.
> Installed Castrol Synth-Blend. Pure synthetic is just TOO pricey! How
> often should I change the oil? 3K? Or is 6K sufficient?

Follow the automaker's recommended oil change interval, which is 5,000
miles.

Forget about the advice to change the timing belt, since your car has a
timing chain.

If you do not have the owner's manual, you can get the recommended
maintenance online at www.toyota.com in the owner's link.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: What oil change interval for Corolla? 

"geronimo" <Jamesw.DeleteThis@grandecom.net> wrote in message
news:7a5jt3paitiekdkkkrpco7lkj9lhueqp7j@4ax.com...
> Its my 2004 Corolla with 83 K miles. As soon as I got it a few weeks
> ago, I changed the oil and filter. Got premium Bosch (I think) filter.
> Installed Castrol Synth-Blend. Pure synthetic is just TOO pricey! How
> often should I change the oil? 3K? Or is 6K sufficient?


Think 3K. Get fidgety at 4K. Feel like a jerk if you go past 5K. You're
talking about an engine which, when properly cared for will easily surpass
200K miles and still run smoothly.

You could also consult the manual. And, begin worrying now if the timing
belt hasn't been changed. By the time you get to it (being busy, etc), you
might be at 90K.
 >> Stay informed about: What oil change interval for Corolla? 

I see no reason to change the oil any sooner than 5000 miles, and I believe
that motor will go 7500 on a change.

I assume you drive the car 12,000 miles a year, give or take a few.




"geronimo" <Jamesw.TakeThisOut@grandecom.net> wrote in message
news:7a5jt3paitiekdkkkrpco7lkj9lhueqp7j@4ax.com...
> Its my 2004 Corolla with 83 K miles. As soon as I got it a few weeks
> ago, I changed the oil and filter. Got premium Bosch (I think) filter.
> Installed Castrol Synth-Blend. Pure synthetic is just TOO pricey! How
> often should I change the oil? 3K? Or is 6K sufficient?
 >> Stay informed about: What oil change interval for Corolla? 

It's not so much today's higher quality oils (even dinos), but the ash
particles your engine loads up the oil with.

Toyota has lowered the oil change interval from 7500 miles down to
5000 miles in 2004 because of sludge concerns. I think you'll do fine
if you change the oil every 3000 miles even in mostly highway driving
like I do. I'm in the normal service category with the Camry, and I
don't like how dark the oil's looks even at 4000 miles. For me
3000-3500 miles with dino works out.

For filters I use $6 Bosch Filtech / Purolator PureOne. The
multidensity, synthetic blend fibers will get small particles out and
add the 49-89 cent per quart Kragen/Schucks oils are cost effective
for me. That's $8-9 every oil change.





On Mar 13, 2:00 pm, geronimo <Jam....RemoveThis@grandecom.net> wrote:
> Its my 2004 Corolla with 83 K miles. As soon as I got it a few weeks
> ago, I changed the oil and filter. Got premium Bosch (I think) filter.
> Installed Castrol Synth-Blend. Pure synthetic is just TOO pricey! How
> often should I change the oil? 3K? Or is 6K sufficient?
 >> Stay informed about: What oil change interval for Corolla? 

Even with synthetic technically you can only go up to 5000 miles
because that's what Toyota downgraded to in 2004. Besides, Toyota
engines aren't designed for extended drain intervals like European
engines (or even new Honda and GM engines, oils good for up to 12000
miles).


On Mar 13, 2:00 pm, geronimo <Jam... DeleteThis @grandecom.net> wrote:
> Its my 2004 Corolla with 83 K miles. As soon as I got it a few weeks
> ago, I changed the oil and filter. Got premium Bosch (I think) filter.
> Installed Castrol Synth-Blend. Pure synthetic is just TOO pricey! How
> often should I change the oil? 3K? Or is 6K sufficient?
 >> Stay informed about: What oil change interval for Corolla? 

Check Toyota's web site. In 2004 they downgraded the 7500 mile
interval to 5000 miles, including the Corolla.

If your receipt shows 7500 miles they technically can deny warranty
claims.



On Mar 13, 2:37 pm, "Jeff Strickland" <cr... RemoveThis @verizon.net> wrote:
> I see no reason to change the oil any sooner than 5000 miles, and I believe
> that motor will go 7500 on a change.
>
> I assume you drive the car 12,000 miles a year, give or take a few.
 >> Stay informed about: What oil change interval for Corolla? 

I second that. By 4000 miles the oil is dark and doesn't pass through
light. I like dark coffee when light can still shine through. And the
mileage dropped a couple of MPGs by then. So 3000-3500 for me, in the
normal service category.

BTW, I don't trade in the car at 4 years like the dealer mailings
recommend. So YMMV.


On Mar 13, 2:55 pm, "JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborea....DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I change mine based on oil color. It's nice until 3K, and headed south by
> 4K. It's ugly by 5K. My 2002 Tercel hit 240K miles and according to the
> mechanic, still sounded & ran perfectly.
>
> You should stick to reading Dr. Seuss, shmuckland.
 >> Stay informed about: What oil change interval for Corolla? 

In article
<67d26d1b-fae5-4be2-a945-0f9a701633ef.RemoveThis@u10g2000prn.googlegroups.co
m>,
johngdole.RemoveThis@hotmail.com wrote:

> Even with synthetic technically you can only go up to 5000 miles
> because that's what Toyota downgraded to in 2004. Besides, Toyota
> engines aren't designed for extended drain intervals like European
> engines (or even new Honda and GM engines, oils good for up to 12000
> miles).

It's got nothing to do with engine design.
It's got to do with the oil specifications that the European OEMs
dictate (and the specs that the Asian OEMs -don't- dictate).

Domestic and Asian OEMs still specify ILSAC and API rated oils.
This is the oil companies telling the OEMs how the oil will
perform.

European OEMs specify ACEA oil ratings.
This is the OEMs telling the oil companies how the oil will
perform.

Which of these two above scenarios makes more sense?

GM, Ford, Honda, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Saab and others have their
own oil specifications that owners are best advised to adhere to.

The performance spec of the lowest (now obsolete) ACEA rated oils
far exceed anything that ILSAC and API oils offer.

The current crop of API specification fail the OEM specification
of the majority of cars built since the year 2000.

No, you won't find ACEA rated oil for 49-89 cents a quart and a
$6 filter isn't going to do anything to correct an oil that
doesn't have the HTHS viscosity the engine requires.

Brand name means nothing, various offerings with any brand name
mean nothing. You have to learn and understand oil
specifications and then procure the product specs for any/all
oils you may contemplate using and then READ the label because
while one version of Penzvalvoquakercastrolube -may- meet the
specs you desire, the next one may not. This stuff changes SO
fast it's frightening. What you thought was a good oil 4 months
ago may now be horrible, what you thought was a horrible oil 3
months ago may now be the best product on the market.
 >> Stay informed about: What oil change interval for Corolla? 

Demanding engines require good quality oil and yes there are different
specs, but that's not the point. The point is dino vs synthetic oil
and drain interval.

You can't add synthetic oil to an engine and say now the engine
qualifies for an extended drain interval. There is no oil company that
will recommend this kind of practice, just read their websites.
Corollas will benefit from good oil, but Toyota didn't design their
engines for the 12,000 mile Honda/GM drain intervals or the 15,000
mile BMW intervals.

As soon as the owner drives the oil over 5000 miles since Toyota
lowered it from 7500 miles in 2004, the engine warranty is technically
void. So better keep your receipts during the warranty period.




On Mar 15, 9:48 am, aarcuda69062 <nonel... RemoveThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> It's got nothing to do with engine design.
> It's got to do with the oil specifications that the European OEMs
> dictate (and the specs that the Asian OEMs -don't- dictate).
>
> Domestic and Asian OEMs still specify ILSAC and API rated oils.
> This is the oil companies telling the OEMs how the oil will
> perform.

[snip]
 >> Stay informed about: What oil change interval for Corolla?