Oil change interval for 4Runner that sits?

[atalarico]

Hey all,

I know this has likely been asked before, but I'll be damned if I can figure out the right combination of search terms to not get the 100+ pages back on arguments over oil change intervals.

My question is different, but if you know of a thread that has talked about this feel free to link it: My T4R stopped being my DD back in February. I actually changed the oil and filter on that day (Mobil1 5w30 and OEM filter) and it had 230k. I've racked up a whopping 2k miles since then, so I'm wondering if it's still OK to stick with my 7k intervals, or if I should go with more of a every X month interval? If months, then how many?

If it helps to know how it gets driven: I drive it up to the mountains (long-ish periods of over 3k RPMs on the highway), there can be stop-and-go traffic, and then it'll be off-road driving after that. The off-roading isn't really any crazy rock-crawling, but definitely sections of 4lo at elevation.

Thanks!

 

[JayRolla]

Hey all,

I know this has likely been asked before, but I'll be damned if I can figure out the right combination of search terms to not get the 100+ pages back on arguments over oil change intervals.

My question is different, but if you know of a thread that has talked about this feel free to link it: My T4R stopped being my DD back in February. I actually changed the oil and filter on that day (Mobil1 5w30 and OEM filter) and it had 230k. I've racked up a whopping 2k miles since then, so I'm wondering if it's still OK to stick with my 7k intervals, or if I should go with more of a every X month interval? If months, then how many?

If it helps to know how it gets driven: I drive it up to the mountains (long-ish periods of over 3k RPMs on the highway), there can be stop-and-go traffic, and then it'll be off-road driving after that. The off-roading isn't really any crazy rock-crawling, but definitely sections of 4lo at elevation.

Thanks!

Every 7500k or 6 months. Which ever comes first.

 

[atalarico]

Every 7500k or 6 months. Which ever comes first.

Ah hah! Sounds like she's overdue then! I guess I've just never driven a car so infrequently that the month interval came before the mileage interval! I need to find a happy medium of driving it enough to make it seem like I'm not just spending $40 every 5th time I drive it.

D'oh! I think it'll help once I make it more drivable too...

 

[Victor_inox]

Sell it?

 

[atalarico]

Sell it?

Ah, the ol' black and white approach? Yeah, but I have the perfect two-car stable right now between this T4R and the Golf R.

I still use it to go off-road camping, get to remote trailheads to climb/mountaineer, haul more than 2 people for skiing/snowboarding, move 80" long couches half-hanging out of the rear, pull friends out of ditches in a couple feet of snow, but I guess I under-exaggerated on 5 times in 6 months. It's more like 2 or 3 trips a month in the heaviest usage months, with a 1-4 days each trip.

Like I said, I'll probably start driving it more once I make it more pleasant to drive by addressing some outstanding unpredictable/scary handling issues this week.

Thanks though!

 

[Victor_inox]

Ah, the ol' black and white approach? Yeah, but I have the perfect two-car stable right now between this T4R and the Golf R.

I still use it to go off-road camping, get to remote trailheads to climb/mountaineer, haul more than 2 people for skiing/snowboarding, move 80" long couches half-hanging out of the rear, pull friends out of ditches in a couple feet of snow, but I guess I under-exaggerated on 5 times in 6 months. It's more like 2 or 3 trips a month in the heaviest usage months, with a 1-4 days each trip.

Like I said, I'll probably start driving it more once I make it more pleasant to drive by addressing some outstanding unpredictable/scary handling issues this week.

Thanks though!

change it every 6 month than.
Second car is always an expense, oil changes, maintenance, insurance premiums... I used to own 2-4 vehicle at the time until I calculated how much it cost me, it makes more financial sense to buy a new 4runner, pay about the same for gas as your Golf and use it as DD. Well maybe a bit more but you don`t have o spend 30 grand on that golf, and that is a lot of gas.

 

[sportscarfan]

I wouldn't worry about it. I too infrequently drive a 4runner. Looking at my records right now, the last time I changed it was June 2014 with M1. It's got close to 7500 miles on that oil now. I check it every once in a while. Now that I see the miles, I'll probably change it this winter. For an occasional driver, 6 months is just an exercise in dumping oil.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Yearly with that oil, either changing it in the spring or fall.

I have been doing 5000 mile yearly changes with Maxlife semi synthetic since 2011. No problems to report.

 

[TheDurk]

Yearly is fine, but I would change it in the spring. The reason is you build up moisture in the crankcase due to condensation resulting from freeze/thaw cycles during the winter. Good to get that out of there rather than let it sit until fall.

 

[PWD4R]

I think 6 months is a little too frequently. Most synthetics don't break down that fast so I would go yearly. Maybe start it up weekly just to get the oil running through the engine about 3-5 minutes and I don't see any issues with letting it sit like that.


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[atalarico]

change it every 6 month than.
Second car is always an expense, oil changes, maintenance, insurance premiums... I used to own 2-4 vehicle at the time until I calculated how much it cost me, it makes more financial sense to buy a new 4runner, pay about the same for gas as your Golf and use it as DD. Well maybe a bit more but you don`t have o spend 30 grand on that golf, and that is a lot of gas.

change it every 6 month than.
Second car is always an expense, oil changes, maintenance, insurance premiums... I used to own 2-4 vehicle at the time until I calculated how much it cost me, it makes more financial sense to buy a new 4runner, pay about the same for gas as your Golf and use it as DD. Well maybe a bit more but you don`t have o spend 30 grand on that golf, and that is a lot of gas.

Well, I certainly appreciate the insight, and I'm sure some of the fiscal reasoning you have is sound. However, no offense, this isn't exactly a thread on why I should or should not own more than one vehicle.

I like my R because it's fast, and it puts a smile on my face. I can also average in the high 20's for mpgs (or if I'm a good boy, 30-32). That's despite its performance being on par with many cars more expensive than it and that get worse mileage (lookin' at you STI, BMW 335, M3, etc.).

Simply put, the configuration that I prefer T4R's in (lifted, bigger tires, etc.) would never make my commute from Denver to Boulder as pleasant as my R, nor would it be as fun to take into canyons, up snowy highways (with snow tires of course), or hell, even to the track. It's a personal choice, and this is personally what I prefer for right now.

Thanks for the suggestion though!

I wouldn't worry about it. I too infrequently drive a 4runner. Looking at my records right now, the last time I changed it was June 2014 with M1. It's got close to 7500 miles on that oil now. I check it every once in a while. Now that I see the miles, I'll probably change it this winter. For an occasional driver, 6 months is just an exercise in dumping oil.

Yearly with that oil, either changing it in the spring or fall.

I have been doing 5000 mile yearly changes with Maxlife semi synthetic since 2011. No problems to report.

Great to hear then! I had a feeling I might be recycling perfectly good oil, so it's good to know that I can do a once a year change and be alright.

 

[T4R2014]

Mine averages 2600 miles per year on average. I change the oil once per year.

 

[thegipper]

Just change it once a year....

No reason to change every 6 months, just use some decent oil.

 

[mountain mike]

Mine sees only 4-5k miles per year. I change it once a year in the spring when I go over the runner after the winter. I think if you use a synthetic oil once a year should be just fine...or so I'm hoping...

 

[shahsmerdis]

If it doesn't see too many miles then any good quality synethic should be good with oem filter once a year.

The biggest thing that kills cars is sitting, so like other say sell it if you can. just make sure there is no moisture or salt on the frame while it sits or else it will rust out pretty quickly. Fluid film/ oil it before you sit. Also tires do get messed up if they sit for extended periods of time. put the car on jacks if does sit for an extended period of time.

 

[atalarico]

Mine sees only 4-5k miles per year. I change it once a year in the spring when I go over the runner after the winter. I think if you use a synthetic oil once a year should be just fine...or so I'm hoping...

Just change it once a year....

No reason to change every 6 months, just use some decent oil.

Mine averages 2600 miles per year on average. I change the oil once per year.

Awesome, thanks! Sounds like that she will be averaging around 3k-5k a year now.

If it doesn't see too many miles then any good quality synethic should be good with oem filter once a year.

The biggest thing that kills cars is sitting, so like other say sell it if you can. just make sure there is no moisture or salt on the frame while it sits or else it will rust out pretty quickly. Fluid film/ oil it before you sit. Also tires do get messed up if they sit for extended periods of time. put the car on jacks if does sit for an extended period of time.

Cool, thanks.

Read my lips though; I'M NOT SELLING MY 4RUNNER. I still drive it a few times a month on various types of mountain trips, and I still have plenty of need for it here in Colorado. Yes, I am familiar with what happens to cars that sit idle, which is why I make it a point to drive it.

Thanks.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Yearly is fine, but I would change it in the spring. The reason is you build up moisture in the crankcase due to condensation resulting from freeze/thaw cycles during the winter. Good to get that out of there rather than let it sit until fall.

You beat me to it. It's the moisture that begins to build up in the engine that's the issue, not the oil magically breaking down or something.

 

[atalarico]

You beat me to it. It's the moisture that begins to build up in the engine that's the issue, not the oil magically breaking down or something.

Hmm this has me a bit concerned since I changed it last in February and we still had a few month of wintery conditions in Colorado. Should I change it for grins before this next winter and then get on the change it every spring schedule after that?

 

[PWD4R]

Yeah not sure why we keep getting the "sell it" solution. It's ok to have 2... I have my 4Runner and Corolla for my DD. It's common


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[SpidermanGeek]

Yearly with that oil, either changing it in the spring or fall.

This is what I do. I only put about 3500 miles per year on my Runner, so I change the oil and service the zirks and brakes in the spring.