Unique Situation - Low Mileage 2003 4Runner Limited.

[rchavez1]

Here's a good one. I have a 2003 4Runner Limited which I purchased in May 2003. Fast forward to today (2+ years), my truck drives and feels brand new just like the day I took it home. Now here is my problem (not really a problem but a concern), My truck has 12,000 miles! Here's my question; outside of the oil (Mobil 1 SuperSynth 5W - 30) and air filter change back in May 2004, what else should I do to keep up with maintenance? I take the train to work every day and for the most part the truck is parked inside the garage and driven mostly during the weekends. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jharris2]

Here's a good one. I have a 2003 4Runner Limited which I purchased in May 2003. Fast forward to today (2+ years), my truck drives and feels brand new just like the day I took it home. Now here is my problem (not really a problem but a concern), My truck has 12,000 miles! Here's my question; outside of the oil (Mobil 1 SuperSynth 5W - 30) and air filter change back in May 2004, what else should I do to keep up with maintenance? I take the train to work every day and for the most part the truck is parked inside the garage and driven mostly during the weekends. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds like our situations are somewhat similar -- I have a 2003 model (purchased 01/31/2003) with 18K on it. Of that, 4,500 miles was just 3 trips.

I follow the normal schedule Toyota publishes. Watch that some items (like antifreeze, belts, hoses) can be changed based on time or miles. Typically, I tend to do maintenance a little more often than needed.

 

[rchavez1]

Re: Re: Unique Situation - Low Mileage 2003 4Runner Limited.

Sounds like our situations are somewhat similar -- I have a 2003 model (purchased 01/31/2003) with 18K on it. Of that, 4,500 miles was just 3 trips.

I follow the normal schedule Toyota publishes. Watch that some items (like antifreeze, belts, hoses) can be changed based on time or miles. Typically, I tend to do maintenance a little more often than needed.

Thanks for your response. Like me, I've had 2 trips, 1700 miles total. The rest of the miles are mostly suburban driving. I usually fill up once a month, sometimes twice a month during the summer. Every so often i like to get laid....you know, get under the truck just to check for anything i can clean or lube. Like you, I like to do maintenance (if there is anything i need to do) just to keep a potential problem from getting serious.

 

[sailchris]

I have a similar but different situation...I bought an '03 V6 Limited with 14k miles on it and would also be interested in knowing what I can do to keep things running as usual.

 

[iFORCE]

Oil should be changed whether you drive it or not. Its kind of like a ... Miles or Months.. whichever comes first.

 

[TechWrench]

Oil should be changed whether you drive it or not. Its kind of like a ... Miles or Months.. whichever comes first.

I have heard from the dealers, service shops, and others that 'they' recommend one change the oil on a time based interval even if the acutal engine miles have not reached a pre-determined point, and I wonder what is the rational behind this.

I am not suggesting that if you only put 1k per year on your vehicle, you should wait three years to change the oil, but when someone says you should do a change every 3k or three months which ever comes first, I find it kind of hard to understand why you should change the oil every three months if you only put 500 miles a month on the vehicle.

Is there a sound mechanical reason to support this? Are they suggesting that modern, synthetic oils will break down over time, regardless of the actual usage? I have a friend, with a new Corvette, who barely puts 2k per year on the car. Yet he will change the Mobile1 in it every 6 months, just because the service dept. said it was the 'smart' thing to do. Unless I am missing something, I just don't see the reason to change the oil on a time based interval instead of usage based one.

Anybody have any thoughts on this?

 

[iFORCE]

I wouldn't change my oil every 3 months if I don't drive it.. as I put synthetics in mine. IF my vehicle was to be driven very little.. i'd still change it. I don't know whats happened to the oil since last oil change.. maybe its like milk.. the longer it sits out.. the less you should drink it.

Anyways... it's cheap to change the oil... so.. why not? Currently.. I use synthetic oil (mobil1) so I change my oil every 6000-7500miles, in all our cars.

 

[sbryan]

I have heard from the dealers, service shops, and others that 'they' recommend one change the oil on a time based interval even if the acutal engine miles have not reached a pre-determined point, and I wonder what is the rational behind this.

Is there a sound mechanical reason to support this? Are they suggesting that modern, synthetic oils will break down over time, regardless of the actual usage? I have a friend, with a new Corvette, who barely puts 2k per year on the car. Yet he will change the Mobile1 in it every 6 months, just because the service dept. said it was the 'smart' thing to do. Unless I am missing something, I just don't see the reason to change the oil on a time based interval instead of usage based one.

Anybody have any thoughts on this?

Just a bit of experience from my motorcycle driving, which is similar to some of the driving you all describe - weekends and an occasional short trip during the week. If you don't run the engine, no problem leaving the oil. When I put the bike up for winter here in VT it sits for 6 or 7 months with fresh oil in it, waiting for spring.

But if you run the motor, and especially if you only run it for short trips around town, then you are going to get condensation in the oil (water) that isn't going to evaporate because everything doesn't get fully warmed up. Nothing is harder on a motor than short trips that never get things fully warmed up. So if you run it, change the oil on the date/mileage schedule that makes you feel good. If you don't, that water combines with the other byproducts of combustion to create an acidic mixture that isn't horribly good for the insides of your motor.

Motorcycle people are more anal about oil than most car people. Lots of published studies on all the various motorcycle oils and the additives that are used in them. Novels written about oil experiences. But the common thread from all the lab studies is the eventual acidic nature of oil that actually gets used. Hope that helps add fuel to the conversational fire.:satan:

 

[Mark86]

Oil should be changed whether you drive it or not. Its kind of like a ... Miles or Months.. whichever comes first.

I agree with iFORCE compeltely. You can never change your oil and filter too often. I change my oil religiously every 3,000 miles or every 2-3 months. When I feel like I am being harsh on my truck (stop and go, towing, or driving in the snow), I will have it changed even sooner. Other than that, you are doing everything right. Just make sure you drive the truck every so often so you are not left with a dead battery.