Maintenance doubt

debasishduttaroy · #1 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 04:34 PM

I have a 2006 RAV4. Its about 4 months, since I bought it. The service manuals say 5 months or 5000 miles whichever is earlier.

Now my doubt is I have ran my vehicle for almost 4000 miles and still not changed oil or something. Is that OK? Should I wait till 5k miles for the oil and filter change?

yspert · #2 (**permalink**) 10-04-2006, 11:52 AM

you can't change the oil enough is the way i treat my vehicles. the more oil changes the better. yspert

MMitsock · #3 (**permalink**) 10-04-2006, 01:52 PM

I normally change the oil after 1000 miles on a new vehicle then at 5000 then every 5000 after that.

grumpy in NH · #4 (**permalink**) 10-05-2006, 03:15 PM

There is evidence that changing the oil too much is bad (and not just from a resouce or environ impact. 5K miles or seasonally (Nov, Mar, July) regardless of milage vehicle will be fine. Use a quality oil like chevron or havoline or Motorcraft, Red Line synthetic. Stay away from Kendal semi-synth, Castrol GTX, QS/Pennzoil, Valvoline and EXxon/Mobil dino. My 2005 takes 4 quarts for the 2.4L / 4cyl.

I'll try to find a link to the excessive oil change research ...

MOREPOWER · #5 (**permalink**) 10-05-2006, 07:22 PM

Most manufacturers recommend 5k oil change interval, Honda does for sure.
If you're beating it to death you can do it sooner, 5k is easier to remember. I use pennzoil Dino and Toyota filter, every 3 to 4k works just fine for me.

mustang67408 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-2006, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumpy in NH

There is evidence that changing the oil too much is bad

I'll try to find a link to the excessive oil change research ...

Please do. I really need to read this. Makes no sense to me how changing the oil to much is detrimental.

What did they consider excessive or to much???
I changed the oil (straight 60w, valvoline racing oil) in my stang, every 200-500 miles. It was a mild street engine 475hp and ran 11's in the qtr mile.
That engine lasted 12 years on the street and intermitant drag strip runs.
The only reason i removed it was to install something bigger and better.

I really dont think changin the oil in it as often as I did hurt anything.

This will be a good article to read if you can find it. Thanks

yspert · #7 (**permalink**) 10-25-2006, 09:49 AM

does it really take this long to research something? yspert

mustang67408 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-25-2006, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yspert

does it really take this long to research something? yspert

I think grumpy fell off his rocker

yspert · #9 (**permalink**) 12-28-2006, 03:03 PM

i've stopped holding my breath. yspert

mustang67408 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-28-2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yspert

i've stopped holding my breath. yspert

I've already changed the oil a few more times.

flyingn · #11 (**permalink**) 01-02-2007, 08:15 AM

1000 miles first oil change due to machining shavings in engine and 3k miles thereafter for me. Mobil 1..

grumpy in NH · #12 (**permalink**) 01-05-2007, 01:26 PM

Sorry, had to get back to work. I incorrectly assumed you could do the research in my absence

Being OLD, I can barely recall reading the frequent oil change assertion in CD or R&T, and I am not aware if the (reknowned) author did or did not follow up. Sorry for upsetting the flat-earthers' out there

My REAL oil life problem is varnishing on my wifes rav4 - not loss of viscosity or depletion of additive package. The 2.4L engine must rely on oil cooling more than any other recent vehicle I've owned. I don't want to run synthetic (since most synthetic are NOT real anymore including Mobil-1 (!) and dont want to pay $$ for Redline.
Any one have an opinion on low-varnishning oils? At 5K OCI's the inside of the cam cover is brown on the 2005 RAV and the oil comes out red-brown. The dealer did the last OC and I dont know what they used - most likely NOT Toyota Genuine Motor Oil - whatever the H#!! that is.

grumpy in NH · #13 (**permalink**) 01-05-2007, 01:34 PM

As a M.E. and and ex-auto mechanic from the 70's, I could only say by experience that more frequent dry starts (spun bearing on Subaru Impreza 1.8L and 2.3L suzuki Aerio) and over exposure to potassium hydroxide (??? who knows) could be the only negative drawbacks to OVER frequent changing of oil. But if you go to the quick change places that try to ruin almost anything I bring in there with: underfills and overfills and NO fills and leaving the air cleaner housing loss and apart ... bunch of dipsticks they are

that'll end your car life REAL fast.

mustang67408 · #14 (**permalink**) 01-05-2007, 01:43 PM

Why is MOBIL 1 NOT really synthetic?

I plan to use ROYAL PURPLE in my new stang engine, Is it not Synthetic either?

MOREPOWER · #15 (**permalink**) 01-05-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumpy in NH

Sorry, had to get back to work. I incorrectly assumed you could do the research in my absence

.

Why? sounds like nonsense.

Quote:

Being OLD, I can barely
recall reading the frequent oil change assertion in CD or R&T, and I am not aware if the (reknowned) author did or did not follow up. Sorry for upsetting the flat-earthers' out there

My REAL oil life problem is varnishing on my wifes rav4 - not loss of viscosity or depletion of additive package. The 2.4L engine must rely on oil cooling more than any other recent vehicle I've owned. I don't want to run synthetic (since most synthetic are NOT real anymore including Mobil-1 (!) and dont want to pay $$ for Redline.
Any one have an opinion on low-varnishning oils? At 5K OCI's the inside of the cam cover is brown on the 2005 RAV and the oil comes out red-brown. The dealer did the last OC and I dont know what they used - most likely NOT Toyota Genuine Motor Oil - whatever the H#!! that is

maybe it was trans fluid they put in, Mobile-1 is still better than reg oil and will not sludge up even in a little hot motor like the 2.4L.

Quote:

mustang67408-Why is MOBIL 1 NOT really synthetic?

I plan to use ROYAL PURPLE in my new stang engine, Is it not Synthetic either?

"Royal Purple" contains hydro cracked dino oil like Mobile-1

They all changed the formula or so ive read. Don't know who is really synthetic anymore, thing is if its hard to get why bother. I just get Mobile-1 at Wally World.