Oil changes? 3k or 5k?
 

Do you all get your oil changed every 5,000 miles like suggested? Or do you just do it every 3,000 instead.

3K with a new filter each time... cheapest insurance I can find for over all vehicular longevity..

If you are using a standard filter and dino oil, I would not go over 3. On the other hand you can go five if you are using a high quality synthetic and a good filter like a k&n or mobil one. Synthetic oil does not break down like dino oil does. Also it depends on what kind of driving you do. If you do a lot of short trips and a lot of stop and go, I would change it at 3k, if you do a lot of highway travel that has very little stopping for traffic you can go five with the above mentioned synthetic oil and good filter.

I will be doing my first 3 at the dealership, thats why I wanted to know. I was thinking 3k, but they suggest 5k. I haven't decided yet.

I get mine done roughly every 3500. I do that to keep my oil for life deal going at walser toyota/scion. i also run modile 1 synthetic

4500 for me. New filter each time and 4 quarts of Amsoil Series 2000 0w/30 full synthetic. Pers like a kitten :)

i do 3k or 3 months full sythetic , i know its like 35-40 every time but i love that car so i dont mind

This is the best answer so far....there are just way to may variables to give a general answer:

How hard do you drive?
What are the ambient temps?
Dino or Synthetic?
3K miles in 3 months or more? Less?
Driving distance? (under 8 miles and the oil doesnt get a chance to burn off combustion deposits)
Quality of oil?

My vote goes to better engine protection and less frequent changes (= less dependence on foreign oil).....go synthetic!

I will tell you exactly what I do. I use torco 5w-30 oil and a mobil 1 filter and change it every 4500-5000 miles. I drive 80% highway. I use syn because
1. I live in MN and it gets really cold in the winter and really hot in the summer.
2. You get better fuel econ with syn, not much but it is better
3. Syn does not break down like dino oil, it suspends deposits better, and provides better protection. If you go with synthetic make sure that it is either from a group 5 or six base stock. Some syn like mobil1 and Catrol syntec are from a group 4. That is technically a dino base but it is pure enough and uniform enough with the right additive package that it can becalled synthetic. I would use, Torco, Amsoil, or royal purple. And don't waste your money buying race oils, unless you are running a highly modified street vehicle. If your car is NA and you have a few bolt ons you are flushing your money away.

really, modern engines don't need changes every 3k miles. You could have the dealer change you oil every 5k miles like they recommend, and they won't give you synthetic anything

Honestly, you could probably go much more than 5k without a change, although that is obviously not advisable. 5k max...

if u spent good money on good quality engine oil, why not keep it for 5k
if u r stingy with the oil or went to the dealer... i say change at 3k

along the same lines here so i'll momentarily threadjack...

I'm from los angeles which even if you do a lot of highway/freeway driving you're still stop and go! I go usually short distance driving, red light green light red light.. etc. So what should i use for that kind of driving?

If you get your car up to operating temp for a long period of time, I would change it at 5k with synthetic. xiwantinx also thank you for your service. It is appreciated.

4k oil changes.
Synthetic: Castrol or Pennzoil Platinum 5w-20
Toyota OEM oil filters.
Do it myself.

some guy on here was telling another person in a thread to switch to synthetic at 1K

idk y

I switched to synth at 1k.
Did my first change to dino at 500mi.

I now do 4k-4.5k on Mobil 1 or GC Castrol, depending on the time of year.
Use OEM YZZF1 Toyota filters.
New crush washer.
Zoom.

I think my gas mileage is suffering from a lot of cold-starts I do because my driving times have changed as such.

I'm thinking that maybe a change to synthetic would help out, because synthetic warms out quicker, right?

A synthetic will offer you better cold-start protection.

your not supposed to use full sythetic at first because it doesnt allow proper mating and breaking in of the engine.

I plan to change to Mobile 1 after my 1st 3 oil changes. I get the 1st 3 free at the dealer though.
Mobile 1 is by far the best oil I have ever tasted.