When using synthetic oil, should one change oil by mileage (5000), or by 6 months as stated in the manual?

 

I always change by mileage... and now I have hard time to find 100% fully synthetic Mobil1 0W-20.

 

I'm doing it every 5K miles. I just had my oil changed yesterday for the first time

 

Try Wal-Mart or Wal-Mart Supercenter. They seem to carry it for a short while, then clearance it out.... a few months later they'll carry it again for a few weeks, and then clearance it out again.

Some stores carry it, and others don't.

My advice is to stock up when they carry it- especially if you find it on clearance. Normal price is $5.97... sometimes when they put it on clearance they'll mark it down to $3.00/qt. Right now it's on clearance for $5.00 at the Walmart near me.

It's a gray bottle with a yellow box where it says "0W-20".

As to the original question... (5,000 miles or 6 months) I say do whatever comes first. For me, I drive a lot.... so I change it every 4500 miles, which is about 3 months for me.

 

That is where I get it from WalMart, but for some reason stopped having 0W20 and have 5W20, but today I called and found it in a remote WalMart and got 7 qts @ 5.97/qt (not bad), so now I got enough for next 2 oil changes... also, I am looking forward for WalMart to bring the single 5qt bottle since it is less expensive (I already placed an order for the 5qt, will see what happens)...

 

By the book and to avoid any warranty issues you should change oil at whichever comes first: if you drive more than 5000, every 5000 miles, if you drive less then every six months. It is probably overkill but better safe than sorry, also the car will burn some oil as you drive and at 5000 you will be short half a quart already or more. One reason for changing oil after 6 months regardless of mileage would be that it would indicate a lot of shorter trips and short trips contaminate oil with water from air and engine never gets hot enough to evaporate it.

 

I just did my 5k miles oil change last weekend myself. I bought my Toyota 0W20 full synthetic from a Toyota Dealer near here for $4.58/qt. The Toyota oil filter was $5.41 (didn't know that there was a coupon, otherwise would have paid less for the filter) and the washer was $1. Changing oil on the TCH is really easy compared to my Honda CRV. Oil plug and oil filter are easily accessible near the front right side of the car.

I did it myself because I called all the Toyota Dealers in my area and non of the use the 0W20. I would have to provide it if I insist on 0W20. And I paranoid about the dealer telling me that they will use the oil that I provide but did not. There one dealer here that uses 5W30 for the TCH.