Oil Change Question...?

Question

My elderly mom drives very little. She has a 2003 Toyota Camry with 17000 miles on it.

Because 3000 miles have not been driven since the last oil change, it has not been changed yet.. but it's been over 9 months since the last one.

I know it's supposed to be every 3000 miles OR every 3 months. The car hasn't turned on any warning lights or anything. I plan to take it to the dealership to change the oil next week, but is it possible that there is already some damage to something?

An answer from any mechanic would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Ok. I don't know who told you or your mom that she needs to change her oil every 3000 miles or 3 months. If it was the shop where she gets her work done.... find a new shop.

Toyota normal service interval is every 7500 miles.

Severe service interval is every 5000 miles and that is for taxi's and police cars or operating in extreme climate or dust conditions.

If she gets her car serviced more often then that she is pouring her money down the drain! Check the owners manual and you will see the intervals I wrote above.

I would suggest that she get her oil changed every Spring as a bare minimum to keep condensation and it's affects to a minimum.

Answer 2

There should be no problem with driving it to a dealership to get the oil changed. 3 months or 3000 miles is the standard.
If the car has not been driven for long periods of time, moisture can condensate in the oil from temperature changes, ect.
You will be OK, Just remember the motor oil is the main protection against wear and use a good quality oil,

Answer 3

No not likely. I have the same problem with my mothers car. She only drives a few miles a week and it takes 6 to 8 months for her to reach the 3000 mark.
You do need to have it changed because short trips in traffic causes the oil to bread down quicker. My mechanic says to check the oil regularly and it will be fine. One thing to remember is to let the car run for a minute or two before you put it in gear. This allows the oil to circulate through out the engine especially if it sets for long periods of time.

Answer 4

You do not have to go to the dealership for an oil change unless the dealer is giving you a good deal on the oil change price. Any certified oil change service like "Speedy" or "Jiffy Lube" ect will satisfy your warrantee maintenance requirements

The time limit of three months has to do with the oxidation of oil and the build up of condensation and combustion products. This is compounded in a vehicle which is run with numerous short trips as the engine doesn't have time to really warm up. Short trip driving and excessive idling is aggressive on the engine oil so its really important to change it on a 3month schedule from now on.

The oxidation products of oil combined and combustion by-products in the presence of moisture will produce acids, and compounds which create sludge and varnish.

The sludge and varnish compounds have a tendency to coat surfaces and restrict small diameter openings. This causes problems with close tolerance parts and can cause these parts to become sticky or stuck. With oil ports excessive build can restirct proper oil flow causing excessive wear....Some items that are sucseptible are piston Oil rings and valve lifters. Stuck oil rings cause oil burning and increased oil consumption while stuck lifters cause a ticking sound to come from the engine as the stuck lifter operates the cylinder valve. (A stuck/sticky) lifter is most likely to noticed when starting a cold engine running at idle speed.)

Sludge and varnish are cumulative problems, meaning that the longer you expose the engine to these compounds the more the varnish and sludge builds up. Time is on your side if you perform regular oil changes which will ultimately extend the life of the engine. which will easily be another 10 or 11 years (to get to 70K miles) at your current usage

Answer 5

I seriously doubt that you have any damage on a car with that kind of mileage! 3000 or 3 months is a good idea, but you are probably fine.
Short trips are harder on a car than long trips because the engine and the oil don't have time to completely warm up. Engines today are so efficient and oils are so much better than they used to be that you can go over on miles and time between changes and really have no problems.

Answer 6

Short drives are actually harder on the oil.As the car cools down you get a small amount of condensation mixed in the oil. The next time you drive if it is for any distance the heat of the motor will burn that condensation off. If it's a short drive it will not,hence more condensation. All of this short driving can cause a lot of condensation which in turn causes bad oil to be circulated. My Aunt has a 91,Buick Le Saber that has about 54,000 on it & I still change that oil about every 4 mo. for her just because of her short trips.

Answer 7

With todays oils, service intervals of 7500 miles or more is not uncommon. 3000 mile oil changes just make more money for the greedy dealers. Check your owner manual and you will see what I mean

Answer 8

is there any smoke coming from the car or do you smell any burning? if not, you should be ok..even though the oil would probably be a little thick. even if she doesn't put on the miles....change the oil at least every four months to prevent any damage to the car.

Answer 9

with todays advanced oils,you can go 5,000 miles between changes. if you live in a dusty area.or drive on dirt roads,i would change oil and filter every 3,000 miles. no way has damage occured on your mom's car.

Answer 10

There is NO DAMAGE at all. The car is Cherry. Change it yourself and save some money. It is very easy to do. Takes aroung 15 minutes or less if you have ramps.