Changing oil Options

[RickJamesBish]

I know it's an elementary question, but I just need some opinions. I've put around 4000 miles on her and I'd like to keep everything as spry as possible, so therefore I'm going to have the oil changed regularly. How many of you do it on your own, and how easy is it to do? I'm guessing I won't need more than a catch pan and a couple tools.

Also, I know it's not "totally" necessary to do this a lot, but it's not abnormal to change it every 3000 miles, even if the oil light hasn't come on yet?

[mr-belowaverage]

Also, I know it's not "totally" necessary to do this a lot, but it's not abnormal to change it every 3000 miles, even if the oil light hasn't come on yet?

OH MY GOD. That's not an oil light, that is an oil pressure warning light and it means your car doesn't have sufficient oil pressure to lubricate the engine at that moment. It means turn your engine off immediately and put oil in there and don't restart it until everything is ok. It does NOT mean start thinking about maybe swinging by jiffy lube next weekend.

Like I've said time and time again, the 3k mile oil interval change is a scam and a hoax. Today's oils will easily last 10k+ miles even under daily city driving.

The lubricating properties of today's oils, conventional and synthetic, will remain even after 10k miles, yes. BUT the dirt debris and contaminants that your oil filter removes will saturate that filter within 3000 miles every time. Especially if you're driving the average Toyota four, with its poor piston rings.

Basically, your oil becomes more and more like dirty unrefined oil as you drive. All the dirt in it is damaging your engine like death by pin pricks. Change you oil regularly if you like your engine.