oil change

[skippy01]

Hello everyone! I have a '04 RAV bought new @6/04. Currently have 10 k miles. I changed oil twice before 5 Kmiles with regular oil.Changed twice since then with Mobile 1 ,10w-30.My question is since Iam averaging about 700 miles per month ,how often should I change oil using Mobile-1?Also ,any one have advise on oil and air filters.Thanks in advance.Skippy

[nfafan]

***** Just my personal opinion *****

But if I were you using the full-synth Mobil1, I'd go to 6month/6K mile OCI's. At the least - and if you have the ducats - 4mo/4K mile change intervals.

Every 3 months/3K miles is fine with dino juice, maybe even aggressive to some folks, but synth should/does hold up longer for a longer OCI.

Also, the filter - use a top quality oil filter. NAPA Gold, Purolater Premium are two excellent choices that jump to mind. Delco makes an "Ultra" branding that is great, Motorcraft's FL1 is a legend, but have no idea as to either availability for a RAV.

JMHO!

[nfafan]

Oops - air filter... Go with a Purolater Premium replacement "panel" filter; a good old fashioned "paper" filter. Replace twice a year, there not free but there not expensive either - especially when you shop the sales.

Don't allow yourself to get caught up in the K&N filter hype.

Yes, they supposedly "last a lifetime". But... you can buy a few years worth of Purolaters for the price of a "reusable" K&N.

Yeah, the K&N flows air marginally better than a paper filter - but at a rate that most ordinary humans can't detect and - - - - at the expense of dirt filtration.

Dirt is bad for your intake and throttle body, dry paper vs oiled cotton to stop dirt. Which would you choose?

And no, I don't work for Purolater. They just make good and affordable oil and air filters.

[Bossman]

Skippy,
I have to concur with nfafan about changing your full synthetic Mobil ! oil and filter every 6 months/6,0000 miles. Since you're driving only 700 miles/month then I would change it every 6 months. That will give you an oil/filter change every 4,200 miles/6 months. In fact, if you really want to be cheap (er, ah, I mean frugal), you could just change the filter at the half year mark, top up the oil and drive another 4,200 miles till your next full oil & filter change. I have to admit that I do this with my SUV which I only drive 600 miles per month. And I do that because it costs so darn much for a simple oil/filter change. The so called experts tell me that it's OK because this particular manufacturer recommends oil/filter changes at 12,000 miles/12 month intervals anyhow. Needless to say, I won't go more than a year on an oil change; synthetic or not. I salute you for choosing Mobile 1 oil as I hear it is one of the very few "real" synthetic oils as opposed to oils that only "perform" as synthetics. My dealership network uses Castrol synthetic oil so, since I bought a service contract, I have to go with that. Not a problem, really.

As far as the air filter is concerned, I'm sorry but I will disagree with nfafan a bit. I installed a K&N air filter in my 03 Camry and haven't regretted it one ioda. I did it mainly for the cost effectiveness of it all. I paid $35 for the filter and I'll clean and oil it no more than once per year. Since Toyota or even Fram, etc., filters seem to cost around $12 to $15 each then it doesn't take very long (3 filters) to hit your cost factor and it does have that lifetime/1 mil mile warranty also. It works for me. Best of luck and happy motoring.