Oil and gen. inspection Question

[njinaz]

My car. 2019 RAV4. HYBRD. 

Purchased used. Today, appx. 44,000 miles.

At six months, went to Toyota got a free oil change and general inspection.

Dec. 2022 had to have the rear shocks replaced. Went to a local shop. The manager/owner was a person familiar with cars and could answer any question I posed that day.

He told I can go one year between oil changes with the synthetic oil. This year I have drive appx 900 miles. I check the oil twice a month. Fine and still clean. Live in NW Arizona and it is dusty here. Car operates fine.

I am just seeking your advice on trying the 12 month, or stick with the 6 month maintenance.

Thank you for your time. 

[Toyota Owners Club]

Usually one year is perfectly fine for synthetic oils and if it were a diesel engine then I would say every sic months is preferable

[WillemK]

Just do what is is the owners manual. There is everything you need to know. Low yearly mileages doesn’t mean oil won’t degrade. Specially short distances and circumstances where the oil hardly reaches its desired temperatures will degrade oils, no matter if its synthetic or not. An engine that won’t be able to build up its temperature will have moisture in the oil pan. As a consequence, rust may occur on parts that once affected, will be extra vulnerable for oxidation. Draining such oil will also drain the moisture with it, no matter if the oil is crystal clear like new fresh from the can oil. And keep in mind that the temperature gauge in the instrument cluster sais nothing about the oil temperature at all. True, the RAV4 engines warm up very fast due to the clever motor management. As a consequence, the oil will warm up quicker than on conventional cars that have cam driven water and oil pumps. Stay on the safe side and do what’s in the book. You did not invent these engines.