A Basic Question

May 14, 2005

Since some maintenance requirements vary from car to car, I'm curious when the best time, without being excessive, to change oil on a 2000 Corolla would be. So far I've got about 3,250 miles on it without the oil change and I wonder if I should get it to the dealer quickly. But I also don't want to get excessive and overmaintain it since I'm required by the purchase contract to get the car serviced at my dealership, which is a little more pricey and far more so than doing it myself.

May 15, 2005

Since some maintenance requirements vary from car to car, I'm curious when the best time, without being excessive, to change oil on a 2000 Corolla would be. So far I've got about 3,250 miles on it without the oil change and I wonder if I should get it to the dealer quickly. But I also don't want to get excessive and overmaintain it since I'm required by the purchase contract to get the car serviced at my dealership, which is a little more pricey and far more so than doing it myself.
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Bumped. Maybe I'll just check the fluid level and add oil as necessary.

May 16, 2005

With regards to 'oil changes' I find that manufacturers of late seem to have this obsession with 'extended' service intervals. i.e an oil change only required once a year or every 10,000+ miles; this is ridiculous!

Trouble is manufacturers try to make running/servicing costs attractive to thus sell more cars and this can sway certain buyers who don't understand what servicing entails. Also most new car buyers wont be keeping car for over first 5 years so thus engines prematurely wearing out because of lack of oil changes wont be major customers/manufacturers warranty problem.

A friend of mine who runs a garage recently had a Fiat Punto in that was completely knackered in the engine department. The car had done 80,000 miles and until recently been serviced/had oil changed at recomended manufacturers guidelines which were ...oil change every 12,000 miles. On stripping down the engine it was discovered that the engine quite simply could not manage with such long oil change intervals (blocked oil ways etc.).

Personally I would have oil and filter change every 3000 to 4000 miles if you intend to keep vehicle for a long time/many, many years... for this is what I do with all my vehicles.