3,500 Miles on Syn. Oil: Do I Change It Before I Drive to Alaska?

[04UZJ100]

Ill be relocating to Alaska with my wife in 2 weeks. I cannot decide if I want to do an oil change or not before we drive up there.

My 07 V8 4Runner is meticulously maintained and I put in M1 5W-30 EP 3,500 miles ago (3 months) with a Toyota YZZD3 filter. Can't decide if I want to run it up to an 8,000 mile interval. (3,700 mile trip)

My typical syn. oil intervals are 5-7k with 70/30 highway/city, respectively.

Oil changes themselves are easy but it's a royal PITA to dispose of the oil in Chicago.

Tell me I'm insane or stupid not to do it.

 

[TRY666R]

...

 

[NMBruce]

Really you could just drive it, since all the miles will be long distance and not sitting in traffic, but really it's a cheap cost for the piece of mind, I would change it. BTY, great drive, looking at going again next year

 

[04gto]

Changing your oil now is a waste of money and resources. I have done used oil analysis on my cars for many years and different makes of cars. A lot of them running M1. Several times upon testing samples after changing oil, I was surprised to find the tests indicating oil that was still basically like new from a protection standpoint. Using the same analysis I now regularly run vehicles out to as much as 14k miles between changes. Am I recommending you go that far? No, that is your choice, but when running a quality synthetic, anything under 7k is a big waste. .

 

[half k cruiser]

synthetic oil and appropriate filters are designed for at least double that change interval. I wouldn't worry about it. If you are really concerned pop a new filter on there and call it good.

 

[04UZJ100]

Ehhhh did it tonight. 7 quarts of fresh M1 Extended Performance oil and an oversize M1-209 filter. Also greased the zerks with M1 synthetic grease. Anddd finished installing the belly plates on the ARB bumper.

Was a productive Friday night.

 

[JLee]

Ehhhh did it tonight. 7 quarts of fresh M1 Extended Performance oil and an oversize M1-209 filter. Also greased the zerks with M1 synthetic grease. Anddd finished installing the belly plates on the ARB bumper.

Was a productive Friday night.

I would probably have done the same. It was likely completely fine, but it's cheap insurance to not have to worry about anything.