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jckinnick
Novice
Jun 29, 2010, 9:36 PM
Post #1 of 16
(2252 views)
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2002
Toyota Tacoma 4WD
3.0 V6
120,000
The last time i had an oil change was in early December of 2009, since then i have drove my care once a week for the last 6 months. Should i go by the mileage or the month date on the oil change sticker? The month date says February but the mileage is still good. How dirty do you think the oil is?
Usually i get an oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles but i have been out of work since December of 2009.
For about 4 of those months i traveled a little over 30 minutes one way once a week. Also i added some of that STP Oil Treatment about a month ago if that helped anything.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 30, 2010, 2:40 AM
Post #2 of 16
(2247 views)
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Oil change intervals are always miles or time, whichever come first. Every time the car is started, the temperature changes cause condensation to get into the oil along with metals and chemicals and can do even more harm than high mileage. At this point you are a little over 6 months and that's probably about as far as you want to push it under those conditions.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 30, 2010, 4:32 AM
Post #3 of 16
(2241 views)
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Agree - It's time to change it by time alone. General rule is 3,000 or 3 months whichever first but there are some exceptions. If vehicle is garaged and is used enough to fully warm up when it is used I think you can be ok to extend the time interval. Low use and outdoor vehicles still suffer contamination due to condensation. That dew you may see on your windows is in your engine as well.
Type of oil in those cases isn't so much the issue but the contamination of any of them would be over extended time,
T
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jckinnick
Novice
Jul 3, 2010, 1:39 AM
Post #4 of 16
(2227 views)
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Another thing to note is in the past six months i haven't let my gas tank get much past half full before filling up. That could be a problem too right? I have bought some Gum Out to solve that i hope.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 3, 2010, 3:59 AM
Post #5 of 16
(2226 views)
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If you are going to continue leaving the same fuel in the tank for a long time, then you need to add a product called "Stabil". That will prevent the fuel from going stale. Your probably OK with the fuel you have right now but don't go any longer without either using it up or treating it.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 3, 2010, 7:31 PM
Post #7 of 16
(2213 views)
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Nope, all that means nothing at all and probably just a big waste of money for those additives. If you keep the same fuel in the tank over 6 months, it will start to go stale unless it has Stabil in it.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 5, 2010, 2:22 AM
Post #9 of 16
(2199 views)
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OK, I give up.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 5, 2010, 3:26 AM
Post #11 of 16
(2187 views)
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Sport - Don't let it run out but just let it get low then fill it up. If continued low use is expected use what Hammer said - the product is Stabil by brand. Looks like this...........
Forget gas and oil additives. Read oil containers that the "meet or exceed new car specs" and use suggested viscosity - that's enough.
Stabil is good for a year or so it states. Read the label. The additives in gasoline are the culprit more than pure gasoline which is unavailable so it's got additives in it when you buy it. If you have a fuel problem then it should get professional, targeted cleaning.
I'm sorry that you are out of work as way too many folks are. If you don't really need this vehicle you aren't doing it or your budget any favors keeping it - sell it off. Add up all the known costs of having it plus some unexpected possible repairs and you could rent a similar vehicle when and if really needed for much less aggravation and money than keeping this IMO,
T
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jul 5, 2010, 8:38 PM
Post #12 of 16
(2172 views)
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You haven't hurt your engine. Constantly running old gas could give you problems down the road but the only thing you would notice with one tank of old gas would be a drivability problem (running bad) and since the tank is empty, that problem is solved......^5
I think the misunderstanding here is you are talking about 2 completely different products like they are the same thing. Fuel system cleaners and fuel stabilizers have completely different jobs.......
It would be like taking Beano to help your heartburn and when it didn't work, taking a bigger load to see if that would do the trick....
A rule of thumb if you are going to use the tank in 30 days or less, you're good,,,, any longer and you'll want to add stabilizer.
Honestly in my neck of the woods, worrying about your gas getting old really isn't a problem around here, just the opposite so this is something I really don't deal with....
I would hold off on the oil additives, fuel cleaner are good to run every other tank along with use a name brand fuel all the time...... Read your fuel cleaner bottle if one of the things it does is stabilize the fuel then you are ok......If it doesn't, 10 bottles of that stuff isn't going to keep your fuel from breaking down after the 30 day mark....
(This post was edited by Sidom on Jul 5, 2010, 8:40 PM)
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jckinnick
Novice
Jul 5, 2010, 8:55 PM
Post #13 of 16
(2166 views)
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Ok thanks yeah i know about the fuel stabilizer, i was just wondering if the fuel cleaner would help any damage that i thought i might have done so far.
I also forgot to mention i use the high test gas too.
(This post was edited by jckinnick on Jul 5, 2010, 8:56 PM)
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jul 5, 2010, 8:57 PM
Post #14 of 16
(2164 views)
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That's all good.
Exactly what damage do you thing you've done? Are you having a new running problem or engine noise?
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jul 5, 2010, 9:36 PM
Post #16 of 16
(2157 views)
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Like I mentioned before. One tank isn't going to do any long lasting damage to the engine. If anything you would've noticed a problem while you were using the gas, maybe running poorly, bucking, stuff like that.....
Now if you keep running old gas, over & over, you could eventually start damaging the valve train or lower end.
So with your situation, if you are in doubt whether you're going to use the gas in a timely matter, you should stabilize it to be safe.........
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