Hope you’re doing well scotty!
This is my 1st car so i want to be right on the dot from day 1. Local Toyota recommends oil changes at 5,000 kms/3 months. I drive 6-8k a year; going by the recommended intervals feels too early and honestly a waste of resources. What do you recommend? Will also appreciate if you could also advise regarding general upkeep for a car that is almost always under the recommended mileage intervals - for example brakes, cvt fluid, etc. I manage upkeep for all vehicles in the family so extra info helps
2020 model, 30,000 kms, 1.8 2ZR CVT-i (K311)
If it helps, i live in a coastal city - doesn’t get too hot or too cold all year, sometimes moist and dusty. Thank you
We have a FAQ just for common questions like this. You will find your answer there.
(Yes, your suspicion is correct. Dealerships make more money on services than selling cars)
Oh and I highly recommend you take a look at the "The Car Care Nut" on Youtube. He knows his Toyotas inside and out, and provides lots of sound, sensible advice for the average owner, from oil changes to transmissions.
Our forum guide shows you how to search the forum, and Scotty's channel for any questions you are looking for.
Hello MountainManJoe. Apologies for that, still getting to grips with interacting on the forums; I’ve been lurking around here for ages but never posted or commented before. Appreciate the responses, i watched a couple of car care nut’s videos on your recommendation - good shout!
Local Toyota recommends oil changes at 5,000 kms/3 months
Hi where do you live?
Generally, the more frequent the better - 5k km or 1 year is very frequent.
Usually you'd want to replace engine oil every 7.5k - 10k km or every 2 years.
(If not driven hard, not driven mostly in stop-start traffic, etc.)
I drive 6-8k a year
That's very little.
Will also appreciate if you could also advise regarding general upkeep for a car
The most important thing with a Toyota Corolla is CVT FLUID replacements.
The more frequent the better, I'd say 25k km - 30k km is frequent enough to avoid most issues
(This assumes you drive the car in a manner that's appropriate for a CVT transmission)
for example brakes
Replace as they wear out.
As far as brake fluid, the owner manual is usually good about specifying that specific interval.
sometimes moist and dusty
Then you might want to inspect the CV boots and other rubber components every time the car's on the lift for service.
Appreciate the detailed response, Dan.
Pakistan. It’s not desert-dusty here but still not clean and mostly humid all year. Won’t 2 years between oil changes be a lot if mileage mark isn’t reached? Manual recommends 10,000km/1 year if toyota genuine motor oil of SN grade is used. I don’t think oil manufacturer should matter as long as full synthetic, recommended grade is used no? Recommended grades are any 5W-30, 10W-30, 15W-40, 20W-50 API SL, SM, SN or ILSAC multigrade. I’ve also read recommendations about 5W-20 online but i believe sticking to one of the grades mentioned in the manual would be better. Manual does add a note regarding 5,000km/6 months intervals if driven in conditions “where pavement is low or cloud of dust arises and the air is dry”.
Yes, it’s quite low due to the nature of work and mostly travelling. Driving split would be a 70-30 city-motorway, city being mostly stop and go.
In that case would it be a safe bet in sticking to 5-7,500km/6 months intervals also keeping in mind the split of driving mileage?
Manual recommends 40k kms/2 years for brake fluid but does not specify change intervals for transmission fluid, just says to inspect it every 2 years (no mention of replacement mileage/time). I will keep your recommendation in mind.
Thank you for the help.
Replace engine oil every 8,000 kms or once a year, whichever comes first and you'll be good. CVT transmission oil every 50,000 kms.
I would not wait 2 years to replace engine oil if I were you.
Thanks JVin. Noted. Considering the partially dusty & humid climate and 70-30 city-motorway driving with city being stop and go, would 1 year be ok, or safer to keep it down to 6 months?
Also, no time based interval for cvt oil?