# Vehicle Rarely Gets Fully Warmed Up. How Often for Oil Changes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** rav4, toyota\ **Created:** [July 13, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012 "2021-07-13T01:14:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kcac\_1\_157641](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@kcac\_1\_157641](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kcac_1_157641)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/1 "2021-07-13T01:14:32Z")
Our 2009 Toyota RAV4 with 100.000 miles on it went being driven 90 minutes on the highway Monday through Friday to being driven each day for just one or two short trips of five minutes or less. What would be a good oil change interval for a vehicle used in this manner? Toyota’s scheduled maintenance document for this vehicle calls for oil changes every 5,000 miles or 6 months for all driving conditions. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 1:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/2 "2021-07-13T01:16:16Z")
> [@kcac\_1\_157641](#): > > 5,000 miles or 6 months for all driving conditions. There’s your answer. Tester ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/3 "2021-07-13T02:37:27Z")
Ye,s 6 months. For some reason people seem confused by the words every 5000 miles or 6 month. It means whichever cones first. ---
**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/4 "2021-07-13T02:48:47Z")
Change the oil every six months and on the weekend take a 20-30 minute ride to warm the engine up and charge the battery ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/5 "2021-07-13T02:50:08Z")
> [@kcac\_1\_157641](#): > > Toyota’s scheduled maintenance document for this vehicle calls for oil changes every 5,000 miles or 6 months for all driving conditions. You forgot the **MOST** important part, **“whichever comes first”** ![Capture](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/0/a09c2c76675041f658be7fb64d618304bcff007d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 3:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/6 "2021-07-13T03:05:23Z")
If the vehicle is driven 5 miles each day, 6 months would be approximately 900 miles, that is frequent enough. ---
**Author:** ![kcac\_1\_157641](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@kcac\_1\_157641](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kcac_1_157641)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 3:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/7 "2021-07-13T03:07:02Z")
I was not clear. I understand the 5K miles or 6 months whichever comes first. No problem there. I was wondering if that rule should be halved somewhat if the daily drive is extremely short, like 1/4 mile round trip. Sounds like the consensus the short drives are not harmful and the Toyota guidance should be followed. Sorry for the confusion. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 3:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/8 "2021-07-13T03:13:05Z")
Maybe you could take the RAV4 for a 20 to 30 minute drive every other week to warm it up. That would help keep the battery charged and blow the condensation out of the exhaust. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 7:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/9 "2021-07-13T07:13:44Z")
Our extended warranty for Rav4 oly requires once a year. Short trip mostly also. Went to check the oil could not remove dipstick, rusted in place due to short trips they said, they removed the tube, lubed it up, no charge, ---
**Author:** ![BikeGuy88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@BikeGuy88](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BikeGuy88)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/10 "2021-07-13T19:12:49Z")
If the interval should be halved for short drives, the manual would’ve said so. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/11 "2021-07-13T19:33:34Z")
I disagree, 6 months should be fine. However, the OP would be a candidate for a plug in electric. ---
**Author:** ![sestivers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@sestivers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sestivers)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/12 "2021-07-13T19:55:20Z")
You meant to say a candidate for walking or bicycling to these destinations 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/13 "2021-07-13T19:59:59Z")
That too would be a possibility. Where I live they would use a golf cart. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/14 "2021-07-13T20:00:52Z")
> [@sestivers](#): > > You meant to say a candidate for walking or bicycling to these destinations Maybe not if they’re carrying a bass violin. 🤣 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/f/4/f4eee9058d574c2dc70f683fa8ec8c217f02a3a4.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![kcac\_1\_157641](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@kcac\_1\_157641](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kcac_1_157641)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 4:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/15 "2021-07-14T04:09:11Z")
I’m not the driver of the vehicle in question, but I have lost my nerve for riding a bicycle in traffic. I stick to bike path riding now. When I was a teen my buddies and I did lots of day trip rides on busy two-lane roads with narrow gravel shoulders. Fearless back then. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 4:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/16 "2021-07-14T04:52:20Z")
They want your wife to carry the groceries on a bicycle, I’m sure there wives are provided with a vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![pyrolord314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@pyrolord314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pyrolord314)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 12:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/17 "2021-07-14T12:53:27Z")
> [@It\_s-Me](#): > > ![Capture](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/0/a09c2c76675041f658be7fb64d618304bcff007d.jpeg) Man, Toyota spells it out exactly and breaks it down for you…and people still have questions! > [@kcac\_1\_157641](#): > > No problem there. I was wondering if that rule should be halved somewhat if the daily drive is extremely short, like 1/4 mile round trip. If anything, I would follow the severe maintenance recommendations rather than extending oil changes, but I think every 6 months should be fine ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 1:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/18 "2021-07-14T13:42:11Z")
If you look back, the OP was considering 3 month oil changes, which I do not think would be necessary. However, unless he has a battery maintainer, that will probably be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/19 "2021-07-14T20:56:51Z")
It could well depend upon environmental conditions also as that has a lot to do with it. Here in northern OK we are generally east of the dry line and there’s a world of difference between the east and west sides of it; not to mention the always present dust. ---
**Author:** ![kcac\_1\_157641](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@kcac\_1\_157641](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kcac_1_157641)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012/20 "2021-07-15T00:39:43Z")
Does operating an engine in a cold climate where the engine is not run long enough to get up to operating temperature lead to engine oil sludge? [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vehicle-rarely-gets-fully-warmed-up-how-often-for-oil-changes/178012.md?page=2)