[poncho-mike]

I have a very simple method for timing oil changes. In my cars, I change the oil at any multiple of 5000 miles. I only use Castrol Edge synthetic or Mobil 1 in my newer cars.

In my 2500 Suburban w/454, I change oil at any multiple of 3000 miles and I use Rotella synthetic blend. The only reason I use 3000 miles as the interval is because I average only 1500 - 2000 miles per year.

[John V.]

I grew up on 3000 mile intervals but long ago realized I was throwing away good oil and money. I let the car computer tell me when to change oil these days. That turns out to be about 9000 miles for the '12 Civic (105,000 miles) and the '04 GP GTP (145,000 miles) when the "Oil Life" calculates to 0%.

I've used synthetic in both since new. Way back when it was Castrol SynTec, then renamed Castrol Edge IIRC, but for several years now it has been Mobil 1.

And if it is too cold out, I wait til spring. I check the oil level before changes to be sure I'm not burning oil. And even at 9000 miles I'm certain the oil and filter are just fine. The car computer is just judging oil life on operating conditions, it has no idea about the condition of the oil, nor does it know the quality of oil I'm using. Mobil 1 says 1 year or 20,000 miles whichever comes first. Since I never pull the dipstick between changes, I figure that might be stretching it a bit too far. But I'm comfortable waiting for 9000 miles even when that exceeds 12 months.

Has worked well for me but your experience may differ. I change my own and would never reuse a filter much less forget to install one! But I was not alarmed that the OP Camry had gone 10,000 miles between changes.