As someone who
HAS a 2005 Corolla I'd suggest the following;
First, I would change out the oil around 1000 miles. I did and ran a UOA and it has higher than normal metals in it and the
next few UOAs showed lower metal counts than other Corollas.
Cost? $10.. do it.
2nd, I changed the factory transmission oil (it's a 5 speed) at 22k and it was plenty dirty. Lots of metal in it (you could see it in the sun) and color was not good.
I put in Mobil 1 Syn 75-90 and it shifts the same.
It took 2 quarts for a total of $14. I'm planning on leaving it in for 60k miles then I will put in normal 75-90wt oil. The $3 a quart oil.
As far as what oil to run, many here and I have run a few different oils and Mobil 1 is not needed and this engine does not run as well with it or other Syns as normal oil.
(right Goose?)
Doing a Search of the word Corolla will get you some feedback on this item. (you'll be reading for sometime!
)
You have to stay with 5,000 miles or 6 month oil changes for the first 60,000 miles or 5 years.
The COST difference for 12 Oil changes (which you
MUST do for the warrenty) between a oil like Havoline (sp) and Mobil 1 is $110.
How much is that?
2000 miles worth of gas!
In the first 60k miles.
Thats just the cost difference for oil. I figured the above with Mobil 1 being $4 a quart (a little low since the 5 quart jugs are $21 now) and Dino oil being $1.70 (wal mart prices and EVERYDAY prices)
If we get into a .49 cent a quart Chevron oil then the savings will be greater.
I've DONE UOAS on Castrol (GTX, Blend and Syntec), Mobil 1, Mobil Drive clean and soon Pennzoil and the Drive clean had the best UOA.
Worst?(UOA results vs cost of oil and UOA result) Mobil 1. The engine did not get any better MPG and used more of the Mobil 1 durning the run (about 3/4 of a quart or $3 worth of oil!).
The engine consumed more Mobil 1 in the 5k oil change interval than 32k miles using other oils.
Right now, it uses about 2oz of oil per 4k run.
The best running (how the engine runs and sounds) oil so far has been the Castrol Blend and Pennzoil. It will be interesting to see the UOA on the Pennzoil in a month or so.
MPG average for 37k miles is almost 42 mpg and the highest mpg is a little over 46 mpg. That was with Castrol GTX.
I run the cheapest gas and changed the oil every 4-5k or every 6-8 weeks. It's a very easy car to change the oil in.
Oil Filters used? Bosch, STP, Toyota, Purolater and Supertech. UOAS have not shown any brand to be better than an other.
I have a little stash of oil and filters
but if I was going to have to go to a store and buy off sale oil and filter, I'd buy Havoline (sp) dino 5w-30 and Supertech filter. Oil change around $10.
2nd choice if it was NOT on sale? Castrol GTX or Pennzoil dino.
And the engine will last as long as you need it too. It will be clean and run perfect.
I think your $$ would be better spent using LC20 in the oil than paying for Syn IF you need to spend the money?
Ask Terry what he would think about that.
My 4 cents and from someone who OWNS a Corolla!
Take care, Bill
PS: My Corolla sees temps around zero to over 110 degrees year round. Driven 60+ miles one way per day high speed commute and about 10 short (less than 2 miles trips) per week. It's been a excellent car and other than cracked windshields and thin paint, I have no complaints. Just ran out of the 36k warrenty in 15 months with no issues. In fact the car has not been back to the Stealership since I drove it away..
