Recommend synthetic oil? Change at 3k or 5k

[sheekeebut]

I'll go with every 8,000 km or 6 months per manufacturer's schedule, with full synthetic purchased on sale days, for a self-rewarding placebo-induced peace of mind.

I won't busy myself with trying to calculate my oil change cycle based on fuel consumption, driving habits, seasonal changes, etc. That's something a furious race driver like fnkngrv must do. I'll leave the land speed records to him, thanks. I just want my go-kart sedan to last me another 3-5 years or so of domestic life.

Is it not better to just get it done at the same time as the other regular maintenance?

Do you take showers once a week because your shampoo has three times the conditioners in it? Do you drink water less often because it's Evian and it's like pristine French alps cleaner, purer, cleaner water than tap water? Do you change your clothes less often because they have better breathing and sweat-wicking technology?

Some do... I don't.

I'd say until you know how your car behaves in the long run, just giving its due maintenance at regular intervals is much more important than the decision to give it full synth vs conventional. I think the point at which I switched to fill synthetic was when I realized I didn't care if it cost me that much more, because at the end of the year, I could more than afford it. Yet another advantage to, or side effect of, owning a Yaris.