engine oil appearance question

[jack black]

I just got 2007 red Yaris hatchback base AT under 66,000 miles with clean title and overall good condition (as far as I can determine). I asked the owner when was the engine oil changed last time. He didn't know, but he thought his wife had it done recently. He could produce no receipt. The last receipt he had was 6,000 miles ago at a dealership. I knew about that one as it showed up on a CarFax report.

Here is the thing. The oil is just under the max line and looks very fresh, but very yellow like some batches of penzoil or maxlife. So, I'm thinking it's fresh oil indeed. On the other hand, my other car (Prius) has fresh looking oil past 5,000-6,000 miles too. Corolla, on the other hand, would make oil much darker past 3,000 miles. What would be expected in Yaris?

Thanks!

[CTScott]

It really depends on the oil and how the car has been driven. If you are not sure, it is well worth changing the oil, so you know for sure.

[fnkngrv]

Your best bet when first purchasing a car in all honesty that is second hand is to actually do a flush unless you have the receipt from the previous owner showing when and what mileage it was changed at. Some other folks might say that it is a waste of money, but personally I look at a "new" to me vehicle as an investment so in the long run why take chances to just save 20-30 bucks?

[jack black]

Mystery solved. I checked the oil filter and it's Driveworks brand. Google shows it's available at AdvanceAuto. Thus, the owner must have changed the oil himself recently, probably when the change oil lamp nagged him at 5000 miles (this is how it works in Yaris, right?). That dates the oil at 1,500 miles old and it really looks like that or even less.

I'll change it early alright, but not earlier than 3,000 miles as it would be a total waste.

[jambo101]

A good way to remember when to change the oil is whenever your odometer comes to a multiple of 5K miles its time to change the oil eg; first oil change at 5K second change at 10K then 15K etc.I use the system at 10K as its in kilometers and equates to 7.5K mile oil changes.
Also helpful to keep a small memo pad in the glove box and write down any maintenance done on the car..