Oil change intervals

[wdchyd]

Let’s not forget manufactures don’t make money on old cars/trucks, their only interest is vehicles making past the warrantee period.
If you take a sample of oil from changing your oil at 5k vs 10k and compared it visually at 10k you’d think 10k might be too much (brown vs black).
I change mine at 5k regularly to remove contaminates of carbon and metal wear from the crankcase, not because the oil ”wears out”. I do a fair amount of towing, and I do live in a cold environment so I’m not taking chances on stretching oil changes.
This guy has a good take on it…….

 

[MELVINHUGHES]

I've been watching a Toyota mechanic on You Tube, The Car Care Nut, who disagrees with the recommendation strongly. His experience is that the really longer lived engines he's seen have more frequent oil changes. All other things being equal, he feels the more frequent oil change is the most significant thing you can do to extend engine life and wear. (

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[Rob REECE]

Im getting a new Tacoma and this will be my first vehicle that uses full synthetic oil. They will change the oil every 10,000 miles for three years. But it’s hard to imagine going 10,000 miles on oil even though it’s synthetic. I’m old school and my thinking is I could change it at 5,000 and then they change it at 10,000 etc. Then after the three years of free oil changes I would then change it every, say 7,000. Is my thinking wrong?

I have a 2014 Toyota Sienna I bought new and I change it every 5000 miles. You pay a lot of money for these vehicles and I just want to make sure it will last me a long time. They also say the tranny fluid is good for 100,000 miles but after talking to several transmission shops that claim may not be true either. I had my tranny fluid changed at 50,000 miles.

 

[crashz]

There lies the quandary, How much do you invest in early oil changes and higher priced synthetics when 10 years go by the the truck or car is rusted out?

My DD is a 2006 CRV that I bought used with 129K. Regular 10k oil changes per the manual. Usually I use Amsoil OE 5w-20, but have used some store bought oils too. Lots of highway driving has gotten me to 302k in 5 years and she is still running strong (Amsoil ATF in the trans too). Axles, wheel bearings and brakes by the bushel have been replaced. But now rust. I pulled the plastic cladding and its horrifying under there. After I cleaned it up some, I glued that plastic right back on.

With that said there are newer engines that are very picky about oil changes. Especially with long timing chains and variable valve timing. Even the beloved LS engines and crappy lifters.

 

[thomas1163]

Im getting a new Tacoma and this will be my first vehicle that uses full synthetic oil. They will change the oil every 10,000 miles for three years. But it’s hard to imagine going 10,000 miles on oil even though it’s synthetic. I’m old school and my thinking is I could change it at 5,000 and then they change it at 10,000 etc. Then after the three years of free oil changes I would then change it every, say 7,000. Is my thinking wrong?

Old school thinking goes with old school motors. Bought a new 2020 tacoma sport. With almost 29,000 miles now, oil has been changed at 10,000 miles. No issues.

 

[CaptFerd]

Your wasting money which it sounds like you have plenty and mostly wasting a valuable resource. If your old school with any automotive knowledge you should know that there was a time that you just changed the filter and added oil if needed.

 

[genusCastor]

Im getting a new Tacoma and this will be my first vehicle that uses full synthetic oil. They will change the oil every 10,000 miles for three years. But it’s hard to imagine going 10,000 miles on oil even though it’s synthetic. I’m old school and my thinking is I could change it at 5,000 and then they change it at 10,000 etc. Then after the three years of free oil changes I would then change it every, say 7,000. Is my thinking wrong?

I've never bought a new vehicle. All my life I've changed my own oil @10k mi, used Castrol and a qt of Rislone additive. I don't go through many vehicles, I keep them a long time. Two vehicles had over 250k mi when I gave them away, one had 325k mi. The 325k mi one was a '95 Tahoe, and when the folks I gave it to had it inspected, the mechanic told them he wanted to buy it from them. lol

FWIW
YMMV
HAND

- djb

 

[SARG]

Meanwhile .... I'll stick with every 3K miles ... currently on 205K miles for the Hyundai & counting.
Then again..... I install new pads on the front when I rotate the tires each fall so to each his own.

 

[FERLING]

Im getting a new Tacoma and this will be my first vehicle that uses full synthetic oil. They will change the oil every 10,000 miles for three years. But it’s hard to imagine going 10,000 miles on oil even though it’s synthetic. I’m old school and my thinking is I could change it at 5,000 and then they change it at 10,000 etc. Then after the three years of free oil changes I would then change it every, say 7,000. Is my thinking wrong?

At 5,000 write it in your maintenance notes - oil change at 5,000 miles? At 10,000 have dealer change oil and make a note. At 15,000 miles make a note - oil change at 15,000 miles? Continue doing this as long as dealer is furnishing oil changes every 10,000 miles. After 30,000 continue on getting dealer to change every 10,000 and you making a notation in your notes every 5,000 you think it needs changing? When motor locks up get back to us and let us know mileage and exactly what part cease to work on motor.
Remember, the first 30,000 the dealer is taking care of oil changes. If you do any oil changes during that span of 30,000 mileage you open up the responsibility of anything that happens to motor.
Be sure to keep a check on motor oil level and also if changing oil use Mobil One 10,000 or 20,000 mile Synthetic Dexos 1 or 2 and their filter that's a 10,000 or 20,000 mileage rated.

 

[FERLING]

Hop

Neighbor has a 30 hp L series Kubota. Bought it new 20 years ago. I asked if he does his own oil changes. He said he never changed the oil

Hopefully he was thinking of hydraulic fluid and not motor oil.
You always hear change oil at least once a year! Used tractors with low hours usually equals low times of oil being changed.