The old 5k or 10k oil change debate

They have some other crazy motor oil names over there. Friggin litre of oil cost over $15 when i was in germany some years back.

 

I read through all the post and I did watch the video from The car care nut. I think the one thing he said that nobody has mentioned is these trucks (3.5 V6 ) have low tension oil rings. If these get gummed up and stop moving they will cause unwanted wear of the cylinder. That is why doing reg oil changes with quality oil is important. If that’s 5000 miles or 10,000 IDK but just something to think about. I am sure German cars are built with tighter tolerances and run different ring packs and allow for a longer oil change interval will quality oil.

 

He says 5k oil changes instead of 10k oil changes.... He works for toyota, recommends their fluids, filters and twice as many oil changes. I'm not saying he's a bad tech or anything, but you have to consider the fact that he works for toyota and by pushing extra services just sounds like a typical service writer

 

I'm not sold on the low tension ring argument. The oil control ring set at the bottom is intended to allow some oil to remain on the cylinder walls for piston lubrication. The combustion rings are sealed using cylinder pressures between the rings and piston ring groves. I understand the cut of the rings is much more important than their static tension.

 

Not really and argument just something to research. In the end everyone will make their own decision and have their own opinion on what is best for their vehicle. I don’t want to give my opinion on the subject because it’s mine and It doesn’t effect anyone else what I do.
That is why oil threads are just dumb. Again just my dumb opinion.

 

Yeah, the 3.5 has low tension rings, but with the use of todays synthetics they are not likely to gum up unless you totally forget to change your oil.
As far as many cars when i was over there, they were mostly diesels.

 

Agreed, the most important thing is to make sure you change your oil/filter regularly. Weather that's based on the factory recommendations or sooner if you prefer. Just make sure you do it.

 

Neither Toyota nor the dealerships get anything out of you personally changing your oil more often. He’s not telling you to take it to the dealership.

 

News flash. He no longer works for Toyota. He’s opening his own shop. I bet his advice doesn’t change either. I watch him a lot and he doesn’t push the Toyota items as you are suggesting.

 

Is anybody going to address the OP's original question instead of professing their own OCIs? Plenty of threads about that. The flyer shows 5k oil changes after 30k miles which contradicts the owners manual.

 

Many thoughts and ideas on when to change oil…lot of it base on our own pass history…old car engines , and NO synthetic oils around and the way those engines are were made then it was better to replace engine oils more often, then today’s motors…
Todays engines , more refine , tighter, more precision…better motors oils, synthetic’s oils…. Replacing engine oils…today… can go longer without changing oils..
Still the more older generation ..owners still believes in more oil changes…. My son generation..30’s …never experienced older car engines..so they replaced their engine oils , at the 10,000 mark…
Off course …no harm in changing oil more often..

Each of us grew up differently, and have different experiences…. I say …just follow what you believe is best for you…! And Yes..do try follow the manufacturers recommendations..at least…. Synthetic Grade 5…I will let my truck go 15,000-20,000 between oil changes…lesser grades more often…

it is amazing to read about people cars who rarely change oils..and how long there vehicles last…? My niece never change oils, but every few years, buys another car…lol
Aloha

 

i use to go 20-25k miles between oil changes on my 06 corolla (my father started with the car new, i kept the OCI going).. it was still running at over 800k miles before it was totaled. but that car was 150-170 miles a day, every day on the highway. highway driving is way less stress on oil. if you do alot of stop and go its best to do 5k intervals.


all my other cars get the 5k treatment. and the corollas replacement gets it every 10k now.

 

Nope, he doesn't anymore. Just left to start his own business.

 

YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. That's the whole point of this thread. If you are going to keep your truck forever, like me, change the oil at 5K miles, since they are designed well enough to last 200k with 10k oil changes. If you are just going to flip your truck or keep it less than a 100K you probably can do what your niece does--just sell it and don't worry.

 

Another buddy of mine thats nearly 10 years older than i am is really old school when it comes to oil changes. He's still drives a mid 80's chevy blazer, and keeps telling me you have to change your oil in these modern cars every 3k miles regardless whether synthetic or not, doesn't matter, if you don't your killing your engine. He scoffs at people that try to tell him otherwise when changing at 7.5k, or 10k, says dirty oil is dirty oil. You can't tell him anything how todays engines run more efficent/cleaner, plus the synthetics motor oils are so much better

 

I never heard of an issues long term when changing oil early, but there are many when changing oil late.

 

I heard issues with early oil changes....lighter wallet for starters.

 

General rule of thumb. Either 10k miles or 1 year. That’s when you change it in the new stuff. Plenty of cars running around with high mileage and no issues on that diet from Toyota.
That being said, the people that only follow the mileage and take 2 years to hit 10k miles ALWAYS suffer oil burning due to seized piston rings.

 

But that shouldn't matter to you. This debate has been going on for a while, change your oil with whatever interval you decide.

 

talk about owners neglecting maintenance. True story (This is from the 80's mind you so vehicle and oil quality probably not what it is today). My late uncle, real old-school Italian Philly guy, did exactly ZERO maintenance on his cars... Maybe the kid at the gas station checked under the hood while getting gas, but he did nada... Every year (Spring?) when the new Buicks came out his car salesman would call him and tell him about the latest model... My uncle would choose one sight unseen the salesman would drive the new one over to his house and leave with the old one (Only 12 months old). He was by no means rich, just didn't want to be concerned with that aspect and liked new Buicks. LOL

^ wife drove an early 00's corolla for a while. Probably only changed the O&F 4 or 5 times in 4 years... Thing didn't care.