The old 5k or 10k oil change debate

Land Cruiser.

 

Took in my truck at 5k miles other day drove up and told them my light came on and need a oil change and was told oil change recommend by toyota is every 10k miles now...my old 2013 tacoma oil change every 5k...hmm guess ill keep driving til then and use up the toyota care and start doing my own oil change afterwards

 

People modify Land Cruisers too, and it’s not out of disrespect for the engineers.

 

Been for sale near me for a while. Owner wants way too much.

 

I pay attention to the owners manual, and other sources. My downfall is being an engineer I’ve learned we are not always infallible, don’t always agree, and that the powers than be can influence “recommendations”. So as good engineers do, and smart people do (excludes me lol), I research any subject I’m interested in and make my own decision. Kind of like the many recommendations to replace differential fluid or transmission fluid don’t agree with the manual. And seeing that typical automotive oil test kits don’t do a particle count test, carbon, iron measurement, etc. that we did for important machinery fluids in my industry.
I see no downside to OCI of 5K intervals if people want, and if folks want to change at 10k that’s their decision as well and in accordance with the manual. I change oil annually as posted previously per the manual and that was less than 5k last change.
Small stuff here so not gonna argue just go on my own decision and let others do the same. I’m fine hearing what others do.

 

Lol no. Read some posts here and you will realize doing it yourself does not equal properly..
Some always need to go to dealer. Some are just not smart.

 

Not gonna lie, I always changed my oil in my younger years but when I change mine soon it will be the first time in many years. Gonna watch out for that “oops that’s the transmission pan not the oil pan” TW thing lol.

 

I changed my oil several months ago myself. First time in several years.
Remembered how a 17 yo can do it because...not hard.
Continued letting dealer do it.

 

Someone posted on TW about stuck oil filters “we all have heard the story about someone driving a screwdriver through an oil filter canister to get it off haha”.
My response was:


I was 16 and learned then not to overtighten the filter lol.
In my defense I also pulled and rebuilt my engine with the help of my older brother who was a wise old 17. Back in the day we didn’t have the money to pay anyone else to do it.

 

lol that might be me after I change mine. Also may change my diff fluid just ‘cause. Might even go ahead and put her on stands and rotate the tires myself for the first time ever. (Changed many never did a full rotation myself). I’ll report back when it’s all done otherwise you can read the news story lol.

 

Lol changing oil is not hard.

 

David I agree with you. My point though poorly expressed is threads like this and oil threads in general and similar threads are never able to give a definitive answer because most everyone here doesn’t have a definitive answer. They accomplish nothing. Most everyone answers based on their own opinion and personal experience on a subject they really know nothing about. The answers are based on “I think”. No evidence, no science, no studies. It’s just do this or that because it’s what I do. I appreciate the great members on TW trying to help the OP but after 300+ posts the the OP has no definitive indisputable answer as to the oil change intervals.

 

Haha wives do like to shake their heads at what we do to our trucks.
I have a wife story. I installed the Southeast Toyota Keyless Entry kit to my SR. Had the lower dash pulled out and was doing wiring for it, wife walks by, stops and stares and says calmly and not surprised since she knows me- “you’ve only had your new truck a few weeks and you’re already taking it apart” haha. She’s seen a lot more since then, drilling holes in the hood for hood struts, more wiring for fog lights, new horns lol.

 

I do 5-6k miles. Why? Because I beat the piss out of my truck lol. Over 50-60% of my miles are off-road or towing a travel trailer. I’m probably outside of the normal limits Toyota expected for this truck. I don’t mind doing it a little early. Also, due to my family being spread out across North America, I occasionally have to travel 2000 or so miles for a emergency, and changing at 5000 always ensures I’m not gonna blow over the 10k mark whilest on a emergency trip.

 

True Ken, lots of different thoughts on OCI. But Im not sure there is one definitive answer that fits all. Posts that say change it every 10k miles per the manual aren’t accurate either. The manual lists some conditions that warrant a 5k or 6 month interval, and 10k or 12 months for other conditions that do not meet the 5k/6mo interval guidance. Maybe this will help the OP or others, its from my 2019 Tacoma Warranty and Maintenance Guide:


Many of us will realize our driving conditions vary, some under the 5k/6mo listing, some under the 10k/12mo listing. So maybe the guy who posted on an oil thread in humor that he was gonna split the difference and change his oil at 7500 miles had it right after all lol.

 

Funny how that seems to work out more often than not in life. It seems we often overthink things. That being said, I am in 5K camp myself and always change a bit early too lol. I guess I just tend to like doing it.

 

I have to confess that this forum got me so worked up about that, I went looking for the trans plug first then crawled my way forward.


It's actually really easy to find. It looks like a plug on an oil pan.

 

Fist toyotacare oil change is at 5k miles, 10k after that. Dealer told me the first service 5k change is basically to make sure everything in the truck is within spec., so its best to have it done. 10K is fine after that if normal everyday use.

 

I'll have a look for the transmission plug today too!

The oil plug is easy to find since the TRD skid has a cutout for it. My Talon CAT plate is probably covering the transmission plug...

 

Then you post just to whine about the whining. Welcome to the forum.