The old 5k or 10k oil change debate

I’m going to inspect everyone’s Tacoma and if it doesn’t meet original OEM specs (no mods!) and if your service records don’t rigorously adhere on every item to the maintenance schedule, I will deem you non-compliant and a member of the “Ive Modified the Shit Out of my Truck and Deviated From the Maintenance Schedule on a Couple of Items But I’m Damn Well Qualified to say don’t you trust Toyota engineers read the manual fool and Do What I Do” crowd.

 

Every 3-5k. At that rate you would change your oil maybe 2 more times per year. Toyota filter $4 + 6qts of oil $35 and 30 mins to an hour of time to change yourself. So you're losing out, oh my God, $80 and 2 hours of time more a year. I'll gladly trade that 80 bucks and 2 hours of time every year to know my truck's engine will be happy for many many years. I spent a lot of money on both my trucks... not so I can neglect the engine and take a chance on trusting the oil to last 10k under daily driving conditions. Do what you want with your vehicles. Maybe you'll be fine, maybe you'll save all that money. Maybe you won't. And by that time most people treat vehicles like throw away items. 5 10 years, time for a new one and now the problem is someone else's.

 

5000 Mi or 10,000 Mi. "Are you willin' to take that chance , punk"

 

280k on the wife’s 2001 sequoia. Changes done every 5-6k. Never had a problem.

148k on my 2015 Tacoma. Changes every 4.5 to 6k, depending on what traveling was occurring. No problems.

I qualify my statements in that I’ve only used synthetic.

 

All joking aside I would be willing to consider 10,000 mile oil changes if I drove 20,000 miles a year mostly long trip highway miles, that’s 2 changes a year. But as it is I’m pushing it according to the manual by changing <5k miles/1 year with very short trips and lots of it sitting.

 

Ya no one ever talks about the time limit on these threads, kinda weird as I'm sure many people don't reach the 10k mileage on it before to year is up. If you have a short work commute or drive more than one vehicle frequently the year definitely comes first.

 

Exactly, that’s why I posted from the manual showing the time intervals and the special conditions earlier in this thread. With my mixed conditions and frequent short drives I probably fall somewhere between the 6 month and 1 year intervals even with less than 5k miles.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-old-5k-or-10k-oil-change-debate.762634/page-19#post-27631307

 

Think you will be good just changing it at 5k, changing it when the odometer isn't at a nice even number sets off my OCD.

 

Yes I’m on a once a year schedule now. The biggest problem for me would be water in the oil/engine (moist air intrusion while sitting) from what I’ve read. Short trips or just sitting the engine doesn’t warm up the oil and engine enough to allow the oil to clean off rust formation. I do try to make longer trips at higher rpm’s on occasion to clean her out and evaporate the water.
Another thing I read was that a big detriment to engine health is a dirty engine air filter, driving dusty roads the dust can get into the engine and cause significant wear. Rare I drive dirt roads so I replace my engine and cabin air filters annually.

 

Holy Cow!

The 2003 Honda Pilot EX/Leather DVD I bought in July 2002 while stationed at Hickam AFB, Hawaii lasted me 212K Miles. That is when some lady decided to ride the suicide lane while I exited the Credit Union parking lot.

I used Fram oil filters the majority of the time with oil changes roughly every 5K miles.

Short drives M-F while living on Oahu and weekends were spent on the other side of the island.

Then got stationed in Germany from 2003-2006 and did lots of European driving over there.

Then got stationed to Dover, DE in 2006 and had short drives to work on base. Weekends spent traveling around the tri-state area.

Got stationed at Aviano, Italy in 2008 and again lots of European driving miles put on her. (I did a 365 to Iraq & got to pick my follow-on)

My wife hardly drove the Pilot during the year I was gone to Kirkuk, Iraq 2007-08.

Came back to Dover after retiring out of Aviano in 2011. More tri-state area driving before my cross-country with Boeing.

In Oct 2013, drove from Dover, DE to Alamogordo NM to be part of the test team for the QF-16 program. Lots of desert driving and riding my '82/GS750.

Drove back to Dover, DE in Jul 2014 before heading down to JAX, FL for another year and a half before I left the company in 2016.

Fast forward to my accident on Oct 3, 2018 and here's the photos of that day. I wanted another Pilot so bad...it took me a while to get over her.





My point is...5K mile intervals worked well for me. The Fram oil filter worked well for me. It allowed me to drive over 200K miles in the US/Hawaii & Europe.

It took another human who was not paying attention to end this love of my Pilot.

I bought a 2009 Mazda CX-9 (with 112K miles) within a month of this accident and then traded the Mazda for my 2021 Sport in May 2021!

 

Don't think 5k is really enough for European driving definitely should of tightened it up to 3k OCI.

 

I'm glad people do 10k OCI. Maybe see how long is too long and go to 15K or 20k with premium oil.
Whatever happens, it's no skin off my back, and I'm genuinely, morbidly curious

 

Exactly! Pretty much sums it up!!!

 

lol

 

For the longest time...3K was on my mind...if I went 5K, I would feel badly for my Pilot.

I was evaluating the oil's color...I tried not to let it get completely black. This was before I started using synthetic oil in the Pilot.

I had the timing belt changed twice and the transmission went kaput while I was in NM. It cost me $6K to replace but I really wanted to keep my Pilot.

I was on 3rd set of 4 tires, had the rotors turned at least twice, numerous brake pad replacements. Never had to mess with the exhaust system and had the fluids completely drained 2-3 times. Rear differential oil was also drained and re-filled. Spark plugs/diagnostics were always done at the dealership and before going overseas.

Had many great memories with the Pilot...and my family benefited from all our adventures.

 

I applaud your commitment to excellence. I would have zero reservations purchasing a vehicle, even sight unseen, from you.

 

Awwww!

Thanks! I felt if I took care of my vehicle, it would take care of me. In this case, the Pilot did just that...and my family benefited.

 

I can attest 15k once a year with mobil 1 oil changes worked out well when i had my tundra for 19 years. I wouldn't be the least concerned at 10k.

 

For an in-depth video about 10,000 mile oil changes versus 5,000 miles, go to Youtube and search and watch this video:
TOYOTA OWNERS! Please NEVER Do THIS to Your Toyota!