The old 5k or 10k oil change debate

Wanted to bring this note from first post on this thread...I can't remember where I saw a post where someone said they got free/Toyota Care oil change at 5K.

I paid to have mine done at 5K and that's when I discovered the young tech over-torqued skid plate bolts and also power-screwed the Air Dam bolts at an angle.

Needless to say, I have not gone back to that dealership and have since found a better service Toyota Dealership.

 

Back then we all did the same, as it was recommended to dig a hole and pour the old motor oil into it....hell our backyard must need a phase 2 remediation by now.

 

Been doing our prius oc every 10k, sometimes well over a year. For a 2012 with well over 100k miles it runs very well yet. Doesn't touch a drop of oil.

 

Then why not change your filter only and run the oil longer if the oil is still good? Your argument is just about saving coin. I’d venture to guess you lease your vehicles or don’t keep them very long, hence the “saving” statement. People who hang onto vehicles for longer typically do better maintenance so they last.

 

For people who think 10k is acceptable, look at the fact Toyota only recommends that interval when the service is free to the customer. Then it’s 5k. Toyota doesn’t want to spend the money, neither do the people doing the longer intervals. Part of the reason why buying used cars is a gamble.

 

Err...That's not a compass. That's a Liberty. And it's been well known that this little baffle piece sludges up with lots of short drives and lots of cold starts.

I'm not making an argument here one way or another...but this literally has nothing to do with an oil change. If that little baffle isn't wiped off in some miles, it's going to look like that. Mine looked like that all the time - I just had to wipe it off every now and again.

Here is what under the valve cover of a 3.7L looks like with 3-5k OCIs. Mileage probably around the 130k mark. No sludge, just a bit of varnish. Lobes look worn (high miles) but no scratches.



Edit: might as well add another picture a couple of years later. Mileage maybe 160k? Looks the same.

 

It's Friday... I'll join the party. Where do you see the internals change? It's 10K unless severe conditions for the 3.5. Or lets see 1 failure or sludged up 3.5 from following the 10K change interval. There's millions of these on the road and if the 10K interval was an issue we'd have evidence of it.

 

30 pages, why don't we jump back on the 'what vacuum should I buy post'?

 

You are correct it was a liberty. That was my mistake. Like I said take it all with a grain of salt and do what you think is best. I’m just sharing some of my experiences in my day too day and why I do what I do. You guys should do what you do based on your own knowledge and experience.

 

Don't buy an off lease Ford! My wife has a long commute so she leases fords instead of wearing out her own vehicles. Ford does the oil changes and won't do one until at least 10k miles, so by the time the vehicle actually gets there it's more than 10k.

Wanna buy an ecoburner that's ran on dirty oil from damn near day one?

Not me.



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So you’re saying sludge is the only way to verify that there’s actual damage or wear to the engine? Lol. You don’t think dirty oil can score cylinder walls, clog up oil control rings, etc? How are you supposed to track how many 3.5’s are not damaged? Does Toyota announce this? Point is the cleaner the engine and better lubrication it has, the more efficient and longer it will perform. Do what you want

 

How do you establish what dirty oil is?

 

As long as we are just making up shit, I waited until 3300 miles to change the oil. I should have changed sooner.

 

Do you have any examples of what you profess to be the truth? Just curious!

 

I was following Toyota Specs and having oil changed on my 2017 Tacoma as per their schedule which is every 16,000 km( all 8,000km services service 1,2,3's have been done by the dealership since day 1). Ive just rolled 140,000 Km and im changing now to every 5,000 - 6,000k instead. I should have switched back around 100,000 km but my driving is literally 99% highway now and engine rarely does short runs and never tows so the oil gets to operating temps everyday. Overall changing the oil more frequently regardless of what they say the Full sythetic can go between changes isnt going top hurt anything and can only help and there is lots of data to back the reasons why frequent oil changes help an engines lifespan and reliability over the long term.

 

Yeah I’m sure that would have made all the difference

 

Mobile 1 will protect your engine up to 20000 miles and keep your vehicle running like new. Says so right on the bottle. You may as well just leave it in for the full 20k and get your money’s worth.

 

Russell's Teapot?

 

Exactly

 

And some will actually do it too!!