The old 5k or 10k oil change debate

No, it's not an ad. It's just a web version of the maintenance interval chart from the Warranty & Maintenance Guide that comes with this vehicle (https://www.toyota.com/owners/resources/warranty-owners-manuals.tacoma.2017). Toyota is the author of "Special Operating Conditions" or "severe duty schedule" for this vehicle. By listing what those conditions are, we can all refer to the author of the criteria rather than guessing.



UOAs are indeed a fantastic way to gain trust in modern oils. If one is not willing to pay for his own UOA, he can decide if the UOAs from others are close enough to be trustworthy for his personal conditions.

As lubricant technology and manufacturing tolerances get better, recommended OCIs are only going to get longer. We used to think 3K was the bare minimum. Then we had 5K and 7.5K OCIs. At each new interval, people resist. "I don't trust the dealer or the manufacturer. My dad always did it at xK miles and I see no reason to change. I heard this one story about a guy who did a 7.5K OCI and his motor melted into a puddle of goo. There's no way oil can last that long." And on and on. But at each stage people eventually accepted that the OCI was reasonable and safe. They'll get there with 10K OCIs and beyond, too. I drive under the "Special Operating Conditions" the majority of the time with my 2017 Taco and 10K UOAs show that the oil still has a very healthy margin of life left in it.

 

That's why real data in the form of UOAs is the only way to answer the question.

 

We need all the data we can get to inform this discussion. Please post your UOAs.

 

I’m sure by the book 10 k is acceptable, and by the tests it’s ok . But after working on engines in general my whole life . 5 k will keep the engine cleaner for longer. No report from any lab will change my mind . For me these trucks are way too expensive to save a little scratch. But again if you are comfortable at 10k ,15 k or what ever then go for it . In the end of the day it’s your vehicle and your dime.

 

Just pointing out that the one you posted was from "South Dade Toyota", who are happy to make you think that stop and go traffic is "special operating conditions".

A UOA costs about the same as one oil change and can tell you a whole lot about what is going on.

 

Back when I owned a 2001 tundra, most of my driving was on highway back roads, and the interstate. 15K oil changes with mobil1 were the norm, even when towing 1000 mile round trips. I had that truck 19 years with 0 engine issues, till I bought this tacoma. Imo, how long do you expect these trucks to last, before you have other major issues? There does come a time when you gotta know when to hold them and when to fold them.

 

its 5k... Every time...

 

This was after 15 months and 3k miles. Truck was used on an overland trip in Utah with plenty of off road. The oil was fine.

 

Why will 5K keep the engine cleaner for longer? Do you see data on 10K UOAs that indicates the oil isn't performing as well as oil at 5K?

 

Because of combustion, the oil gets dirty no matter what, the oil still works at 10 k but it has more things in it . When it’s done early it has much less bad stuff in it and now you change it and it’s clean again. I’ve seen motors internally that the people are aggressive with oil changes with super high mileage and they are like brand new inside. I go by what I see not what I hear or read . But like I said most people use there own thinking process with this . I am not negatively bashing anyone.

 

Did you ever doubt at 3k miles it wouldn't be? You probably could of doubled, or tripled it in that amount of time with similar results.

Most engines today are not sludge engines as some video's show. They have tighter tolerances, and run cleaner than 50 years ago, plus require synthetics that don't break down from heat like dino oils did back then. Any good filter is designed to trap the smallest of combustion particles that circulate through your oil, so these manufactures today have much longer oil change intervals. The average driver can change all the oil they want at a 1k, 3k, or 5k miles but imo, it's not going to make a hell of a lot of difference than at 10k.
If anything, your more apt to screw something up by doing excessive amounts of oil changes like striping a drain bolt, or when threading in the oil filter housing.

 

For sure

However dirt in the oil doesn't necessarily mean that the engine is developing sludge. Modern oils have both have less burn off and crap left behind as well as high levels of detergent that keep the junk in the oil or transfer it to the filter.

Junk in the engine is more a construct of the quality of the oil, which all modern oil that meet spec are high quality in this regard.

 

2023 bought in January of this year. I changed the oil at 5k a couple of months ago, and I'm getting the 10k service at the dealer in two weeks.

 

You all do realize it’s natural aspirated engine and piston ring blow by is minimal at the combustion chamber pressures these engines see. I doubt most of people commenting even know how an engine works yet alone what the lubrication requirements are.

 

33 pages...

 

I would not consider an 11.8:1 compression ratio direct injected engine particularly low stress. By comparison, my Yamaha FJ-09 motorcycle’s high strung 115hp triple runs “just” 11.5:1.

There is also plenty of evidence for blow by on the 2gr-fks from those running catch cans.

 

This isn’t a debate. It’s 5k miles. If you wait till 10k miles to change your oil you are braindead. I change mine every 3

 

EV Tacoma cannot come soon enough!

I do 5K based on no scientific evidence. Some people still do 3.5k.

Whatever your interval please recycle your oil and just don't dump it in an alley or vacant lot. Don't be that person!

 

I just pulled the head on 2012 toyota with 10k oil oci to replace the gasket.

Valve train, timing chain components have no visible wear. No varnish, no sludge.
Not much carbon building on valves and combustion chamber.
Cannot judge the state of the crankshaft and bearings, but overall the engine looks fine with 10k oil change.
Found a few chunks of the sealant in cooling channels of the head.

 

Please let us know they exclusively used Pennzoil and Fram oil filters so the forum can implode.