4th gen Oil Change

GMC rescinded that some months ago.

https://youtu.be/oqSjY2-gwYo?si=pYcVDCYgbUZt_xnd

 

The problem with the GM engines is that the crank is out of spec. It has nothing to do with oil intervals.

 

"these engines are ejecting crankshaft and connecting rod pieces out of the side of the blocks though newly created inspection ports ..."



Yeah, OCI isn't gonna address out of spec crankshafts.

 

Well I guess there isn't a way for me to prove that longer oil change intervals have anything to do with the engine failures. I certainly wouldn't want to be buying a car from someone who has done that. Specifically if it has also been longer than a year.

https://youtube.com/shorts/BI5zQIH1jIY?si=MdnsrRqpktl-vBFg

 

I never claimed extending oil change intervals was the cause of the of the gm engine failures...I said it could be one of the causes. This engineer claims you should be changing oil every 2k miles, let alone every 5k.

https://youtube.com/shorts/KdCTTCRVZxs?si=kS5bprHhvdjhXjEH

 

But it’s not. The two failure causes are known.

I’ll keep changing mine at 5,000

 

You are never going to get a straight answer from the 5K OCI folks. It is always youtoobers or it "it is known". You are going to be banging your head against the wall.

On my mistaken gen, it was my first synthetic oil vehicle. I was accustomed to the 3-5K mile OCI with conventional oils. So I tracked it with Blackstone Labs oil tests at every 10K for four tests. Every test was positive and last two recommended even longer OCI. I stopped at four tests because I stopped caring. I figure someone at Toyota knows what they are doing.

On my way better gen, I will be using a different lab as the Bob the Oil guy people are saying Blackstone is deficient in a couple of areas. I will post results, just because real data is better than myth data.

 

I'm just an evidence oriented kind of person. Given that I've had multiple vehicles between myself, wife, and kids last well over 100k miles - and one well over 200k - doing just fine using the manufacturer OCI, I'd want to see direct evidence that I'd have seen some benefit at doing oil changes at half the OCI. Particularly when I've not seen any negatives from it...

And yes, I use both mileage and time to define the OCI, whichever comes first - and both trumped by the vehicles oil monitoring system if it has it.

I like exploring other perspectives, so my only goal is to draw out the thinking behind the stance. Sometimes it's from having had a bad experience in the past, sometimes it's being rooted in the past (I remember when 3k / 3mo was the rule), sometimes it's something else. I think this has run its course - Johnny919 has his reasons and what he wants to do for his vehicles is fine. Not looking to change anyone else's thing.

Good info on the Blackstone tests and results. Saw similar when I first got my Miata.

Point of info for you - my 3rd gen is at 103k (almost 9 years) and runs like it always has. Dependable, reliable, and screams like a stuck pig when downshifting on an interstate incline. I've had a few different synthetic oil vehicles prior to the Taco so I'd gotten over the 3k/3mo intervals from my youth.

Interesting to hear the BtOG folks shifting to a different lab. Definitely will be curious as to the test results. I'm sure a 4th gen is in my future, just not sure when. While my 3rd gen has its annoyances, there's some tidbits I'm not fond of with the 24 & 25's which has me waiting until at least 26MY info is out. Not to be a die hard but it's tough to break out 50k for the config I'd want when it's more just addressing relatively minor annoyances than any functional gap where there's stuff I need to do but can't do today.

 

Yes, people can do what they like, believe what they want. No problem. I just would like facts. That is why I do the tests. Also, I know the test results apply ONLY to my vehicle and the way I drive it. It will give data to justify a belief about what is good for MY vehicle. Which is why I am curious people aren't more curious rather than just point to a medicine man.

I had over 95K on my mistaken one before I gladly went to this one. Traveling in the mountains is much more relaxing. Overall, night and day difference. That said, my old one never left me stranded and still screamed like a banshee on 10K OCI.

 

The original post in this thread said "Drain bolt still uses the standard blue washer." Now, I'm getting free oil changes at the dealer for a couple years, but then it will be back to lying on my back in the driveway. So I'd better ask.... Do you replace Toyota drain washers each time? My cars have always had captive washers and I've always wiped them clean before reinstalling. Will I need to lay in a supply of "blue washers?"

 

Putting your thumb in a leaking dike to stop the leak doesn't mean the original problem was a lack of thumbs.

 

Strictly speaking it’s a gasket, not washer, and is intended for single use.

At $1.64 MSRP ($1.19 ea at my dealer), what’s the upside to risking it?

 

Did my first change today at 4200 miles. No problems and thank you Toyota for not putting on the oil filter so tight that it's fused to the block. The easiest filter to get off in my life. As others have said the drain plug washer was stuck to the pan real well and I didn't feel like chiseling it off this time since it was a short interval change so I'll play with that next time. The 40 nm / 30 lb ft torque seemed a bit much so I ended up with about 33 nm or 25 lb ft. That was slightly tighter than I've put any other plug on any car I've owned when using my calibrated elbow and I've never had a problem in 50 years of oil changing. The filter is in a very good location btw. Pulled the Tacoma off the ramp and decided to do my Challenger too.

 

So what are the official OCI for our Tacoma's? The dealer offers 2 free ones at 10K and 20K. However the truck tells you it is time for maintenance at every 5K.

I have always changed mine at 5K intervals so that won't change I was just curious.

 

They say 10K OCI's, but then has a whole listing of "severe" use should do 5K. If you look at that list, a whole lot of us fall under that "severe" category.

I keep it simple. I don't drive near as much as most so I change mine every 6 months. April and then October. Could be 3,000 miles or up to 5,000 in that time for me, but oil is cheap. I do that interval for all my vehicles. I think one change on the Camry the oil barely had 2,000 miles on it, but being an occasional short tripper the oil definitely had a fuel smell. I'm probably over-doing it, but it's easy to keep track of. Not that anyone cares about what I do, but yanno

 

Yeah I have always done 5K as it is easy for me to remember as well. I just find it funny that Toyota will give you free oil at 10K intervals yet they (the dealer) and the truck will tell you to do it at 5K. You would think if 5K was recommended then Toyota would be giving you free oil at 5 and 10, not 10 and 20K.

 

I honestly think they're trying to cheap out, but most of us on here over-maintain compared to the general public.

My first free service I was at like 4400 miles at 6 mo. I told them to go ahead and change the oil, customer pay. Friggin' $90. Nope! I got a stack of filters for the Camry (same filter) and will do it myself in between the next free one.

 

To go to the horses mouth, 2024 Tacoma Warranty and Maintenance Guide, the Special Operating Conditions are listed as:

• Driving on dirt roads or dusty roads
• Driving while towing, using a car-top carrier, or heavy vehicle loading

Then in footnote 3 they tell you "Perform these service items only if you drive primarily under the conditions indicated"

So my take is that occasionally being in those conditions doesn't necessitate a 5k OCI.

As for the dealer wanting you to come in for service every 5k miles, they do kind of have a financial incentive for that recommendation that has nothing to do with the longevity of the motor.

 

I'm still not waiting that long...

People have been doing it successfully all the time, but not this chap.

 

To be honest, you should be inspecting your vehicle every 5k anyways, doing 5k OCI or not
... looking at the tires, making sure no new leaks have shown up, making sure your lights work etc