The Oil Change Interval Dissected

[AccessSX]

I just put 11k miles on my 21 Tacoma. Being the maverick that I am, I have not changed the oil since buying it new. As miles built up from a 270 round trip on I87 my teeth were gritting on every mile passed.


Worry not my brethren, going past your dealer interval or preconceived limit is nothing to fear!

Full Synthetic oil has a 10 to 1 breakdown ratio compared to Synthetic blend oil. If conventional lasts 3500-5000, theoretically you could wing it past 35k.

Toyota wouldn't change Full synthetic every 10k miles if it wasnt a safe bet. Full Synthetic likely far exceeds any dealer interval recommendation ever.

Everyone has the preconceived urge to change the oil. You remember your dad telling you "Change the oil" "Change the oil".





Unless you're prerunning the Baja 1000 a few times a year I wouldn't be too concerned...

Did I mention my dealership service is scheduled for tomorrow?

 

[tacojoel]

I use to change the oil in my 2002 tundra once a year with a full synthetic 5-30w oil or roughly between 15-20k miles. Never had an issue to the day i sold the truck with nearly 300k miles.
As far as the 2020 tacoma i now have, its 10k miles or 1 year. Imo, its very important to change the oil in the first 5k miles to get any metal fillings out from the initial machining during manufacture.

 

[Gregzzz]

I change mine religiously every 4,000. Valvoline 10/30 full synthetic & WIX filter. I put my motor through a LOT of stress in the summer heat driving back and forth from Las Vegas to Arizona so yeah… I do it at 4,000 because I want my truck to last

 

[tacojoel]

I change mine religiously every 4,000. Valvoline 10/30 full synthetic & WIX filter. I put my motor through a LOT of stress in the summer heat driving back and forth from Las Vegas to Arizona so yeah… I do it at 4,000 because I want my truck to last

Big waste of money. Your truck isn't going to last any longer if you changed your oil at 10k miles.

 

[Gregzzz]

Big waste of money. Your truck isn't going to last any longer if you changed your oil at 10k miles.

Grew up changing at every 3,000 with conventional and now that I’m OLD I do it at 4,000.. it only costs 35-40 bucks and in my opinion it will make it last longer as I’ve rebuilt multiple motors in boats and see what worn down oil can cause but that’s ok, not everyone’s gonna agree but I like too so… have a good one.

 

[tacojoel]

Grew up changing at every 3,000 with conventional and now that I’m OLD I do it at 4,000.. it only costs 35-40 bucks and in my opinion it will make it last longer as I’ve rebuilt multiple motors in boats and see what worn down oil can cause but that’s ok, not everyone’s gonna agree but I like too so… have a good one.

Conventional oil back 50 years ago was the norm for oil changes every 3k miles. We have synthetics today with night, and day better additive packages, todays engines are far better built with tighter tolerances that run cleaner. Todays oils do not break down as quickly, nor get as dirty. As far as boats, they are under far more stress, and generally operate at much higher rpm. They just wear out sooner no matter how clean you keep your oil. I've built engines for a living, and a hobby racing bikes, cars, and snowmobiles.

 

[Gregzzz]

I

Conventional oil back 50 years ago was the norm for oil changes every 3k miles. We have synthetics today with night, and day better additive packages, todays engines are far better built with tighter tolerances that run cleaner. Todays oils do not break down as quickly, nor get as dirty. As far as boats, they are under far more stress, and generally operate at much higher rpm. They just wear out sooner no matter how clean you keep your oil. I've built engines for a living, and a hobby racing bikes, cars, and snowmobiles.

I know but I just prefer too. Just my preference. Take it easy my friend..

 

[JayQQ97]

I change mine religiously every 4,000. Valvoline 10/30 full synthetic & WIX filter. I put my motor through a LOT of stress in the summer heat driving back and forth from Las Vegas to Arizona so yeah… I do it at 4,000 because I want my truck to last

how long do you want your truck to last?

 

[tacojoel]

I

I know but I just prefer too. Just my preference. Take it easy my friend..

Its all good, just trying to make a point. I did a lot of foolish spending when young. Now retired i hate to see others spend money the same foolish way while this economy has gone down the crapper.

 

[Gregzzz]

how long do you want your truck to last?

4-ever

 

[tacojoel]

4-ever

Thats what i'm hoping being 70 now. Last truck i'll ever own.

 

[Gregzzz]

Its all good, just trying to make a point. I did a lot of foolish spending when young. Now retired i hate to see others spend money the same foolish way while this economy has gone down the crapper.

Thanks very much for your input. Greatly apreciatted. You take care ok?

 

[JayQQ97]

I remember the simpler days when all was needed were the fluid and filter changes to keep on truckin'
Now it's 2000$ here 3000$ estimate there there
Last year was nearly 5000$ in maintenance and upkeep, that included new tires, a twice failed wheel bearing, a broke crankshaft pulley, timing belt and seals, master/slave clutch hydraulic parts and loads of deweathering supplies


So far I have avoided a new clutch bearings buts it's looming near 300k miles is long in the tooth
Could be upwards of 2000$ in all just for that

 

[tacojoel]

I remember the simpler days when all was needed were the fluid and filter changes to keep on truckin'
Now it's 2000$ here 3000$ estimate there there
Last year was nearly 5000$ in maintenance and upkeep, that included new tires, a twice failed wheel bearing, a broke crankshaft pulley, timing belt and seals, master/slave clutch hydraulic parts and loads of deweathering supplies


So far I have avoided a new clutch bearings buts it's looming near 300k miles is long in the tooth
Could be upwards of 2000$ in all just for that

Same reason i sold my tundra to a farm owner. It needed close to 5k in maintenance needing a new timing belt kit, exhaust system, paint work, plus a power window motor. The owner didn't care as it was going to be a farm repair truck.

 

[24-7]

When I got my truck it included a few oil changes from the dealer and those were 5,000 miles for tire rotation and 10,000 miles for oil. Once those "free" services were used up I now do my own with full synthetic oil and genuine Toyota filter anywhere between 5,000 - 10,000 miles. I, like some on here grew up with the old-school crude oil changes every 3,000 miles which also included at the same interval changing your distributer cap, rotor, wires and spark plugs. Now today with modern engines and lubricants I'm more relaxed.

 

[tacojoel]

I had vehicles back in the 60, but i never did distributer cap&rotor plus plug wires every 3,000 miles. Was more like 20k miles. I think i changed my air cleaner a lot sooner. We never changed the differential gear oil either. I use to flush the coolant system, and put in the green stuff every 3 years. Heck i never changed the coolant in my last truck in 20 years, yet it still seem ok.

 

[JayQQ97]

I had vehicles back in the 60, but i never did distributer cap&rotor plus plug wires every 3,000 miles. Was more like 20k miles. I think i changed my air cleaner a lot sooner. We never changed the differential gear oil either. I use to flush the coolant system, and put in the green stuff every 3 years. Heck i never changed the coolant in my last truck in 20 years, yet it still seem ok.

are you saying that the green coolant stuff does NOT break down like the Toyota pink/red stuff is supposed to

 

[tacojoel]

are you saying that the green coolant stuff does NOT break down like the Toyota pink/red stuff is supposed to

No just the opposite. The green coolant will go sour over a shorter time needing to be changed. The pink stuff is lifetime. I know toyota recommends replacing it after 5 or 6 years, but i checked that stuff in my tundra every year after that and it still was fine, even nearly 20 years later.

 

[JayQQ97]

No just the opposite. The green coolant will go sour over a shorter time needing to be changed. The pink stuff is lifetime. I know toyota recommends replacing it after 5 or 6 years, but i checked that stuff in my tundra every year after that and it still was fine, even nearly 20 years later.

regarding the pink coolant... that sounds too good to be true!
i watched a recent episode of the car care nut discussing the Toyota pink long-life vs Toyota red and he states after a time it will turn acidic and start eating seals and gaskets on the water pump, head gaskets and whatever else is in there
he discusses it at 17-18 minute area

1000m

 

[tacojoel]

regarding the pink coolant... that sounds too good to be true!
i watched a recent episode of the car care nut discussing the Toyota pink long-life vs Toyota red and he states after a time it will turn acidic and start eating seals and gaskets on the water pump, head gaskets and whatever else is in there
he discusses it at 17-18 minute area

Idk, but i've seen the green coolant eat head gaskets, seals, and such. Maybe i was lucky, or had that bulletproof 4.7 v8, but in nearly 300k miles and 20 years i never replaced the pink stuff. The dealer may have added some new coolant when they did the timing belt kit, and water pump. I'll keep an eye on this 3.5's coolant.