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Oil Change duration on new Toyota

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Gliderman8

Gliderman8

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About a month ago we got a new RAV4 for my wife... she loves it.
Toyota includes the first two oil changes as part of their "Toyota Care" program. They recommend 10,000 miles between oil changes... yikes, this seems too long for me!
Admittedly this is the first car we've had with full synthetic oil (0-20 weight) so I'm basing my comments on my experience with conventional oil. I usually go 3-4 thousand miles before an oil change.
So what do you think of Toyota's recommended 10,000 mile interval between oil changes? Would you change it sooner, say at 5,000?
 
Before Jiffy Lube came around recommending "every three months and 3,000 miles", most manufacturers recommended service intervals between 5,000 and 7,500 miles. The 3,000 mile one was recommended for severe duty - police cars, ambulances, etc.

My Jetta TDI has the 10,000 mile oil change interval with the synthetic oil. I'm now at 66,000 miles with no issues. It is counter-intuitive to go that long, but it doesn't seem to cause any issues. Our Corolla has a 5,000 mile recommendation and the "Service Engine Soon" light pops up at that point. I do that one around 4,000 to 4,200 miles.
 
Thanks. You are right, it is counter intuitive as it goes against everything I've learned about oil changes. I guess I am odd man out when it comes to the long intervals between changes. I have also been told by others that 10,000 miles is no problem with today's synthetics.
 
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Welcome back.
 
My 2012 Civic manual says if the service light doesn't come on in a year change the oil.
I change it by 5000 miles and the sensor reads around 50%. Probably overkill but with 2 people and 4 cars driving is sporadic.
 
You can also take a bath once a year too.


Here's a thought, car makers make money by selling new cars. New modern cars have achieved 250-300K with good upkeep, thus resulting in longer life and less new unit sales. Now car markers are switching to "modern" oils with the weight of ditch water and recommending you change it at over three times the normally accepted rate. Do you think this is all a coincidence?
 
My wife has a Rav4 and we change it every 5000 miles.
 
Like one of my brother in laws, who wondered why his engine went sour, actually seized up! This car was 3 years old! My dad asked him, when did you check the oil last? He said, :highly_amused:, I usually check it when the red light comes on!! I won't, can't say what my dad said to him! The nitwit traded it in on a new car, with the oil pan full! Yes, he's a part of the dumb and dumber crowd. Never could figure out why my baby sister, who is adorable and beautiful, ever got tangled up with such an idiot! :rolleyes2:. Love is strange at times.
 
If you're really looking for an analysis, you could buy one of ~These Kits~ (you mail it to a lab for results).

Pilots (of planes with motors! ;) ) have been using these for years.

My cargo van (which does a fair amount of towing) has a load vs. mileage computer that usually tells me it needs a change around every 6000 miles.
I change the Miata oil about every 7500 miles. I've had it for 15 years and it runs perfect.

In my race car, I change oil every weekend, but some of the other guys I race with run two or three weekends on the same oil (but they change the filter).
 
Paul- yes, I'm accustomed to regular oil changes but had to question the "more than I'm used to" miles between changes. As I said DNK and others have said the synthetics are better.

Nial- I swear you read my mind. I was thinking about the oil analysis just prior to reading your post.
I just might give that a try.
 
I change mine every 5K-6.5K regularly. I changed my Mom-in-law's every year, with average 2K miles. I have always been told by a forensic that you can go longer, just have an analysis. I change my street/track car at 6K or after major event. All fluids at these intervals which is 50% of the dealer set. I have 74K miles in 12 yrs. and like new. I changed my M-I-L oil to synthetic to do the yearly with her little amount of driving which was to Dr. and Bingo. Depends how long you want car to last. My brother-in-law has a Yaris with over 100K and only changed it at 10K intervals, does look like a POS, but he is happy.
 
I am from the old school also where we were taught to change oil at 3000 mi. The oil in the Jeep Liberty will go a little longer before it starts to discolor, my pickup with a Chevy 350 in it, will start to discolor around 2500mi, but I change it at 3000. I change the oil in my gas tractors by looking at the color the diesel by hrs. PJ
 
My Saab owners manual estimates 13000 miles but its computer actually makes that decision and it usually wants a change about yearly regardless of miles and it holds 8 quarts. The cost of changing that synthetic oil might make you reconsider the 3000 mile paradigm.
 
My 06 Mini computer tries to get me to go over 15k. I usually change it short of 10k. My wife's '10 Mercedes doesn't even have a dipstick. It goes for dealer service once a year at about 10k. I have no idea what the oil consumption is. When the extended warranty dies and/or I can no longer afford dealer service, that car will go.

Marv J
 
I recall when US manufacturers were what, one year/12,000 mile warranty, recommended what, 5K oil changes or more. One day, one of them decided on 5 year 50,000 mile warranty..and everyone else jumped on the wagon...and overnight, same engines, same oil, went to 3K.
If you plan on 3K, or even 5K, and you go over a bit (like we all seem to), you still are well inside the factory recommended.
Whatever you do, keep records and receipts. If the engine does go south, you've got some proof you met or exceeded manufacturer's suggestion.
I would NOT go 10K. Ever.
 
I was taught, at an early age, if you change the oil on your flatmotor every one thousand miles, it will last forever.
My last engine in the Tudor went over 30 years and 300K.
 
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