Great site. Just found it while looking for info on a blown head gasket problem we're having on our '95 4Runner. Found out alot of great info on that issue, altho still working on resolving it.
We also have a '05 Camry. A couple months ago had it in to the dealer's shop for regular scheduled oil change etc. The mechanic and I got chatting and he told me to get an oil change every 3000 miles, rather then the 5000 miles recommended by Toyoto....but he wouldn't answer "why". So thought I'd ask here....any good reason he would tell me that?
3000 mile changes significantly extends the life of not only your internally lubricated engine parts (especially the 4 cylinder timing chain mechanism) , but also it's expensive emission control equipment and engine seals such as the crankshaft rear main seal. These seals are expensive to replace due to the amount of labor involved (e.g. transmission removal).
Be sure not to allow anyone to overfill the engine above the FULL mark on the dipstick because that might defeat the engine seal life extending benefits of 3000 mile oil changes.
3000 mile changes significantly extends the life of not only your internally lubricated engine parts (especially the 4 cylinder timing chain mechanism) , but also it's expensive emission control equipment and engine seals such as the crankshaft rear main seal. These seals are expensive to replace due to the amount of labor involved (e.g. transmission removal).
Old Wives Tales........
Why not change at 1,000 miles then? or 2,000 miles?
Why not change at 1,000 miles then? or 2,000 miles?
Oils are better now and filters are better now.
Nobody has said it, but it depends on how the car is used. If all you do is very short trips and it never gets warmed up for long periods of time I would change it at 3000 miles. If you have a long daily drive to work (20+ miles each way) and it's at least 1/2 freeway miles then 5000 miles is OK.
Yes, it is true that oils today are much better and have better additives to help them last longer. If in doubt, send some in for an oil analysis.
A shop wants your money, he wants yu to do OCI's at 3K!!!
Is that a hard concept to understand?
An oil analyisis (UOA) is the ONLY way to determine if at 3K your oil is toast.
But, in general, I would recommend 5k with no issue.
Unless severe duty or verey local trips are encountered the majority of driving. Then, 4k would be normaly be an appropriate OCI.
Anyone doing 3k OCI's is just being compulsive and wasting money on an everyday use vehicle. Those days are over. It is needless.
Toyota's can run up to 4 million miles by just keeping the Toyota Reccomended OCI schedule.
Or is it 5 million miles?? not sure Ask Kathyricks....
Kidding aside, if yu really want to know what's prudent, an Oil Analyisis is the best way to judge what is best for YOUR vehicle.
I always use Mobil 1 and a Premium filter. My OCI's are at 5K determined by several reference UOA's that I have done at both 3K and 5K. (after Break-in)
A shop wants your money, he wants yu to do OCI's at 3K!!!
Is that a hard concept to understand?
An oil analyisis (UOA) is the ONLY way to determine if at 3K your oil is toast.
But, in general, I would recommend 5k with no issue.
Unless severe duty or verey local trips are encountered the majority of driving. Then, 4k would be normaly be an appropriate OCI.
Anyone doing 3k OCI's is just being compulsive and wasting money on an everyday use vehicle. Those days are over. It is needless.
Toyota's can run up to 4 million miles by just keeping the Toyota Reccomended OCI schedule.
Or is it 5 million miles?? not sure Ask Kathyricks....
Kidding aside, if yu really want to know what's prudent, an Oil Analyisis is the best way to judge what is best for YOUR vehicle.
I always use Mobil 1 and a Premium filter. My OCI's are at 5K determined by several reference UOA's that I have done at both 3K and 5K. (after Break-in)
LT
+1..............
__________________ '07 Japanese XLE I4 (Heated Leather, VSC, Mats), Dual Exhaust, K&N Air Filter, Mudguards, Modified Front/Rear Emblems, Lip Spoiler, MTEC 4,750 K High, H9 Low and Fogs, Painted Fogs, Chrome (GS300 Wheels, Pillars, Hybrid Grille, Lower Grille, Trunk Accent, Door Handles), Wood Steering Wheel, Red Out LED Tail lights, Eyelids, 19MM Rear Sway Bar, Front Strut Bar, LED Signal-Heated-Power Folding Mirrors
If the owner's manual says to change it every 5,000 miles then change it every 5,000 miles.
As long as you use a good quality oil and filter, changing it every 5,000 miles isnt going to reduce the life of your engine.
__________________
All the best stuff is made in Japan.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tundra_Hick
The Tundra is a good single guy's truck. Its pretty, it doesn't rattle too much and its fast. Now I just need to find a woman who matches in all those respects.
Old Wives Tales........Oils are better now and filters are better now.
If engines, oils and filters were getting better then Toyota would be extending oil change intervals, right?
Quite the opposite has happened.:
20 years ago Toyota owners manuals advised 10,000 mile oil change intervals for "normal" service and 5,000 miles for "severe" service.
10 years ago Toyota owners manuals advised 7,500 mile oil change intervals for "normal" service and 5,000 miles for "severe" service.
4 years ago Toyota owners manuals advised 5,000 mile oil change intervals for "normal" service
Toyota's suggested intervals are the maximum allowable mileage intervals the owner must adhere to to keep the 60,000 powertrain warranty in effect. But 5,000 miles is insufficient to confidently enable an owner to get 400,000 -1,000,000 miles of engine life, emission system component life and engine seal life.
Like Mike Murrel said, 5,000 miles is fine for the stereotypical owner who sells their car every 5-10 years or 100,000 - 150,000 miles
And 3,000 miles is for the owner who want the option of keeping their car troublefree for 20-40 years or 400,000 -1,000,000 miles. Example: someone who is 30 and is starting a family and buys a new Toyota and who wishes to have the option of passing on the car to their child when they reach driving age 16-18 years later. And passing on a reliable, mechanically sound car, not a clunker.
Car mfrs. and the industry as a whole would want yu to change your oil more frequently because it makes money for them.
It's all about marketting. The European Union laughs at us in the U.S. with 3k OCI's.
It is just unheard of in Europe.
3K is just a compulsive habit that started here in the 60's. When engines were far from the precision engines of today.
The average consumer drives his New car for approx 75K. Then sells it.
todays oil can now 7500 miles before changing and if you use synthetic you can go 10-15,000 miles BMW Mercdeds and all expensive car now use mobil one oil and go 13,000 to 15,000 miles between oil changes. I DROVE A 86 TOYOTA CRESSIDA TO 429,000 MILES USING MOBIL ONE AND STILL HAD THE SAME ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, POWER STEERING, AND REAR END I USED SYNTHETIC FLUIDS I ALSO RAN ANOTHER CAMARY 250,000 WITH MOBIL ONE AND IT IS STILL ON THE RAOD WITH EVERYTHING ORIGINAL AT 450,000 MILES.
todays oil can now 7500 miles before changing and if you use synthetic you can go 10-15,000 miles BMW Mercdeds and all expensive car now use mobil one oil and go 13,000 to 15,000 miles between oil changes. I DROVE A 86 TOYOTA CRESSIDA TO 429,000 MILES USING MOBIL ONE AND STILL HAD THE SAME ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, POWER STEERING, AND REAR END I USED SYNTHETIC FLUIDS I ALSO RAN ANOTHER CAMARY 250,000 WITH MOBIL ONE AND IT IS STILL ON THE RAOD WITH EVERYTHING ORIGINAL AT 450,000 MILES.
'05 Camry oil change interval
Linear Mode
