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Oil Change Interval for FlexFuel Tundra That Doesn't Use FlexFuel

26234 Views 11 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  11Tundra, 
T
The problem: information from Toyota makes it appear that all 2012 Flex Fuel Tundras require oil change at 5K miles (2.5K if Flex Fuel is used more than 50% of the time).

Quoting from ToyotaCare brochure, "2012 Sequoia Flex Fuel and 2012 Tundra Flex Fuel (both with the 3UR-FBE engine type): This engine uses synthetic oil, but oil and filter changes are recommended every 5,000 miles. They are covered under the complimentary maintenance plan."

The standard 5.7L engine, without Flex Fuel capability, has a 10K oil change interval and uses synthetic 0W20.

The question: so, is there something fundamentally different about the Flex Fuel engine that causes it to require oil changes every 5K miles, even if E85 isn't used at all? Doesn't make sense to me.

The answer: I called Toyota and they confirmed, after some research, that if I don't use Flex Fuel at all, the oil change interval for my 2012 Flex Fuel - capable Tundra is in fact 10K miles. This is assuming I use synthetic oil, which is specified for this engine in any case.

I did a search and didn't find this information in the forum - hope this isn't redundant and that it helps someone.
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O
I realize this post is a bit old but I have the same situation. Below is a copy of the e-mail that I received from ToyotaUSA concerning the exact same question. This person stated that a 10,000 oci in a Flex-Fuel vehicle would void the warranty, regardless of type of fuel used. It's probably 100% ok to do in practice, but it does give them a reason to deny a warranty claim...bummer!

Dear Mr. Edwards,

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

We appreciate your interest in the proper maintenance of your 2012 Tundra FFV.

Toyota can only recommend that you follow the maintenance recommendations given in your vehicle's Scheduled Maintenance Guide, which can be viewed online at http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/docu...draFFV/pdf/2012_Toyota_Tundra_FFV_WMG_LR2.pdf.

Per this resource, Toyota recommends that you replace your engine oil and filter at every 5,000 miles or every 6 months, which ever comes first. If you will be using E85 fuel more than 50% of the time, oil and oil filter changes should occur at every 2,500 miles or every 3 months, which ever comes first. No separate recommendation is given for a Tundra FFV that is driven exclusively on gasoline, and repair to any potential damage that may result from observing a 10,000 mile oil change interval will not be covered by your Toyota factory warranties.

Please observe the 5,000 mile / 6 month recommendation given in your vehicle's Scheduled Maintenance Guide. Your first four or five scheduled maintenance services are complimentary under your Toyota Care coverage, depending on whether you reach 25,000 total miles before the vehicle is 2 years old. If you would like to discuss our maintenance recommendations in greater detail, please speak with your Toyota dealer's Service Advisors. As Toyota's technical experts in your neighborhood, your Service Advisors will be happy to discuss why we cannot recommend observing a 10,000 mile interval for replacement of your Tundra's engine oil.

Thank you for choosing Toyota for your driving needs. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us at Toyota Help.

Sincerely,

Alex Tiampo
Toyota Customer Experience
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11Tundra
Kinda sucks if you own a Tundra flex-fuel vehicle and don't use E85. Without any definitive way for an owner (or Toyota) to prove someone actually used, or didn't use, E85, I guess Toyota has no choice but to insist on a minimum 5k oil change interval for warranty purposes for the Tundra FFV.

I'm guessing if all the ramifications of purchasing an FFV vehicle were more clearly explained upfront by the dealer before purchase (increased maintenance costs, limited aftermarket support, limited availability of E85, decreased MPG when using E85, etc.) most would decline the purchase.

ohioclayguy said:
I realize this post is a bit old but I have the same situation. Below is a copy of the e-mail that I received from ToyotaUSA concerning the exact same question. This person stated that a 10,000 oci in a Flex-Fuel vehicle would void the warranty, regardless of type of fuel used. It's probably 100% ok to do in practice, but it does give them a reason to deny a warranty claim...bummer!

Dear Mr. Edwards,

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

We appreciate your interest in the proper maintenance of your 2012 Tundra FFV.

Toyota can only recommend that you follow the maintenance recommendations given in your vehicle's Scheduled Maintenance Guide, which can be viewed online at http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/docu...draFFV/pdf/2012_Toyota_Tundra_FFV_WMG_LR2.pdf.

Per this resource, Toyota recommends that you replace your engine oil and filter at every 5,000 miles or every 6 months, which ever comes first. If you will be using E85 fuel more than 50% of the time, oil and oil filter changes should occur at every 2,500 miles or every 3 months, which ever comes first. No separate recommendation is given for a Tundra FFV that is driven exclusively on gasoline, and repair to any potential damage that may result from observing a 10,000 mile oil change interval will not be covered by your Toyota factory warranties.

Please observe the 5,000 mile / 6 month recommendation given in your vehicle's Scheduled Maintenance Guide. Your first four or five scheduled maintenance services are complimentary under your Toyota Care coverage, depending on whether you reach 25,000 total miles before the vehicle is 2 years old. If you would like to discuss our maintenance recommendations in greater detail, please speak with your Toyota dealer's Service Advisors. As Toyota's technical experts in your neighborhood, your Service Advisors will be happy to discuss why we cannot recommend observing a 10,000 mile interval for replacement of your Tundra's engine oil.

Thank you for choosing Toyota for your driving needs. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us at Toyota Help.

Sincerely,

Alex Tiampo
Toyota Customer Experience
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T
I can't explain the inconsistency. I called Toyota (prior to my note above, back in February) and asked if I never use E85, do I have to follow the FFV oil change interval. The issue was ultimately escalated to a technical representative, who told me that the FFV engine is inherently the same as the non-FFV engine, except for the FFV-specific components. The more frequent oil changes are required only if the vehicle is actually run on E85. So, if I don't use E85, 10K oci is fine. He notated my vehicle records to that effect.

I'm under the impression that it may not be possible to get a non-FFV 4x4 Crewmax in the southeast. FFV is an indication of seriously broken politics.
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C
Absolutely politics. I too have a 2012 cm 5.7 ffv. I live in KS but on the KS/Mo line. I buy fuel in Mo. because it is 11/13 cents cheaper per gallon due to State taxes. Most Kansas pumps have ethonol and every single Missouri pump has it in their Reg Unlead due to State Law that funds the corn growers. I need the ffv as I understand paarts including hoses etc. are eth. proof?? The two year ToyoCare is great but only for two years so ouch. To be politically correct, there is nothing wrong with corn growers who make corn mash or white lightnin. ChiChi
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V
flex fuel and ethanol are all a bunch of political crap. I am willing to bet the only reason toyota has anything to do with it is politics. I know the reason we use a food source as car fuel is because of large amounts of money going from corn farmers to elected officials.
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D
all the left over corn before used to be shipped to developing countries in africa and china got it too,but now that we r using it for fuel a lot of people r going to bed hungry.
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5keepers
This is the most current thing we have:

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dickinsonj
So I finally have my answer on my 5.7 - my dealer's service manager had no clue when I asked about this. My engine lists either 0W-20 or 5W-20 and that means that the OCI is still 5k miles for it, even when using the 0W-20 synthetic.
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dickinsonj
So I finally have my answer on my 5.7 - my dealer's service manager had no clue when I asked about this. My engine lists either 0W-20 or 5W-20 and that means that the OCI is still 5k miles for it, even when using the 0W-20 synthetic.
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B
Does anyone know what changed between the 2011 Tundra with 5.7 and the 2012 5.7 that allows the 2012 to go 10K miles between changes?
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11Tundra
btanchors said:
Does anyone know what changed between the 2011 Tundra with 5.7 and the 2012 5.7 that allows the 2012 to go 10K miles between changes?
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Maybe the bean-counters at Toyota said the 2/25 Toyota Care, 5k intervals were costing too much. A couple of beers (or their jobs) may have been enough to convince one or two Toyota engineers to finally sign off on the 10k intervals.

Or, maybe 2012 was the first year Toyota was able to got the tolerances close enough during their 5.7 engine builds to feel comfortable recommending 0W-20 for 10k. I know my 2011 5.7 had piston slap that wasn't quite as noticable when using 5W-20. My 2012 5.7 uses 0W-20 and is quiet as a mouse. Probably just a coincidence :)
Honestly? Who really knows for sure:beatsme:
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