Changing out every 3k instead of 5k??

My tundra is not my daily driver. it probably gets less than 7500k per year. I usually change right before hunting season (August) and then again in Spring. Any reason to change it more frequently, just so oil isn't just sitting in the truck for 6+ months?

 

No. Synthetic oil doesn’t break down over time like Dino oil.

 

Maybe do it annually

 

Well, I'm not going to let it go more than 5k, but good point on the syn versus conventional oil.

 

3K, you are kidding! The day we have to change out the motor oil every 3K is over. I used to change out the oil every 2.5K-3K but it was long time ago. If I am in your case, I am going to use Mobil1 extended synthetic oil which is good for 15K and do the oil change every 10K or 1 year. I have other vehicles using ultimate full synthetic and do oil change every 17.5K.

 

yeah, even with synthetic, it's hard for me to let it go past 5k. but i appreciate the input

 

Since I drive short trips daily (<5 miles) to work, I'll give Toyota's recommendation a shot to change the oil every 5k. The only real way to know what's best for your engine in your conditions is through oil analysis, but I think a fresh fill before it sits for a while is a good idea.

Other suggestions in here were annual intervals or the Mobil 1 long life oil. I bet those two options together would be great, the extra additive pack in the long life oil would help keep the engine clean on the annual interval.

 

yeah, i already use the M1. but i usually change every 5k right now. i'll probably just stick with that. oil is usually dirty enough by that point

 

For those that change your own oil at 5k, does it even look dirty? I'm surprised that 5k is the recommended interval. First time I changed the Tacoma at 5k the oil looked brand new

 

I agree I change every 10. Castrol syn in now and at 7k it is still golden on dipstick. I have 57k on the odo. I think 5 is waste of money and time with synthetic oils

 

^^x2, same here i change mine every 10k.

 

The big change since before is we have much better fuel control these days so the problem of dilution of the oil by unburnt fuel is far reduced. Better combustion control leaves less soot to be washed into the oil. 10k oil changes are just fine even for the rarely driven. I've done oil analysis on these and the oil coming out is in good shape with some en-trained soot particulate making for the dark color.

 

It would be interesting to see how often the owners with high mileage changed theirs.

 

i assume that our trucks leave the factory with oem toyota oil. is it not synthetic? just wondering why the recommended interval is 5k. Seems very short compared to other modern vehicles.

 

Actually non FFVs are 10k. The FFVs are 5 but I have no problem changing mine at 10.

 

Kirkland fully synthetic oil here so far so good. $25 for 10QT

 

Personally, I still change my oil every 3-4k. I understand that our trucks and most oils are rated to go much much longer than that. But my thought process still stands that oil breaks down no matter what. I daily drive my truck, tow quite a bit, and many times through mountains. I plan to keep my truck forever and rather invest the money now to ensure my truck can last for 250k plus.

 

I stick with every 5k. Even with synthetic. I've done some oil changes when it the draining oil doesn't look too bad, like dark honey. A couple times it was darker. I live in Santa Clarita, CA, where between May and Sept/Oct, it gets past 100 degrees outside. Even though I don't daily drive my truck, I drive it enough and like 1FSTREX said, it's an investment to hopefully have my truck last well beyond 200k miles.

 

Exactly...Since like 1954.

You might be suffering from denialism.

Inability to accept reality (Denialism): In the psychology of human behavior, denialism is a person's choice to deny reality as a way to avoid a psychologically uncomfortable truth. Denialism is an essentially irrational action that withholds the validation of a historical experience or event, when a person refuses to accept an empirically verifiable reality.

Run your present oil for one year (your truck WILL NOT self-distruct). Then do an annual change, regardless of mileage, up to 10K miles. Catch a drained oil sample. Buy a pre-paid Blackstone oil analysis kit to confirm reality for yourself. Send the sample off for analysis. Read the report. With that revelation, you can continue being in denial, or you can do annual oil changes and save big bucks on one 8.5 quart oil change every year. Experts will tell you there is no correlation between color of used oil and condition of used oil.

 

Do you guys that do extended oil changes change the filter in between or do you use the same filter for 10k plus miles?

 

I usually use NAPA filters, and use the ones rated for extended OCI. Platinum I think?

 

L O F @ 5k full synthetic Mobile 1,

 

I use the same oil filter for 17.5 K and always use Toyota oil filter.

 

oil threads are interesting to me. I remember reading in my 1984 Toyota truck manual, oil change interval was 7500 miles.

 

Depending on driving and use, I don't think I could ever go that long. The most I have seen is 15k miles on oil and I have never seen an oil filter recommended at that interval. Have you ever had the oil analyzed or filter analyzed after an oil change?

 

I plan on changing mine every 5k, I can do it for roughly 55 bucks with mobil 1. Cheap insurance and I can see what is going on with it early if needed.
Also considering it will be every 9 months or so. Plus with my wife driving it, it only gets 7 miles on it a day for 183 days a year plus whatever out of town trips we take we might take it instead of the corolla.
My corolla hybrid I will do at 7.5K.

 

Honda recommends oil filter change every 20K on some models. I don't have to send the oil for analysis because I replace oil earlier than I should. The oil change recommendation for Mobil1 ultimate synthetic oil is 20K and I did change at 17.5K. I learned that I did many unnecessary oil changes when I was younger. Oil filter will work better when it is aging (I am not talking when the filter is more than 30K) but I still replace the filter every oil change. The fact is I never have a single problem with the engines of all my vehicles (Toyota and Lexus) and I usually keep them up to 240K. Many other things will fall apart before the engines do.

 

nevertheless, it's worth it. doesn't matter if you change at 1k or 20k. oil tests can show if you have certain internal parts wearing out quicker than expected and can predict if something is going to fail way before it actually does. it's nice to have a pattern of typical metallic content, so if one (or more) increases as the mileage goes up, you could catch something before it grenades the engine. our 3UR's are pretty bulletproof, but nothing is ever built perfectly.

 

The recommended interval is only 5k in 2019+ models when you meet certain conditions (e.g. frequent towing, frequent trips below 5 miles distance, etc)