2023 Tundra Oil Change Interval

High annual mileage in and of itself is not a Special Operating Condition per the maintenance schedule. If that high mileage were primarily low speed, stop and go trips, then that's a different story.

 

Isn't the condition that requires short oil change intervals is driving short distances and lots of stop and go /idling? This guy in the video was driving freeway every day - this should allow his engine to warm up well fully every day and is food for his engine.

So, I'm not quite following your logic that because guy drove 30k per year on freeway then he's supposed to change his oil more frequently than if he drove 20k year per month on freeway.

Car Nut said than 10k miles oil changes in manual are for those who drive lots of freeway miles so that their engine warms up well each time which helps to keep it healthy.

In addition to this, let me ask you, how long will you keep your Trd Pro? My guess is that thanks to your job, you'll be testing new truck in the next year or two, and will not keep your current one for more than a couple of years. However, many of us want to keep their truck for 10+ years and want it last 200-300k miles or more, and over the long term, it's very possible that 5k oil changes will result in a healthier engine 10-15 years from now.

Car Nut said that Blackstone won't necessarily see those oil debris deposits in nooks and crannies of the engine and will show you test of the oil overall, but not necessarily deep down where it may be causing issue.

 

I used to change my daily driver every year - 2019 4Runner, 2020 Tacoma, 2021 Bronco, 2022 Tundra. I had purchased the Tundra (in cash!) on my own with the intent to keep it for 7+ years. this wasn't a company lease like the 4Runner or Tacoma that I was only gonna have for a limited amount of time.

Luckily or unluckily, my role within Toyota is gonna change over the next year, so i'll be eligible for company leases again, i'm just gonna get another Tundra and sell this one to pocket the cash. Regardless of how long I keep the vehicle, I always treat it like it'll be my "forever" car.

There's no doubt that a 5k mile OCI is definitely better for the engine, but to say that a 10k mile OCI is bad or going to cause failure is disingenuous. The ONLY way to know what the best OCI for your specific use case is to have an analysis done (or tear apart your engine, but that is ridiculous for OCI analysis lol). I posted the results of my last analysis, Blackstone said to go another 10k to see how the engine fares. We'll see what that sample looks like when I get it.

 

Thanks for posting the Blackstone results. I've run lots of expensive motors that were tested at least 2x a year and Blackstone or a good oil lab are the only things I trust. In all cases, when using Mobil 1 or equiv the oil was in good shape at the manufacturers recommended interval. Having said that, I'l change at 5K.

 

Something I have wondered about and don’t believe I have seen come up is the amount of oil these newer engines hold. The days of 4.5 to 5.0 quarts per change are gone and now they hold several more. Won’t this extended oil life because it is simply more oil doing the job and thus breaks down slower. Thoughts?

 

https://youtu.be/xtSwaF2evTU?si=NDas5khdjYWmFaRZ

 

Just a friendly reminder that quite a few of us fall under 5k oil changes. below is the 15k maintenance schedule for reference. See "Special Operating Conditions"

Cheap insurance. Especially for those of us in cold climate that occasionally make short trips which results in condensation build up in the crank case / oil.

 

Actually, VERY few fall under Special Operating Conditions.

Ask yourself honestly - do you drive PRIMARILY under any of those conditions? That schedule doesn't apply unless the overwhelming majority of your driving is under one or more of those enumerated conditions. It doesn't apply if you tow your fishing boat to the lake 20 miles away every other Saturday, but drive 600 miles in between those trips to the lake.

 

Funny how we're all arguing when to change oil... At 5k or 10k

 

I use my truck to do truck things and my suv more less as a daily, so yes. It gets at least 1500 or so trailer miles and countless dirt road miles between each 5k OCI. Most of that is in the mountains. Again, good oil and a quality filter is cheap. Especially relative to the cost of our trucks. A simple suggestion and reminder for those that are not pounding pavement every day to and from the grocery store or work.

 

I'm not arguing the oil change interval - I also do 5k for a number of reasons.

My point is simply that very few people actually fall under the Special Operating Conditions as defined by Toyota. Many people think that because they tow their fishing boat to the lake 20 miles away every other Saturday, but drive 600 miles on pavement in between those trips to the lake, they fall under the Special Operating Conditions.

 

Fair enough and you're right, I was just looking at it from a different perspective. That some may not be aware and are towing a significant period of time or say, live off a dirt road that they travel every day. In that case it certainly wouldn't be a bad idea to at the least consider those circumstances and then decide if a 5k OCI or 10k is appropriate.

Interestingly enough and for whatever it is worth, both the mechanic I spoke with and the service advisor at my dealership in Boise recommend (stressed) 5k OCI regardless of use. I'm sure that isn't an 'official' stance they take because Toyota clearly says different per the manual. However they made it pretty clear when we were speaking about my rear main seal which was weeping oil at the time. They are pretty laid back and could have cared less where I had it changed (I do most all of my own vehicle service.) The advisor simply said to keep a record of the services and that scanned receipts are not a bad idea in the event they get push-back from corporate while seeking warranty approval for any given claim. Anyhow, going off tangent here. All that to say, I'm sure they've cracked open enough engines to see the clear difference once you hit high mileage.

 

I have as well. That's why if I plan to keep a vehicle I'm diligent about a 5k OCI.

Engines and oil have both come a long way in the time I've been turning wrenches, but neither is good enough now, and never will be, for a steady diet of 10k oil changes.

 

Really, well tell us in your vast experience. How much oil does the electric motor in the Tundra hold? In most stop and go traffic the electric motor is running which would really put not much wear and tear on the engine. I think 0 weight is too thin but it is what Toyota recommends along with Mobil 1 oil changes. I am at 6 plus k miles since my last oil change on my Hybrid right now. Do not plan to change it till around 7 k ish miles. That is 3k sooner than the manual recommends but am mainly doing it due to the tires I run which are Toyo Open Country tires.

The manual recommends 10k oil changes for a reason, I am sure they ran many million tests in a R&D environment before they threw that number into the manual.

 

And that reason is? And what was the purpose of the "many million tests in an R&D environment"? Was it to determine the longevity of the motor vs a 5k OCI, or was it to determine if the motor could last 3yr/36k miles on a 10k OCI?

 

Most people on this forum won't have this truck 2 years much less 5 or 10. I plan to keep mine for length of my extended warranty which based on miles is 150k miles. I spoke to the shop owner who put my tires and wheels on. He owns a very reputable shop that new car dealerships use to modify their rides. He has had 3 Tundras since they started making them 20 years ago. He sold his 08 with 100+k miles on it and changed the oil every 10k miles. The original Odometer cluster went off at 100k miles but it is still running today with close to 200k miles on it and 10k oil changes. I guess maybe he should have changed his oil at 5k miles according to you all.

 

Phew, thought it was going to be lost forever. Sample delivered 8/18 (pulled a month prior) and received results today. I want to take advantage of my free oil changes (next one I want at 5k) but I am not sure if I can rely on an oil tech to pull a sample if I ask which is when these numbers will really mean anything. Until then, it’s just to compare with other folks that got a break-in sample done.

As an FYI, I was very adamant about the break-in guidelines in the manual. I didn’t gun it hard until after the oil was changed and even then I wasn’t aggressive about it nor am I today.

@PNW Tundra Mike

 

Cool, I'm not most people. I plan to keep the truck a very long time, hence why I'm doing 5k OCI. Unlike yourself, who seems to be making the argument that everyone should do 10k OCI (or is an idiot if you don't), I am NOT making the argument that everyone should do 5k OCI. I've just said that's what I'm doing, and why I'm doing it. If you want to do 10k OCI, more power to you. As for your shop owner buddy, good for him and his '08. His NA V8 is in no way, shape, or form even remotely comparable to the TT V6 in the 3rd Gen.

Turbos are hard on oil. Oil is cheap insurance compared to the cost of a motor. I'm doing 5k OCI because I plan to keep the truck a long time. You do you. The beginning of your post is getting close to "I'd do 5k OCI if I were keeping the truck a long time, but I'm not, so who cares".

 

Heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy..
Just an FYI. FI/DI engines are completely different beast from the dinosaur NA engine that were in the last gens.
Oil dilution is a real thing as well as LSPI, which are almost exclusive to FI engines.
Good luck with your 10k OCI's

 

Thank you very much for remembering me and sharing your report. I know early on metals and such are high but fuel, coolant and water are the main points this early and yours looks great. I’m approaching 2K mi. and getting ready for a 3K trip. The trip there and back each have two 10-12hr legs so I want some fresh oil in there. Will pull my sample at 2K. Thanks again!

 

I checked today and my sample shows as status "TESTING", so guessing I will have results tomorrow. I will post them here as well.

 

I wonder if it'll be useful to have a thread of ONLY oil analyis results, no other discussion

@ryanwgregg GET ON IT BRO

 

"Engage Maverick, Engage!!" lol
@ryanwgregg

Great Idea - I'll be in but it won't come for a couple months

 

Still running at 200k but burning a quart of oil every 500 miles.

I've already had my truck more than 2 years. With my age and the limited mileage I drive there's a decent chance it may be the last vehicle I ever buy.

By the way, your mechanic buddy is why I don't buy used vehicles. And mechanics are notorious for not maintaining their vehicles properly.

 

That's EXACTLY what the beginning of his post says, with a touch of "screw the next guy."

 

Check out this guys video he is a Toyota Master Tech. Care care. Nut YouTube channel Video: Toyota Owners Please never do this to your Toyota. How to make your Toyota last 300,000 miles

 

So... I was at 700 miles and went on a road trip, returning at 2500 miles. Should I do an oil change now
(kinda like the 1000mile first change sometimes recommended by some) and again at 5000 or just wait until 5000 and then stay the course????????
Opinions please and thank you

 

Obviously, it's your call. Personally, I advocate getting the break-in oil changed quickly, so I'd change it now, then every 5K afterwards.

I think it's rather naive to believe auto manufacture's recommended OCIs are intended to maximize the longevity of the engines. The 10K recommended interval is more likely Toyota's effort to reduce the costs of their 2-year complimentary service agreement.

 

I had the ENEOS representative who works directly for ENEOS state that their oil is good for 7500 ish miles between oil changes, of course if you operate it under more severe conditions then that could be different. ENEOS is a quality Japanese oil maker who sources PAO base oils out of South Korea. This is where almost all premium synthetic oil makers get their base stocks. I figure someone from the actual oil company would not steer you wrong and ENEOS makes many factory fills including Toyota.

 

Oh and I changed my oil at 2200ish miles and will change it again at 9200 ish miles which is around 7k miles, I do not go 10k OCI and am not suggesting that you change your oil in 10k intervals. I change my oil on my car based upon time and not mileage but for an everyday driver unless you are towing stuff or driving in the desert then you are good with 7k ish miles oil changes.