Oil change intervals

Pardon my ignorance, but what is FFV?

 

Flex fuel vehicle.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexible-fuel_vehicle

 

Here is a link to some information directly from Toyota on oil change intervals. Note it says oil change every 5,000 miles for FFV engines regardless of if you use E85. It says change the oil every 2,500 miles if you do run E85.

http://toyota.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7604/~/what-are-the-oil-change-intervals-using-synthetic-oil?

 

Does anyone know what the differences are between a non-FFV and a FFV warranting more frequent oil changes in the FFV?

Are there more rubber seals? Is there a difference in the piston rings?

I have a 2010 FFV and I have religiously changed the oil every 10K. I have also never used E85. I'm at 163,000K and have never had any issues. Now I'm beginning to worry I'm driving a time bomb.

 

I also have the FFV and my understanding was that oil changes at 10k is good if you don't use E85. I have done every 5k just because my truck came with free oil changes for the first 40k, so it was not an issue. I then started doing 10k intervals. Since I use my truck for work, the company pays for my oil changes and will not ask questions if I do it every 5k miles, so I might have to do that just because it is not a big deal. I do a tire rotation every 5k anyway, so I can just as well do the oil change then also.

 

With and good synthetic oil anything under 10,000 is like taking too many vitamins, you're just pissing you money away. If Toyota recommends 10,000 miles between changes, why would you think you smarter?

 

Toyota care has been scheduling 5k for me, after my last one I will be doing it myself 5k as well. Buy oil when it goes on sale every spring/fall, ow-20 full syn Mobil1. or Castrol on Amazon on sale.

 

I'm doing every 5k on my FFV until the free oil changes through Toyota are over and then going to 10k.

My understanding is that they have to assume FFV vehicles run a large proportion of ethanol gas, which is why they recommend 5k intervals. I avoid ethanol like the plague, so will be going to 10k intervals.

I always run Mobile 1 full synth.

 

This right here. If Toyota says to change it every XXX miles to maintain warranty, that's what I'll go by. Nothing wrong with changing it sooner though.

 

There IS something wrong with changing your oil earlier. If you use just 50,000 miles as an example you're spending just for the oil @ $125 more not including the 5 more filters, and that's if you changing it yourself. I'd much better spend that on a mod, just sayin'.

But it's only wrong if you consider that is wasting your money and time. There's an old saying, A fool and his money will soon be separated.

 

On our corolla we did every 10k Amsoil. That is sitting at 430k + miles. On the 16’ tundra I’m doing same thing. Amsoil every 10k. Every time I change oil I always do an oil flush with Amsoil product. It’s always been just as clean coming out at 10k as pouring in. I tow with the truck often but not everyday.

 

FYI, Mobil 1 has its rebate going on now. And yes, Walmart is included, even if it's not listed in the approved vendors list.

 

Toyota recommends my 2020 be changed every 5k and since I have free oil changes for life I will do what they recommend

 

On my 2017 the Toyota dealership has me scheduled for every 10,000 miles. I have 2 more free oil changes.

 

Oil has soot holding capabilities. which is why your oil turns dark or black. So if your oil is turning dark, it means its grabbing the soot and doing its job. At least with diesels anyway, I'm sure it applies to gas engines to a certain degree, but they dont produce as much soot.

 

EXACTLY

Amber looking oil doesn't mean it's good

Black oil doesn't mean it's bad.

There is a lot to learn about oil and it's abilities , and a lot of "wives tales" to dispel !

 

I do 5,000 oil changes because I normally tow with my truck but haven’t been lately from the virus. But when I changed the oil last time I didn’t do any towing, the oil was still brown and I did feel like I wasted a oil change. The next service from my dealer will be changing the oil but after that if I don’t do a lot of towing I might push it to 10,000 and see what Blackstone has to say.