Oil change interval?

In my 2010 Tundra, the change oil service light came on every 4k miles (flashing) then would go off after a few minutes. At 4,250 miles, the light would come on and stay on. It was a FFV. I have a new 2021 Tundra, service light came on (flashing) at around 4,500 miles (first service) non FFV. Dealer says every 10k miles for this vehicle. Said the service light was a reminder about oil, tire rotation, etc.

 

Everyone goes bonkers over oil change intervals and arguing about 3k vs 5k vs 7.5k, etc. yet many of those will never change power steering, brake, coolant fluids regardless of miles.

 

yes, they are the same. I put a Fumoto valve in the pan at the first change and replaced the plastic oil cap with the aluminum one. By the way, I always do 5k changes.

 

I personally do 5k just so I remember to do my tire rotation.

Most modern synthetic oils are so good now 10k is no problem. However, I actually enjoy doing maintenance on my vehicles. I enjoy cracking open a cold beer on a Saturday afternoon and putting a ball game on the radio.

And as someone stated above…I do all fluids based on the manual. (Coolant/ps fluid/etc)

 

I just found out my dealer didn’t change my engine oil when I asked them to do it. I’ve gone 17,000 miles without an oil change. I’m pretty ticked about this. They skipped 2 intervals.

 

Bring it up to the service manager and tell.him you filed a complaint with the BBB.

 

I was going to tell them to buy me out, get me a new truck or guarantee the engine to 500k miles.

 

Did you put the oil change requests in writing? Did you pay for oil changes?

I'm not trying to be a schmuck, but if the answer to these questions is "no", then the dealership's attorney will legally tell you to pound sand.

 

Shouldn't be an issue, I've seen many bottles that can handle 20k intervals

 

I want to see them cover an issue with an engine going their 20k guarantee. Let's face it, they can guarantee it because they know no one will go up against their top dollar lawyers. And yes the oil is probably formulated to not break down in 20k but oil break down is only part of the oils job. Car Care Nut had a perfect video showing why its a bad idea to do 10k+ oil changes. And Toyota and oil manuf advertise high oil changes because of the EPA mandates. Not to mention that by the time you do have an oil issue you're out of warranty. Me, I prefer 5k oil changes.

 

Well, I think we should all love the world. We live in it. Vehicles pass, but the environment is our home forever. No need to make it dirtier than it already is.

 

Really depends on what grade you use. For regular blinker fluid I was always told to change it out when I replaced my piston return springs. But I know guys that change it when they rotate their windshield wiper blades. If you have the newer synthetic long life stuff, some say it's a lifetime rated fluid. Ymmv.

 

What converted me back to the 5K camp is the definition of extreme or adverse driving conditions. As I understand it that includes towing as a simple one, but as I recall city-type driving most of the time also counts, as well as frequent short trips.

The newer turbo ones I'd stick with 5k.

I am doing my first one at 1k, will have the dealer do 5k and then again at 10k.

Also if you don't do 5k in a six-month period it's been suggested to change it at six months too.

I am also going to do most of the changes myself, so it changes the economics a bit, it also means I can spend more on quality oil.

 

Very simple (as always):

RFTM

Do exactly what it says. Pay NO attention to verbal instructions by ANYONE.

Dan

 

WTF does that have to do with oil changes?

Or is my sarcasm meter in need of recalibration?

 

my guess is that if we all change our oil less that’s a lower impact on the environment.

but so is our cars not blowing up and needing larger parts to be thrown away.

The quest for better economy is often correlated with engines being less reliable and needing repairs.

 

I believe going overboard with oil changes is unnecessary. If previous gen threads are any indication, very few repairs are about engine wear due to oil contamination and/or quality.

 

it could be, but with the new engines being twin turbo oil is more critical.

Also the concern about extra oil changes polluting the environment, as far as I know it's cleaned and used in industrial applications (recycled), but I could be wrong.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFX_Xq9WHTI&t=3s

 

The video I was talking about shows what 10k oil intervals do to the oil rings. There was actually a recall or TSB on a certain Toyota engine that Toyota skimmed on the quality of the oil rings. Plus the 10k oil changes didn't help either. They would get stuck and let oil get through, there for showing oil consumption. The car in the video from Car Care Nut had only 167k and had to have a new long block put it because the owner did the Toyota recommended 10k oil changes. As for the oil, I have it recycled so at least I am doing my part. But I will not go by Toyotas 10k recommendation.

 

Hmm, my toyota doesn't have any problems at 137k with the moter. She works great and still great mpg. I'll keep posted you posted on any issues. Been doing 10k mile changes correction: once a year now, because I don't drive as much anymore.

I recycle oil as well, at least I hope they do. It gets dumped into recycling container and goes somewhere i don't know.

I f9nd it hard to believe engine would need new block at 167k miles because owner did 10k mile oil changes. But video clicks pay I guess. If there was a defect in the engine, changing oil more often isn't going to magically save a moter.

 

That's great for you. Not so great for those that have had this issue. I will be the first to tell you that no oil will prevent a manuf defect. But more frequent oil changes do not allow for more than usual oil gunk/sludge to form. Here's the video. Do with it as you please. Like I said I will stick to my 5k oil changes. Screw the EPA/CAFE standards. Just like using 0w/20 to gain .02 MPG.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJhFAwFv-O0

 

all my cars use 0w-20, is there better protection with another grade?

 

Many switch to 5w30, which coincidently is an approved weight in the manual and in other countries. Supposedly quiets the engine somewhat but may not be as good in colder climates. I have only one oil change on my truck so far, so will keep to 0w20 until next summer, then go with a summer/winter alternation. Who knows how much difference it actually makes in terms of engine life.

 

My opinion, 5/10w-30 is better for me in Florida. My truck sounds like a diesel with 0w-20. To me, I feel like since it's too thin and I hear valve train noise more prominent with 0w-20, then that means the metals are touching more, if that makes sense. But that's just my crazy thinking. The 5.7 can use up to 20w-50. This has been discussed millions of times so dont think that Toyota designed the 5.7 for only 0w-20 or that the 5.7 has tight tolerances like some say. A lot of vehicles are coming with 0w-16 because that will gain.01 better MPG per vehicle sold and save us from climate change or global waring or freezing, or what ever their agenda is today. So 5/10w-30 every 5k and screw you EPA/CAFE standards.

 

https://youtu.be/v4JS7PybV2k?si=IuFMZINX5EPbbKb7

 

Agreed, I had 0w30 in there for the first part of summer, had to do a quick change on a Sunday and all I had was 0w20, stop to chat with the neighbor and he says, your motor is knocking. NAH, it's the 0w20. I'll run it for 5,000 miles, then back to 0w30 for the rest of it's life. 5,000 mile OCI's

 

It's my personal opinion that the standard oil and fluid change intervals are designed for reducing the total amount of "waste" produced for some greenie number or something. I suspect that the severe duty maintenance schedule is the one that more closely matches that is actually recommended by their engineers.
Yes there's million mile tundras that only did 10k oil changes at the dealer, however, those have been work trucks doing more than 90% freeway miles which is much easier on oil.

 

My wife and I got into a bit of a discussion about this. I've changed mine every 5K miles, but despite hauling stuff, driving down a gravel road all day long, etc., wife *refused* to get one, justifying it by saying that "Well, the dealership says I only need it every 10K miles."

The very first time she paid for one, suddenly the dealership says "We recommend every 5K miles."

I smiled at her and batted eyelashes as if to say "Toldja so."