the audi I typically do 7500 miles but Ill probably do 5k. Previous oil change was just a tad darker than I like. Simple to change though since its top extraction and filter up top

4runner I have about 2k miles left for 10k interval, itll be my first time doing the service since dealer has done all previous ones. Curious to see what the oil looks like.

You can't tell shit by "looking" at oil, hahahah

On the 4Runner, I changed out the factory fill at just over 1k miles. I like to get the bits resulting from the break-in, out. As usual with a new engine, there was some typical metal bits caught by the filter.

At approx. 2.8k now, and will change it again at some point. Most likely based on time for warranty purposes, as it doesn't get driven a lot.

Toyota has a history of oil sludge issues across many of its motors including occasionally the 4.0 V6. Toyota does appear to have addressed these issues, but extended oil changes over a long period of time doesn't help things at, regardless of engine. Most every tech and oil engineer would tell you to change the oil before 10K miles as the oil is likely out of grade and the potential exists for varnishing and sludge build up on the valvetrain.

As noted previously, my primary concern is the oil falling out of grade. If you do a lot of short distance driving (i.e. 15 mile or less), then fuel will build up in the oil as the oil rarely gets up to operating temp, thus the oil will degrade more quickly and fall out of grade. I've done used oil analysis on my 2016 BMW M235 with a 7 QT capacity running a very high quality and robust synthetic 0W-30. I've got three rounds of data that supports that shows the oil falls out of grade at ~7,500 miles.

I've done the same with our 2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R with a 6.5QT capacity running quality dino 5W-30. That oil falls out of grade at around ~5,000 miles. My prior 2012 WRX (4.5 QT capacity) showed generally the same data though it ran high quality synthetic 5W-30.

Given the 4Runner's rather large capacity of 6.6 QTs though running a rather thin 0W-20, I would expect the oil will indicate that a 5,000-7,500 mile oil change would be recommended and the 10K is too long, especially if you do a lot of short distance driving and lots of stone cold starts in the winter.

Lastly, we got two free oil changes as part of Toyota's free maintenance program. Those changes were annually or 10K miles, whichever came first. Once that free maintenance was done, our oil maintenance light came on after 5K miles and the oil change sticker the put in our window said 6 months or 5K miles. I honestly pay no attention to dealer or automaker fluid change recommendations though I did find it amusing that they lowered to 5K miles once out of free maintenance. I do all the work (and research myself).

Great info, thank you!
A sub question to my OP should have been "For those of you that have a vehicle with 150K + miles on the odometer and have always changed the oil at 10K intervals, does it burn oil?"
Like I mentioned, 75% of the miles on our '99 SR5 are short trip, city miles, and have changed the oil (conventional oil, no synthetic) at 3K since we bought it in 2004 with 70K miles on it. Burns zero oil at over 200K. That said, I don't think the new ORP will be changed that often, 5K should be good with full synthetic.

2014 SR5 with 296K miles running on various 0w20 synthetic oils changed at 10K mile intervals and it burns/consumes no oil. Oil darkens slightly by 10K but still very clear on the dipstick. I know that I voided my warranty by not using Toyota oil.

Absolutely, I would support a separate thread for the sub question. I think we Americans’ definition of “reliability” also includes TOLERANCE of neglect. By contrast, and experience owning a European car, I’d say they’re all masochists if random break/fix outside of SCHEDULED maintenance are to be expected as normal parts of ownership.

We tend to have our own ideas of whether required maintenance is excessive, adequate, or inadequate, and follow our gut in determining how often we will change fluids. I have a Dodge Durango with a 5.7L that has “tolerated” 10-15k full synthetic oil changes thus far to 230k miles and consumes less than a quart between changes.

My 4Runner has 17k miles and doesn’t use any between 5k intervals. The oil still even LOOKS new.


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Great to hear .

Man I’d like to see what the compression is on each cylinder on that tight a rig


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This

Same here. I figure split the difference between the 10k "normal" use spec, and the 5k "severe" spec.

Haven't done a compression check as the engine has shown no sign of issues. Should easily clock 400K

I plan on keeping my 4Runner for a very long time so I change my oil about every 5k. When I do change it I have them put in 6qt. I fill the remainder 0.6qt with Marvel Mystery Oil or Lucas.

About every 3rd or 4th oil change I use a engine flush. This is the stuff you put in your engine just before a oil change. It’s supposed to break up the sludge so you can drain it all out when you do the oil change. I put it in at the oil changing place, let it idle for 5 min then change the oil.

Back in college in the early 1980s I took an engine rebuilding class. The professor said he ran a quart of ATF in his engine every once in a while to flush things out. I wonder if ATF is similar to "engine flush"?

12 months or about 3,000 miles a year. Per the manufacturers maintenance requirements.


If you do a lot of short trips which gets fuel in the oil, your probably not getting 7500 miles a year. Which is probably why Toyoata says every 10,000 miles or every 12 months.

Also water vapor mixing with the oil can help cause sludge too, highly reccommend a catch can for those doing a lot of short driving trips.