2005 SE V6 2wd 4Runner (First Oil Change?)

[willx45x]

I have about 1k miles on my new 4runner. I've read a lot on this site and on Bobistheoilguy about changing out the OEM oil fairly early on in (after the initial engine break-in period). There seems to be no agreed upon interval, but my own thought was changing it at around 1k and then around 3k and switching to synthetic around 5-6k. Any thoughts on this? I don't want to spend money for no reason, but if this is going to help the life of the engine, I'll do so without qualms.

Thanks guys!

 

[Jim_Chow]

I wouldn't change until 3K miles, 2K mi if you're nervous about bits of metal. My hunch is, each engine is pre-tested before installation. Whether it's connected to an indep. oil supply to remove the bits of metal, I don't know. I will say that after I installed a new cam/rocker arms in my old runner, I saw a reasonable amount of metal in the bottom of the pan for the first two changes (mostly Al, so I changed at 2K mi intervals). I didn't observe this in my new '01 honda when I changed.

 

[Hoomiester]

If you're going to do it yourself, have the dealer loosen the filter for you first and then only handtighten until you're ready! They max out the torque on the V6's at the factory and the original filter is a true bear to get off! Several of us had to almost destroy the filter to remove it.

 

[Spinner]

Me '05 dealer is spec'ing a 3k mile first oil change. And, he is in total agreement with me on going full syn Mobil 1 at that time with extended OCI's after that.

My experience, wait for the full OCI on the first oil load then switch to syn. The mileage and performance improvements were notable.

 

[<<<<]

I'm going Synthetic @ 10,000 mile oil change. This way I'm sure that no glazing on cylinder walls will occur.

 

[Bosconian]

I did my 1st oil change at 3k. I'm almost ready for the next one. At 10k I'll switch to M1 and go every 5k.

Before you do your 1st, go and get an oil filter wrench cap that fits over the oil filter(get it at the Toyota parts dept when your buying your oil filter). It's true that they torque that hell out of that filter in the factory.

 

[pat161]

There are many different views on this topic, personally I agree with the 1st oil change at 1,000 miles. After that, normal intervals should be fine, your truck will be broken in by 1,000 miles. As for using conventional again, why would you? Put the Mobil1 in right away. Some manufacturers are using it in brand new engines and every trusted mechaninc I talk to says there is nothing wrong with switching to M1 right away. I switched at 1000 in my 97 tacoma and put over 100k trouble free miles on that truck. I never added oil between changes and the level was always perfect.

 

[405HP_Z06]

Here is a link to my 4 used oil analysis on my '04 V6 Sport.

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=002280

I don't agree that the engine will be broken in by 1000 miles. As you can see, I changed my oil the first time at 542 oil miles, then 3660 oil miles. If you look at the wear metals, they are still slightly elevated at 4202 vehicle miles indicating that the engine isn't completely broken in.

Now look at the 7656 vehicle miles(3rd oil change) oil change and you will see that the engine is now completely broken in. I ran dino for the second oil change by recommendation from Terry Dyson and then switched to Mobil 1 for the third oil change beacuse I wasn't sure the engine was broken in and I didn't want to start Royal Purple if it wasn't. Terry has done all the analysis on both my 4 Runner and Z06. He has zeroed me in on a perfect oil combo.

I am running Royal Purple Racing 21 now with Lube Control/Schaeffer's #132 mix on 10,000 mile OCI's.

One good piece of advice is that if you use the stock Toyota filter, don't go over ~5000 mile OCI's without changing the filter. The stock filter will clog up and stop filtering around this mileage.

Good luck!

 

[MicaBlue03]

Extended OCIs, extra tight first filters

Are any of you folks who are going to extended OCIs worried about warranty issues? Myself, I just can't see the point in an extended OCI until the powertrain warranty is done.

I read on another board about a guy who'd extended the intervals and ended up with a sludged/trashed engine at about 24k miles. The problem turned out to be coolant in the oil. Toyota denied warranty coverage because of the extended OCI. The synthetic oil mfr. denied coverage because it wasn't an oil problem.

Seems that the extended OCI doesn't save that much money or trouble to compensate for the risk, even if it's small.

Toyota, BTW, specifically says that synthetic is fine but you must follow the normal intervals. If you do lots of short trips around town in cold weather that would count as severe service and the OCI would be no greater than 5k miles.

On the subject of the over-tightened filters, I suspect that's not a matter of the initial torque on the filter. It's probably that the first filter sealing ring seats on a new, clean, oil-free surface and it bonds really well. It shouldn't be a problem after that, but you should always make to sure to check the seating surface after removing the filter to make sure that the ring came off with the filter.

 

[405HP_Z06]

Re: Extended OCIs, extra tight first filters

Are any of you folks who are going to extended OCIs worried about warranty issues? Myself, I just can't see the point in an extended OCI until the powertrain warranty is done.

I read on another board about a guy who'd extended the intervals and ended up with a sludged/trashed engine at about 24k miles. The problem turned out to be coolant in the oil. Toyota denied warranty coverage because of the extended OCI. The synthetic oil mfr. denied coverage because it wasn't an oil problem.

Seems that the extended OCI doesn't save that much money or trouble to compensate for the risk, even if it's small.

Toyota, BTW, specifically says that synthetic is fine but you must follow the normal intervals. If you do lots of short trips around town in cold weather that would count as severe service and the OCI would be no greater than 5k miles.

On the subject of the over-tightened filters, I suspect that's not a matter of the initial torque on the filter. It's probably that the first filter sealing ring seats on a new, clean, oil-free surface and it bonds really well. It shouldn't be a problem after that, but you should always make to sure to check the seating surface after removing the filter to make sure that the ring came off with the filter.

Very good point, but a 24K mile OCI is could be considered as lack of maintenance and not an informed extended OCI! I would not suggest extended OCI's without UOA and quality intrepretation. The best intrepretation hands down is Terry Dyson http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/terry.html
Antifreeze contamination is one of the major reasons for engine failure. Here is an excellent article on it: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/newsletter.html

I've determined my 10K mile OCI by UOA and intrepretation from Terry Dyson looking at wear patterns. I feel 100% confident in my choice for extended OCI's.

Just a thought.