First oil change at 5k or 10k or sooner?

[1engineer]

Has anyone undertaken a study that concludes there is no real world benefit to changing more frequently?

As near as I can tell, the only benefit to changing it more frequently is it gives the do it yourselfers something to do that they can do.

There have been multiple samples sent out at varying mileages and intervals and every one of them has been fine.

How long do you want the engine to last? Eventually engine components wear out and fatigue regardless of oil change frequency.

Lastly to undertake a study like you said in your post, in order for it to be unbiased and correct, would cost several hundred thousand dollars and run for multiple years. As a matter of fact the seventh gen 4Runner would be out by the time the 5th gen engine oil life study was completed lol. Pretty sure Toyota knows the frequency required hence them warranty-ing with 10K changes.

 

[trex9K]

Pretty sure Toyota knows the frequency required hence them warranty-ing with 10K changes.

The warranty is only for 60K miles but I want my engine to last far longer than that!

 

[cjacob316]

Toyota makes it name on reliability, I do not believe they would advise you to do anything that would hurt that reputation, because that's why most people buy Toyota.

 

[Antman]

The warranty is only for 60K miles but I want my engine to last far longer than that!

I swear if I hit the lotto big one day I'm gonna buy a brand new 4Runner and NEVER change the factory oil and document it well past 100,000 miles. I have no doubt it would make it just fine.

Just sayin'. People over think this stuff way too much.:bored:

 

[1engineer]

I swear if I hit the lotto big one day I'm gonna buy a brand new 4Runner and NEVER change the factory oil and document it well past 100,000 miles. I have no doubt it would make it just fine.

Just sayin'. People over think this stuff way too much.:bored:

An engineer friend of mine did just that with a Honda Ridgeline. Never changed his oil for over 100K. Checked it every now and then. No issues or problems. Traded it in and got a new one. I do this stuff for a living and what people forget is driving around town or on the interstate in a 4600 lb vehicle is a very light duty cycle. If I were racing the 4Runner or towing 5K every day then the duty cycle changes and maintenance needs to change with it.

 

[1engineer]

The warranty is only for 60K miles but I want my engine to last far longer than that!

You're new here. Do a search of 5th Gen Blackstone labs oil analysis. Next, go over to the 4th gen sub forum and check out some of their mileages. Then go to the 3rd gen sub forum and check out some of their mileages. No worries man. It's not a Jeep.

 

[Antman]

An engineer friend of mine did just that with a Honda Ridgeline. Never changed his oil for over 100K. Checked it every now and then. No issues or problems. Traded it in and got a new one. I do this stuff for a living and what people forget is driving around town or on the interstate in a 4600 lb vehicle is a very light duty cycle. If I were racing the 4Runner or towing 5K every day then the duty cycle changes and maintenance needs to change with it.

HAHA!

My Sister drove her VW with NO air filter (it was a K&N clamp-on unit that fell off and wedged in the engine comp.) for god knows how long- there were literally tiny rocks in the intake tube. I found this out because when I came home one day she was trying to fill her washer bottle reservoir with my 20% Nitro R/C car fuel that she got outta Dad's shed...(BOOM!) haha! Both were blue liquid so this "wasn't her fault"....uh.
After witnessing this tragedy I checked her oil and there was none. When I pulled the drain plug maybe 1/2 a quart came out. She was like, ..."is that bad?"

Anyway, that Cabrio ran for 7 more years and she beat the crap out of it. Engines are more robust than most people think!

 

[61hawk]

I really do not care what "rap" (not wrap as you say) I have. My vocabulary is sufficient to communicate with others. If you really care, do a search of my older posts and you will find I can communicate clearly and concisely with others. You stated as fact something incorrect and I corrected it. Sorry you think I am harsh. Many existing and potential owners read these threads and if I see something that I know is incorrect I try to correct the conjecture and opinion with fact where I can, as they can get opinion anywhere. I understand how you "assumed" something except you communicated it to others as if you knew what you were talking about without any prior research.

About my screen name: Let me ask you a question - Do you have cold toes? Well, I am an engineer, and I am one person, hence 1engineer. I could have been "1mountainbiker" or "1dad" or "1basketballplayer" or "1geek" or "1bookreader" or something else I do but in the real world most think of me as an engineer. The formula in my avatar is from partial string theory which comes from a joke my son and I have (from his calc class) as he will be starting on his road to college in the fall. It also is part of a television show we both enjoy. So, by that comment, I guess I have a bit of charisma. Bazinga.

When I have an opinion or assumption I state something to that effect somewhere in the post. If it is fact not readily available (like an owner's manual) I try to cite my source.

Sorry.

Who has time to read all that???

 

[HerT4R]

just ordered my blackstone labs oil analysis kit. If anyone here was smart they would just do that. Its cheap and they will analyze is FOR YOU (for a small fee that will pay for itself with less maintenance) so you guys who stay up all waking hours worrying about oil change intervals can go do meaningful things with your lives. and so you can know exactly how severe you are on your truck and can change the oil according to the scientific analysis blackstone sends you.

 

[Lugboot]

HAHA!

My Sister drove her VW with NO air filter (it was a K&N clamp-on unit that fell off and wedged in the engine comp.) for god knows how long- there were literally tiny rocks in the intake tube. I found this out because when I came home one day she was trying to fill her washer bottle reservoir with my 20% Nitro R/C car fuel that she got outta Dad's shed...(BOOM!) haha! Both were blue liquid so this "wasn't her fault"....uh.
After witnessing this tragedy I checked her oil and there was none. When I pulled the drain plug maybe 1/2 a quart came out. She was like, ..."is that bad?"

Anyway, that Cabrio ran for 7 more years and she beat the crap out of it. Engines are more robust than most people think!

We've wrangled 345000 miles out of a 2000 Passat just by following the recommended oil type and change intervals...and I have WAAAAY more faith in Toyota than VW...so I'm not going to overthink the recommended intervals.

 

[The Waco Kid]

An engineer friend of mine did just that with a Honda Ridgeline. Never changed his oil for over 100K. Checked it every now and then. No issues or problems. Traded it in and got a new one. I do this stuff for a living and what people forget is driving around town or on the interstate in a 4600 lb vehicle is a very light duty cycle. If I were racing the 4Runner or towing 5K every day then the duty cycle changes and maintenance needs to change with it.

We had a family friend do that with a Mercedes C class... After he told us that, I never worried about changing oil at precisely 10K miles. If I go over a bit, I'm ok.

Also, my old college roommate's Father is a Chemist for ConocoPhillips. He told me he changes his oil on all his cars after twice the amount listed in the manual (if not more). Coming from the guy(s) formulating it, I think we're ok with what the manual says.

If something happens to one of these engines, I'd be willing to bet the oil will be one of the last things on the list that could have caused the failure (assuming it's not low).

 

[1engineer]

We had a family friend do that with a Mercedes C class... After he told us that, I never worried about changing oil at precisely 10K miles. If I go over a bit, I'm ok.

Also, my old college roommate's Father is a Chemist for ConocoPhillips. He told me he changes his oil on all his cars after twice the amount listed in the manual (if not more). Coming from the guy(s) formulating it, I think we're ok with what the manual says.

If something happens to one of these engines, I'd be willing to bet the oil will be one of the last things on the list that could have caused the failure (assuming it's not low).

I know I will never get anyone here to believe this but it is actually detrimental to engine life by changing the oil too often. Every time you break into a sealed system you introduce contaminants that were not there to start with. Everyone worries about "metal shavings." Ha. They should worry about the 3-5 micron particles that can't be seen with the naked eye. Those are the ones that could do damage.

 

[trex9K]

Then go to the 3rd gen sub forum and check out some of their mileages. No worries man. It's not a Jeep.

Are the 3rd gens changing oil at 10K?

 

[1engineer]

Are the 3rd gens changing oil at 10K?

If they run synthetic they can.

 

[The Waco Kid]

I know I will never get anyone here to believe this but it is actually detrimental to engine life by changing the oil too often. Every time you break into a sealed system you introduce contaminants that were not there to start with. Everyone worries about "metal shavings." Ha. They should worry about the 3-5 micron particles that can't be seen with the naked eye. Those are the ones that could do damage.

There needs to be a Preaching to the Choir emoji.

All you have to do is look at the person who is performing the oil change and realize you may be getting a little extra fun added with your oil. (includes mirror selfies)

 

[05Rrunner]

Follow Toyota : first at 10K with quality Toyota oil and filter.

 

[4RTrail_16]

I didn't change it at 1k. This oil is at 5k. Toyota no longer recommends 5k mi oil change. It's 10k mi now. They want you to bring the car in every 5k mi for things like fluid top off, tire pressure, rotations, etc. I changed the oil myself at 5k so I could do an analysis.

So I just took my new 4RTrail 16 in for the recommended "Oil Change" at 5K miles. Toyota Service guy tells me
1. no need to change the factory oil until 10K
2. factory oil is not synthetic ... but trust him, it's ok for the first 10k to not have synthetic.

Does this sound right to you guys?

 

[cjacob316]

So I just took my new 4RTrail 16 in for the recommended "Oil Change" at 5K miles. Toyota Service guy tells me
1. no need to change the factory oil until 10K
2. factory oil is not synthetic ... but trust him, it's ok for the first 10k to not have synthetic.

Does this sound right to you guys?

Your factory oil IS synthetic, and if you read the maintenance manual it does not state to change oil at 5k miles, the Toyota care says "service" but I guess people mistake this to mean oil change often. You are not the first and will not be the last to post this same remark/question.

 

[4RTrail_16]

What was confusing was the statement from the service tech that factory oil was NOT synthetic. Explained that somehow the fossil oil was used at first to help during the break-in period. It makes since that it would be synthetic from factory. Thanks!

 

[cjacob316]

What was confusing was the statement from the service tech that factory oil was NOT synthetic. Explained that somehow the fossil oil was used at first to help during the break-in period. It makes since that it would be synthetic from factory. Thanks!

Much more likely he was a stupid tech than you not having synthetic. The non synthetic in my 4th gen would be pretty dark at 5k and no way I would leave it in my engine for another 5k. The synthetic in the 5th gen has been pretty light at 10k so much so that I wouldn't feel bad about going over.