I recently changed the oil of my 2016 SR5. The previous oil change was at the dealership. I drove 7000 miles after that. I checked the oil dipstick and the oil looks pretty dirty. Wonder if the 10k OCI is really good for the engine. I checked my Tacoma and it’s similar. I know it has been debated again and again. But from the dipstick I would go with shorter interval since I’m doing oil change myself now I saved enough labor cost. Although saving the environment is another question. What’s your experience and opinion?
Oil change after 7k
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T4R2014
Elite Member
My 1998 with 230k looked cleaner than that on an 8000 mile interval. I would actually question whether they used synthetic. Conventional doesn't cause sludge, but it cannot attain a 10,000 mile interval. I would even argue that 10,000 is pushing it regardless of oil type depending on driving conditions. Those black bits look like sludge. Stick with your Mobil 1 at 7000 mile intervals for now. Once you stop seeing such sludge on the dipstick, you can decide whether you'd like to push the interval back to 10k. Simple enough? Not the worst issue IMO.
I think the Dealership used synthetic blend for the ToyotaCare maintenance. Not sure if synthetic blend has shorter life than full synthetic oil.
2016 4Runner SR5
Senior Member
Every 5K for me which is about 8 months. OEM Toyota filters and I have used Mobil 1 or Valvoline 0-20 full synthetic. These engines are kinds noisy and they actually seem noisier with Mobil 1 or Valvoline over the Toyota oil. I will likely switch back to Toyota oil when my next oil change is due.
I just checked mine at 5K and the oil on the dipstick looked more like your second picture albeit with a slightly darker color. I change the oil every 10K using the Toyota 0W20. If I suspect that my dealer was using anything other than 0W20 full synthetic, I would specifically ask them to use the proper oil. I would also be changing oil no longer than every 5K miles.
I brought my runner and my lexus to my Toyota dealership for oil changes. They broke a stud on my skid pan, didn't even tell me. On the Lexus they didn't even change the filter.
I'd bet they "maybe" changed your oil. I do my own changes now and I change every 5K. Never has "chunks" on the dipstick but may look dark.
I'd bet they "maybe" changed your oil. I do my own changes now and I change every 5K. Never has "chunks" on the dipstick but may look dark.
sandcrawler
Senior Member
generally speaking, eyeballing the dipstick is not a credible way of judging the condition of the oil. that said, your first two pictures are worrisome and look... not good.
probably too late now, but i would've submitted a sample of that dealer oil for a used oil analysis. in any event, you'll undoubtedly be better off changing your own oil from this point forward.
johnbt
Member
I don't know. I haven't seen that much trash on a dipstick since my dad's 1959 Chevy. The oil in my '67 and '70 Chevelle V8s would turn black, but never did show spots on the dipstick.
My wife had two Camrys when we started dating 4.5 years ago and neither one ever had dirty spots on the dipstick. At that time, the '03 4-cyl had 220,000 miles and the '06 4-cyl had a bit over 180,000 miles. And they were both purchased used with 20k on each.
I don't know. I'm still sticking with 10k oil changes at the dealer on our '16 4Runner and Avalon. The oil looks new at 10k with a hint of amber.
My wife had two Camrys when we started dating 4.5 years ago and neither one ever had dirty spots on the dipstick. At that time, the '03 4-cyl had 220,000 miles and the '06 4-cyl had a bit over 180,000 miles. And they were both purchased used with 20k on each.
I don't know. I'm still sticking with 10k oil changes at the dealer on our '16 4Runner and Avalon. The oil looks new at 10k with a hint of amber.
T4R2014
Elite Member
You're being swindled. Synthetic blend tends to be majority conventional. It cannot handle 10k. At 5k I'm sure it's fine. I don't think your 4Runner is permanently damaged, but you need to get on this now that you caught it.
I did not get any free oil changes because I was a forum member 1 year before I purchased my 2016 runner.
I check my oil every month and do perhaps a several hundred miles or so .. my issue was when the cold temps hit I had sludge under the oil fill cap.. called up dealership they said it is normal.. I said I saw this sludge only when I used conventional in my 1983 GM sedan which I kept 380K miles ..
so @3K miles I did the oil change and oil did look good.. filter also. then I had a hard time to read the oil dip stick because the oil was so clean .. so I did the oil changes now once a year @7K miles and the oil looks slightly darker than new [mobil1 0-20wt]and still have problems reading the stick.
most likely they did not do the oil changes . do you have any broken cover bolts ? if not then then did nothing. my 380K 1983 GM sedan
oil conditioned looked so much better than your oil ..
quick lube means they do not wait for all the old oil to come out..
check your oil and if it is breaking down the sludge change the oil again.. check every week . no sludge after mobil 1 synthetic I installed
I check my oil every month and do perhaps a several hundred miles or so .. my issue was when the cold temps hit I had sludge under the oil fill cap.. called up dealership they said it is normal.. I said I saw this sludge only when I used conventional in my 1983 GM sedan which I kept 380K miles ..
so @3K miles I did the oil change and oil did look good.. filter also. then I had a hard time to read the oil dip stick because the oil was so clean .. so I did the oil changes now once a year @7K miles and the oil looks slightly darker than new [mobil1 0-20wt]and still have problems reading the stick.
most likely they did not do the oil changes . do you have any broken cover bolts ? if not then then did nothing. my 380K 1983 GM sedan
oil conditioned looked so much better than your oil ..
quick lube means they do not wait for all the old oil to come out..
check your oil and if it is breaking down the sludge change the oil again.. check every week . no sludge after mobil 1 synthetic I installed
wsgoat
New member
From new, I dropped the oil at 2500 and 5000.....then every 5000. I use OEM filters and full synthetic. I never used the "free" oil changes Toyota offered....the dealer could have offered me life-time free oil changes and I would have politely declined. There's just no way I'd trust the dealer with something as important as an oil change, especially after reading some of the horror stories posted here (stripped skid plate bolts, wrong filter element installed, filter housing broken or over/under torqued, oil level too high/low). 6.6 quarts of synthetic and an OEM filter can be had for under 30 bucks...change your own oil and never look back!
nevada
Senior Member
is there such a thing? our dealer uses Mobil1.
I also use the vehicle reminder, at 5k. but I only change the filter, and top off the oil. 5k filter changes, 10k oil changes.
QwikKotaTx
New member
8500 mi changes here. 5k is a waste of synthetic, but it's your money and time.
That sediment or what have you on the dipstick is alarming. I've never seen that. Hopefully it's just foamy oil from a recent drive but it's worth mentioning to the dealer if under warranty.
That sediment or what have you on the dipstick is alarming. I've never seen that. Hopefully it's just foamy oil from a recent drive but it's worth mentioning to the dealer if under warranty.
gp55445
New member
oil part number - 00279-0WQTE-01
