Hello. I am new to the forum, and I have a 2011 4runner purchased in April. My 5,000 mile appointment with the dealer is coming up soon. I have seen all of the threads talking about the oil change schedule, and I see where a lot of you change the oil yourself or pay for it to be changed at the 5,000 mile appointment. I'm wondering who actually is just getting their oil changed every 10,000 miles like the book says and their thoughts, etc. Thanks.
Who Actually Follows 10,000 mile oil change schedule?
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4RunnerTrail
New member
I follow it. It's synthetic. I had a bmw m3, 15k mile oil changes (synthetic) and that was a high strung engine. no problems sold at 110k miles.
1engineer
Moderator
I follow it as well. Those who change at 5K are either doing it because: A) They are old school and remember the 3K changes of the 1970's or B) They don't put many miles on their 4Runner or C) They know more than the engineers who designed this engine.
10K on full synthetic is no big deal and their stock filter is not bad either.
10K on full synthetic is no big deal and their stock filter is not bad either.
brockeverly
New member
If you are using a high quality synthetic oil, there is no need to change before 10k miles. If you are using dino oil, then by all means, change at 5k miles. I am glad that Toyota finally jumped on board with what other manufacturers have been doing for years. If you are worried about it, run it for 7500 and send a UOA to Blackstone Labs. They will tell you if you're running it too long.
A side note, when I was a teenager my mom had a friend that had no idea that oil needed changing. After her and her husband split up she NEVER changed the oil in her new car. SIX YEARS later the motor went, I then in my early 20s. When she had me look at it the oil was like syrup. The tag in her window (not sure why she didn't ask what this was for) showed over 70k miles in difference. Obviously, that is a stupid way to figure out the life of motor oil, but tells you that even at 70k, the oil has lubricating properties, just no more additives to keep it flowing LOL.
A side note, when I was a teenager my mom had a friend that had no idea that oil needed changing. After her and her husband split up she NEVER changed the oil in her new car. SIX YEARS later the motor went, I then in my early 20s. When she had me look at it the oil was like syrup. The tag in her window (not sure why she didn't ask what this was for) showed over 70k miles in difference. Obviously, that is a stupid way to figure out the life of motor oil, but tells you that even at 70k, the oil has lubricating properties, just no more additives to keep it flowing LOL.
Remember too, oil changes are about business and profit. Once the general consumer started understanding that oil doesn't break down nearly as fast as they recommended it did, manufacturers had to change to a marketing strategy to "we can go longer without having to pay for service" as a selling point. Its about $ for them too, the more they get you in for service, the more $ they make. But they have to find a balance that is just on the line of being beyond the general consumer's knowledge yet having you come in often enough to make projections.
Take your oil after a 10K change and have it tested, I'm going to guess you'll find that it still has another 10K worth of life left in it, if not more.
Take your oil after a 10K change and have it tested, I'm going to guess you'll find that it still has another 10K worth of life left in it, if not more.
kmiller8821
New member
I change mine at 10k with the synthetic.
Foques
New member
my booklet stated 5000 miles intervals;
I will stick with that, especially, since i got a free maintenance for the next 2 years thrown in for free.
Once my maintenance free ride runs out, I'll stick to the same mileage and redline/royal purple, I think. That's been my usual trend.
I will stick with that, especially, since i got a free maintenance for the next 2 years thrown in for free.
Once my maintenance free ride runs out, I'll stick to the same mileage and redline/royal purple, I think. That's been my usual trend.
1engineer
Moderator
Just curious, but why 5K? And why does your book contradict mine and others? Lastly, what makes redline and royal purple better/worse than Mobil 1 or another full synthetic?
kmiller8821
New member
My "free maintenance" certificates only provide an oil change at 10k. The 5k ones are for tire rotation only, you might want to check your certificates again.
1engineer
Moderator
My "free maintenance" certificates only provide an oil change at 10k. The 5k ones are for tire rotation only, you might want to check your certificates again.
Mine too and I have already burned through two tire rotations and an oil change!
Toyota 'changed the rules' after printing the first 5th generation books.
Johnny Utah
New member
I don't put that many miles on my car. My t4r is 6 months old and i've got 3500 miles on it. Before this truck i had a Xterra with synthetic oil. I usually changed the oil about once a year in the summer since it was finally due for the 10k oil change.
Since i put so few miles on my truck, can i still just change it after 10k, even if it has been like 10 or 12 months?
Since i put so few miles on my truck, can i still just change it after 10k, even if it has been like 10 or 12 months?
Foques
New member
My "free maintenance" certificates only provide an oil change at 10k. The 5k ones are for tire rotation only, you might want to check your certificates again.
I got a magnetic card with a membership; in that agreement it states that they cover everything, including oil, brakes and any other expendable material. From what I gather, that plan is generally a good 500-600$ extra.
In all my previous cars, I was noticing the oil breakdown / decrease in performance at around that mileage. Plus, RP oil breaks down fairly quick, but lubricates the gears very well.
Then again, i've never owned a truck before.. all my cars were built and tuned for track racing / aggressive road driving, and would usually see fairly high RPMs.. I'm sure with the truck it'll be different. I'll need to send an oil sample for analysis when the time comes.
And I would LOVE to know why our books are different.
1engineer
Moderator
I got a magnetic card with a membership; in that agreement it states that they cover everything, including oil, brakes and any other expendable material. From what I gather, that plan is generally a good 500-600$ extra.
In all my previous cars, I was noticing the oil breakdown / decrease in performance at around that mileage. Plus, RP oil breaks down fairly quick, but lubricates the gears very well.
Then again, i've never owned a truck before.. all my cars were built and tuned for track racing / aggressive road driving, and would usually see fairly high RPMs.. I'm sure with the truck it'll be different. I'll need to send an oil sample for analysis when the time comes.
And I would LOVE to know why our books are different.
Thanks. I have no problems with the way anyone makes decisions on maintenance. I sometimes would like to get their reasoning behind it. Did you have analysis on your previous vehicles? Were they running full synthetic?
