Oil Change Interval

[secrecyguy]

Originally Posted by FiftysLost

What is it that makes Toyotas and Hondas special that they can go 5k?
I had a 03 and 05 Toyota and changed oil every 3k. Can't hurt. I was just curious if there were any 3k changers left.

Check your book that came with your car (if you got it new). It says change the oil every 5,000 miles on Toyota. I don't remember what it was for Honda. I think it says every 4,000 miles.

[secrecyguy]

Originally Posted by touringcamry

Hurts your wallet and the environment.

Good answer! I agree.

[secrecyguy]

Originally Posted by rsjyss

What does owning an american car have to do with anything? Not sure where you came up with this folklore......

Caddy's have oil life monitors and when I had my STS depending on how the car was driven etc., oil changes were at 7k and sometimes 8k depending. Last time I check a Caddy was an american car.

I used to own a Pontiac that is a GM. The book says change the oil every 3,000 miles. Maybe your car is an exemption.

[gdanaher]

My last Toyota also said to change it every 5k miles. What they didn't tell me was that meant to change it every 5k miles if I did highway driving and racked up a lot of miles. Since I didn't--less than 10k a year--I wound up getting a check from Toyota to repay me for the costs associated with engine sludging. Had all my receipts to show I had changed my oil and filters religiously. Be careful of generalizing about every new Toyota needing a change only at 5k.

[sunnyice]

toyota canada says to change every 8,000 Km

[geoff5093]

Originally Posted by secrecyguy

Check your book that came with your car (if you got it new). It says change the oil every 5,000 miles on Toyota. I don't remember what it was for Honda. I think it says every 4,000 miles.

My '94 Camry V6 actually says to change the oil every 7,500 miles, of course I did it every 5K, as it's easier to remember when you did it last.

[rsjyss]

Originally Posted by secrecyguy

I used to own a Pontiac that is a GM. The book says change the oil every 3,000 miles. Maybe your car is an exemption.

Well there.. Caddy's have like I said OIL LIFE monitors. And it's not a dummy gauge either. It monitors engine running time, temperature, rpm etc. and determines the % of oil life left. So 8k wasn't out of the question if you didn't drive it hard and on short trips.

Change oil every 6-7k is not out of the question. As long as there's not a lot of short trips, high rpms and extreme conditions like high heat, dust/dirt etc.

[marc780]

Originally Posted by FiftysLost

What is it that makes Toyotas and Hondas special that they can go 5k?
I had a 03 and 05 Toyota and changed oil every 3k. Can't hurt. I was just curious if there were any 3k changers left.

Yes i overmaintain just as you do. I do it at 2,000 to 3,000 miles. I have treated all my cars like this. I havent worn out an engine yet either (although i've blown up one or two). I dont believe oil has improved all that much in the last 20 years - if they have, then why do we still have sludging problems in ANY engine today?

Besides which, think about it high mileage-oil-change people - ask yourself why do the AUTO MAKERS recommend these long intervals? Because they want to sell you another car- duh - ! By the time the long oil milage interval shows any wear on your engine, the car is long out of warranty anyway - and thats exactly what they are counting on.

The only exception i ever make and ever change it at 5000 is if i happen to have mobil 1 in the crankcase - its the only oil that can stand up to it i think. But if you think your engine can live a long and healthy life with longer intervals, go ahead and treat your car like that - i wil ljust change the oil. (I've changed a few engines, and i'd rather just change the oil at 3k than the engine at 120k)

[TRD VVTi]

Oil change interval is 5,000 miles with the appropriate oil that meets the current specs. Sooner if you like, and better oil if you like.

For the last 17 years I've used synthetic oils and changed my oil every 3,000 miles because the manufacturer stated to do so. Now I have my Camry and use synthetic oil in it also. I also change the oil every 5,000 miles because the manufacturer recommends it. I still change the oil in my Pontiac Firebird Formula every 3,000 miles with synthetic. It's engine doesn't run near as cleanly as the Camry.

[z's07camry]

I had a 99 pontiac grand prix supercharged, it had a oil life monitor, The change oil soon light would come on about 8-9k miles. I drove it till it had 170k miles no engine work just a water pump. Of course I used mobile one, plus I never had to add any oil. I broke the sway bar and needed lowerball joints. On my 92 civic I changed it about every 8k miles too, I drove that till it had about 18k then my brother in-law drove it till it was stolen last it had was almost 250k. All I did to it was put a timing belt and a head gasket. Overheated, busted water hose. I aslo used mobile one.
One key factor is that I drive anywhere from 100-250 miles a day.

[dbkevindb]

of course they want you to chnage the oil at 5k not 3k, so the motor wont last longer then you will need to bu a new car

[gdanaher]

How about adding to the discussion the definition of 'normal' service and 'severe' service. Manufacturers are very quick not to provide definition to these terms until there is an issue with lubrication. I gather the 5k change interval is for 'normal' service. In this part of the world (I live in a city), I don't know anyone driving any kind of a car daily who qualifies for normal service. If the rules have changed recently y'all let me know, but it wasn't all that long ago that the sludge issue was top drawer and I still remember Toyota's stance on that one.

[yeuemhoai]

Toyota has oil sludge issue with 1MZ-FE's but my RX300 is still OK since I've changed Castrol/Toyota oil every 3K miles then switched to synthetic (Mobil 1) every 5K.

If you live in city and drive trhu crowded traffic (stop and go) then it definitely meets Toyota "severe" condition.