Light

Starts flashing at 4500, 9000, etc at 4500 mile intervals and turns solid at 5000, 10000, etc at 5000 mile intervals, does NOT analyze engine oil.

 

As your manual states

the light will stay on for a period of time after ignition once the sensor has been reset after 4500 miles and it will stay lit if not reset after 5000 miles. it doesnt know if the oil is any good, it is still up to the owner to check the oil or send the oil in for oil analysis.

Under most light operating circumstances 5000 miles is just about the life of regular oil.

To this date, i'm not sure there is a production vehicle with a built in oil analysis system.

you can be scammed still, they just need to reset the sensor.

They can't cheat you if you pop your hood and check your oil.

 

Thanks a lot! My local toyota dealer said I need to change engine oil every three month or 3000miles. Not 4500 or 5000 miles any more. But I remember when I bought my corolla in 2000, the dealer in another state told me that engine oil needs to be changed every 5000 miles or six month. So I am not sure why they have changed the service interval, maybe they used different oil?

 

no no, the HL is 5000 miles/6 months (what year is it?).

but the dealer may have seen that your oil is very very dirty at 5K so they may recommend you to change it earlier to prolong the life of the engine.

running regular oil in our v6 HL till 5k is very iffy. It doesnt run smoothly and the oil is just black. I have since switched to a synthetic blend and now will go to 5K. Otherwise, regular oil i'll change at 3K/6.months.

 

Oil Change Interval

Thanks a lot! My local toyota dealer said I need to change engine oil every three month or 3000miles. Not 4500 or 5000 miles any more. But I remember when I bought my corolla in 2000, the dealer in another state told me that engine oil needs to be changed every 5000 miles or six month. So I am not sure why they have changed the service interval, maybe they used different oil?

I take my '06 HL Ltd to the dealer for its oil changes (4 free ones) and they say every 8000kms which is the equivalant of 5000 miles. Same for the '02 that I had.

 

I bring my 2001 every 5000 km for the oil change. It is recommanded to be very strict with the oil change with the 3.0 V6, since there has been sludge problems observed on some Highlander/RX300 in many hot states in the US. Toyota gave us the extended warranty for free due to many complaints.

On my 2001, I have nothing to indicate me the oil change. I must check that out myself.....old fashion !