Thay depends and we can fight about this all we want.

 

Well, I am not towing any thing heavier than a tiny off-highway utility trailer lightly loaded. No excessive temperatures (Midwest USA). No off-road driving. Nothing that could be described as special driving conditions...

 

5k especially if you do it yourself. (My choice)
10k if your not keeping it.
20k no insurance needed.

Lots more opinions coming soon...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

What year and engine?
FWIW, Toyota does not recommend anything over 10,000 for any vehicle, and never has.
Current models are 10,000 OR one year for normal service, and 5,000 or 6 months for severe service, which would include frequent short trips, dusty roads, taxi/Uber service, etc....

Most owners in temperate climates are going to fall under the 10,000 mile intervals. I'm not sure where you saw 20,000, but you either overlooked the 5/10/15 listings, or your reference is incorrect.
Trailer towing or even a car-top carrier qualifies for 5k.

Even with 10,000 mile OCI, there is still a 5k service that is effectively inspection and fluid level checks.

 

Thanks to everyone who responded. The car is SR5 year 2019. I checked one more time and it is indeed 10K if the right oil is used and no special conditions (5K otherwise). See below.

 

Yeah 10k or less with synthetic.

 

As others have mentioned, this really becomes a personal preference, if you do not meet the special conditions.
Just for another example, with my '15 4Runner that I traded in for the Sequoia, I changed at 10,000 miles each of the 5 times I did it. That oil was still brown in color and viscous when it came out.
I just did my first change in my Sequoia at 10,000 miles and the oil was very black and did not seem nearly as viscous as the new oil going in.
Both vehicles were driven basically the same, with possibly a few more highway miles on the Sequoia so far.
I realize that this is not a perfect way to analyze the oil since both vehicles have different engines, but the oil used in both was the same.

The point I am trying to make is that even though the change intervals might be the same for various Toyota vehicles, the actual condition of the oil may differ even if running the same number of miles in basically the same conditions. So it pays to understand your current vehicle when making the decision on when to change the oil.

 

Thanks! Will certainly check the oil frequently and do an extra oil change, just to be sure.

 

Personally, I went just below 5,000 on my Avalon. I neglected to collect a sample for Blackstone.
I did the 2nd change at 10,000 and sent in a sample. Copper was still a bit high, and Blackstone recommended going 6500 on my next change.
I suspect after that one I'll be moving to 10,000.
Wife generally doesn't drive 5,000 in a year so she'll be getting 1-year changes regardless of mileage on her Venza.

 

To simplify the discussion to: "What is the absolute longest I can run the oil in my car?" The oil and the filter you use PROBABLY has a "guaranteed miles" label on it. Whichever is the smaller number (between the oil you use and the filter element you use) is the absolute maximum you should run your oil.

For example: for oil I use the Mobil1 Extended Performance Full Synthetic that is guaranteed for 20k miles ( Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance ), and for the filter element I use the Mobil 1 Premium Oil Filter that is guaranteed for 20k miles ( https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...bil1-premium-oil-filter-m1c-453a/11654559-P?searchTerm=mobil1+engine+oil+filter ). 20k miles is the absolutely longest I will run the oil and the filter, and at 15k I'll probably start planning my next oil change.

All that being said: use common sense, and change the oil at either the mileage I mentioned above, or when the the oil gets "dirty". Whichever comes first. Do you burn oil? Does it look gritty or dark? Did you notice a bunch of oil shavings on the drain plug last time you changed it? Any leaking around the cam towers, oil pan, or rear main seal?

I'm about 5k into my oil/filter and it looks like honey, and no leaks. If that changes I'll probably change my oil sooner.

--Chris N.

 

It really depends on the engine, where you live (weather/temps), how you drive (city/highway), and the type of oil you use (Synthetic/conventional).

I’ve always adhered to 5,000 mile intervals using synthetic. In the past I did try extending it out to 7,500 a few times in a Lexus LS460, but that engine just for some reason couldn’t handle it. After 5,000 miles it would start using oil, lots of oil. Almost nothing up till 5,000, then for some reason it would just burn right through it. Then as the miles started getting up there into the 120,000 range it got worse. Tried a thicker viscosity. Didn’t help. Traded it in at 179,000 miles and it was burning through a quart every 700 miles. But I think it had more to do with the actual engine (direct injected) V8, than the oil intervals, or oil itself (I used Mobil1 mostly, or TGMO).

On my current engine (2GR-FE) I feel as if 5,000 miles is almost too easy for this thing. It doesn’t use any oil. Ever. I’m thinking about experimenting to 10,000 and keeping an eye on it. I do mostly highway, but it is cold 4 months out of the year here where I am. Lots of salt on the roads. Some big hills on the highway, but I’m not doing city driving stuck in traffic type stuff. It I would never do 20,000 miles. Ever.

 

Can't give wrong with 5000 miles. 7500 miles is fine. 10,000 miles is cutting it. Over 15,000 miles I sure hope your engine isn't thirsty for oil.

 

This youtube video will tell you why 5k should be the max, especially with oil-burning Toyo engines.

The Car Care Nut

 

This youtube video will tell you why 5k should be the max, especially with oil-burning Toyo engines.

The Car Care Nut

Toyota engines burned oil long before they moved from 5k to 10k OCI.

Notice that Car Care Nut mentions in passing that the car is owned by an Uber driver... then says that the owner followed the recommended 10k OCI.
WRONG.

Uber driver would fall under "taxi/delivery" service and the manual recommends 5k OCI under those conditions.
Honestly, I think the owner did pretty well getting 200k out of that Camry driving for Uber.

 

Why do you think all the makers are pushing 10k oci’s? They wanna sell more new cars. Like they guy said, it’s mileage, time and driving habits that need to be considered. I’ll pay the 40$ for each oil change in all 4 of my cars every year and do them myself. Never trust someone else to do this, and if you do watch them and make sure there’s oil in there.

 

I always go 5K or 1 year on Mobil 1 synthetic. Fluid and filters are cheap. As it gets higher in mileage, I reduce the interval. My car is at 295K miles, I change every 3.5K mikes now.