Car Care Nut on why most people need 5k mile or 6 month oil changes
02-09-22, 07:42 AM
#31
Lexus Fanatic
Personally? I would change the oil (and filter) at 5k on any car I want to keep long term.
02-09-22, 06:36 PM
#32
Toyota isn't the only manufacturer suffering from this, all the manufacturers are forced to compromise engine reliability to achieve miniscule improvements in fuel economy. Generally, the guy gives good advice - check your oil, and change it no more than every 5k if you plan to keep the car.
02-09-22, 06:57 PM
#33
Lexus Fanatic
Filter-changes with the oil are now pretty much mandatory across the board with most manufacturers. I think the last time I did the Every-Other-Change stuff with the filter was back in the 1970s....before the long engine warranties that are in force today, although Chrysler, alone among automakers, had a 5/50 engine warranty for a while back in the 1960s...it was one of the company's selling points, along with torsion-bar suspension.
02-09-22, 07:16 PM
#34
He might have mixed up a few technicalities, but overall he is not wrong. Fact is, a lot of modern engines suffer from oil consumption and gasoline dilution, whether it is the result of low tension piston rings, or modern thin oils. Point is, change your oil often and keep an eye on oil level, or risk cylinder walls damage as a result of poor lubrication.
02-10-22, 05:18 AM
#36
wasteful, do a TBN test and youre going to find out the oil still has way more life. Ive done it on several family vehicles and they all can go 10k miles on synthetic easily. Color is not an indicator of oil life. Oil maybe cheap but my time isnt when theres 5 vehicles to look after. The only wasteful oil change I do is on the viper, 1 year regardless of mileage which is low to begin with.
With all these turbo engines coming out, cant go 10k anymore, probably 7.5k max. Turbo engines are very sensitive to oil change intervals because its just that much harder on the oil. Remember when BMW turbo engines were 15k intervals when they paid for the oil changes, what a disaster. Theres a reason why its back to 10k. Turbo engines burn more oil than an NA imagine someone driving 15k and not checking oil levels although they have electronic dipsticks which is annoying to deal with.
With all these turbo engines coming out, cant go 10k anymore, probably 7.5k max. Turbo engines are very sensitive to oil change intervals because its just that much harder on the oil. Remember when BMW turbo engines were 15k intervals when they paid for the oil changes, what a disaster. Theres a reason why its back to 10k. Turbo engines burn more oil than an NA imagine someone driving 15k and not checking oil levels although they have electronic dipsticks which is annoying to deal with.
Last edited by 4TehNguyen; 02-10-22 at 06:40 AM.
02-10-22, 10:18 AM
#37
Lexus Champion
None of my cars see anywhere close to 10k miles, even in a year, so they each get a once-a-year oil change. License tabs and oil changes are due on the same month. Easy to keep track of that way!
02-10-22, 04:26 PM
#38
I was under the impression that oil can only suspend so much sludge before you get deposits in the engine.
Does the oil analysis indicate when the oil has started to leave deposits? Not just when it’s at its limit of contaminant suspension.
To me, 30 dollars for a synthetic oil change with an OEM filter every 3000 is a good piece of mind. I also feel like the detergent in the oil is cleaning up old deposits left by previous owners.
If I was paying $100 for an oil change it might be a different story
In not saying I’m right, just saying it’s worth it to me to know my motor is circulating clean oil and there’s no chance of sludge deposits.
I’m not sold on my idea. Heck it’s a 230,000 mile engine too.
Does the oil analysis indicate when the oil has started to leave deposits? Not just when it’s at its limit of contaminant suspension.
To me, 30 dollars for a synthetic oil change with an OEM filter every 3000 is a good piece of mind. I also feel like the detergent in the oil is cleaning up old deposits left by previous owners.
If I was paying $100 for an oil change it might be a different story
In not saying I’m right, just saying it’s worth it to me to know my motor is circulating clean oil and there’s no chance of sludge deposits.
I’m not sold on my idea. Heck it’s a 230,000 mile engine too.
Last edited by Frankn; 02-10-22 at 04:34 PM.
02-10-22, 04:40 PM
#39
Lexus Fanatic
Well, $30 is not going to pay someone else to change your oil with synthetic, and isn't going to even pay for the oil for a lot of cars. The analysis is also about $30, I don't understand paying $30 for a bunch of oil analyses not to mention the hassle of getting samples and sending them away when I could just change the oil. Oil analysis is for oil nerds lol
02-10-22, 08:38 PM
#41
you only need one TBN analysis to establish a baseline, not every oil change. The TBN (Total Base Number) checks how much base is left in the oil, which is the additives that resists the acidic byproducts of combusion and oil use. Once the TBN is depleted thats when oil will start to sludge and loose lubrication, so its a direct indicator of oil life.
I actually do an oil analysis every year on the viper. Early years of the G5 there were engine manufacturing problems that caused oil consumption and combined with people not checking oil on a car that tends to burn oil (forged pistons), its a recipe for spun bearings. So its a bit of a black eye on certain years. If I ever sell the car, I will have years going back showing the engine is in good shape and I have current piece of mind on a not so cheap engine. All the analysis have been fine
I actually do an oil analysis every year on the viper. Early years of the G5 there were engine manufacturing problems that caused oil consumption and combined with people not checking oil on a car that tends to burn oil (forged pistons), its a recipe for spun bearings. So its a bit of a black eye on certain years. If I ever sell the car, I will have years going back showing the engine is in good shape and I have current piece of mind on a not so cheap engine. All the analysis have been fine
Last edited by 4TehNguyen; 02-10-22 at 08:41 PM.
02-11-22, 05:34 AM
#42
Lexus Fanatic
I don't worry about oil life, because I just change it.
02-11-22, 06:05 AM
#43
Lexus Champion
Lexus recommends full synthetic and 10k for my truck, but I do it every 7500. The previous owner used synthetic and also changed at 7500 miles, I wasn't crazy about it at first but synthetic oil is better.
LS has always had regular oil, sometimes I go a thousand miles over. Doesn't keep me up at night.
LS has always had regular oil, sometimes I go a thousand miles over. Doesn't keep me up at night.
02-11-22, 06:50 AM
#44
Pole Position
In this instance, regardless of what the car care nut says, if you are buying, is changing oils every 5k miles that much of an expense? Same with using premium vs regular. It is a case of penny wise but pound foolish.
However, if you switch cars every 3 to 5 yrs, then who cares. Do the minimum.
However, if you switch cars every 3 to 5 yrs, then who cares. Do the minimum.
02-11-22, 06:56 AM
#45
Lexus Fanatic
My S560, I just change it at the interval, its a lease