chrisexv6

Our ES just turned 1K miles (yay!), and I know Lexus' recommended interval is 10K miles since its full synth, but I just cant see waiting that long for a first oil change.

I know there has never been an official recommendation, but is there any truth behind the first oil change being early? Ive always done it with my new cars but none of them have had synth from the factory nor do they have such a long recommended OCI.

In the case of the ES, what would be acceptable? 1K miles? 5K miles?

Thanks in advance.

-Chris

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

Probably not necessary but I like changing the oil the first time early and then every 7500 miles for me.
My RX is going in at 3500 miles.

bc6152

I had my original synthetic oil changed at 2500. I then went one year before the next oil change. The oil was so clean - after a year and less than 10k miles - that I had difficulty reading the dipstick. Synthetic oil does not break down like Dino oil. There are virtually no impurities in synthetic. Unless you're putting a lot of mileage on your car I would go up to 5k with the first and then yearly depending on mileage. The old oil change schedules no longer apply with the newer cars and outstanding lubricants available.

chrisexv6

Yeah I figured once the first change was done I would go the one year/10K miles.

I usually do the first change early because there are metals wearing, etc as the engine is new and starts to break in. I prefer to have those things floating around as little as possible in the earliest life of the engine which is why I change the oil early.

I might let it go to 2500 or 5K miles but Im definitely not waiting until 10K to do the first change.

lesz

Even that is much different than it was not that many years ago. Now, not only are the lubricants much better than they were years ago, but the engines are built to much tighter tolerances than with the tolerances of not that many years ago. The result is that there is much less engine wear during the first several thousand miles than there would have been with a new vehicle even 10 years ago.

While I can understand having a desire to be cautious, I think that there are some who are inclined to be overly cautious. On my 2013 ES, I changed the oil for the first time at about 7500 miles, but the only reason why I even did it then was because it was hitting the 1 year point.

While I've never owned a vehicle for, say, 300,000 miles, I have had several vehicles on which I've put between 100,000 and 150,000 miles. With following the manufacturer's recommendations for oil changes (5000 miles for recent vehicles with conventional oil or 10,000 miles for recent vehicles with full synthetic oil), I've never had any engine problems and fuel economy has remained right where it was when the vehicles were new.

I firmly believe that the days when it was a good idea to change the oil at 1000 or 3000 miles or, for that matter, any sooner than the manufacturer's recommendation are long past. While I know that some insist on doing a first oil change very early, my experience has been that doing so is a waste of money and time.

JDR76

^^^ lesz is exactly right.

Manufacturing processes have improved substantially. Back when it was recommended to do an oil/filter change at 1k miles, it was because you needed to remove all the shavings and residue that come with a new engine. Now that tolerances are that much better, as are the manufacturing processes, those shavings and such are no longer an issue.

It took me a while to get on board with the 10k oil changes, but I've been doing so now without issue.

FWIW, this is what I was taught in mechanical engineering school, and my real world experiences have thus far backed that up.

gregjhonda

I think 10,000 miles or one year for the first oil change is fine. My Lexus dealer told me to do the first oil change at 10,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first. Changing it earlier won't hurt a thing. My local oil change place pushes for 3,000 miles intervals and my last few Honda's algorithm usually came due between 8,500 and 13,000 miles. I would expect Lexus and their dealers to protect their warranty costs and thus specify really short intervals. If they say 10,000 miles is OK, then that's a pretty conservative, low risk oil change interval. I suspect that you will change your oil well before 10,000 miles regardless of what's posted here and that's fine if it gives you peace of mind.

TomMartin

You must have been talking with my wife also! ThomasMartin

Maikerusan

For us Canadians Lexus Canada insists on the first oil change at 8000 km (5000 miles) . My climate in the Toronto area is as mild as, or milder than many northern parts of the USA,. Same car, different rules I guess.

Jets

Maybe in Canada they are using "dino" oil?

12jimmyjam

Uhhh...Honda and that maintenance minder. So many of their cars burn a ton of oil. I had to take a financial bath when I traded in my 09 accord earlier this year. People swear by using dino oil for that 13k too lol.

chrisexv6

Thanks everyone.

Still thinking hard about when to do the first one, but it definitely wont be what I usually do (1-2K miles).

I usually change all of our oil before the real cold weather sets in, but even that might be too soon for Lexi (Im guessing she will have about 3K miles by mid-December), so maybe next spring ill look at changing it.

As far as maintenance minders.....thats what a Sharpie is for. I write the mileage and date of every oil change right there on the oil filter. Simple as reading whats there to know when you did it (but another change because of the Lexus: its a cannister so I cant write directly on it anymore. will have to keep records somewhere else, probably in the actual book from the dealer)

Maikerusan

Nope. Synthetic

It is a long standing complaint by Canadian Toyota and Lexus owners. Toyota for some reason feels that the Canadian climate requires more frequent oil changes.

I think it is a sop to their dealer network that does not want to lose the maintenance $$ the too frequent oil changes provide them