Oil Top-Off Frequency
12-03-22, 08:06 AM
#16
how do you know his oil is still good without knowing his driving patterns and no oil analysis? You guys are just oversimplifying everything and sound like a broken record quoting owners manual. The reality is not so simple and largely depends on how vehicle is driven. Its your car, you can do whatever you like. Maybe even change oil every 20k miles, Mobil1 EP says its good for 20k miles. Good luck.
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LexFinally (07-23-23)
12-03-22, 08:13 AM
#17
to answer your question, well maintained car with low miles should not require any oil top off between oil changes. The owner manual is will add this language about normal oil consumption amount for liability and legal reasons, also not have you running to dealership complaining that oil level slightly dropped and that you need a new engine.
12-03-22, 11:08 AM
#18
Last edited by 703; 12-03-22 at 11:12 AM.
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bc6152 (12-03-22)
12-03-22, 11:11 AM
#19
how do you know his oil is still good without knowing his driving patterns and no oil analysis? You guys are just oversimplifying everything and sound like a broken record quoting owners manual. The reality is not so simple and largely depends on how vehicle is driven. Its your car, you can do whatever you like. Maybe even change oil every 20k miles, Mobil1 EP says its good for 20k miles. Good luck.
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bc6152 (12-03-22)
12-03-22, 11:57 AM
#20
Lead Lap
12-03-22, 12:42 PM
#21
I do not know if his oil is good or bad because I do not know his driving patterns and have not seen oil analysis. All I am pointing out that its not as simple as "follow your owner manual", there is a lot more that goes into it. I've run few UOA on my car, and with my driving 5-6K is where I need to change oil based on data. But you can also go ahead and repeat the things from your owner manual or what other people say. Also depends how long you want to keep the car, it will do 100K miles with 10K oil changes, but I would like to keep it longer.
12-03-22, 12:49 PM
#22
I don't know what it is about this topic that brings out the snark in people. But without naming names, there's a level of disrespect in some of these posts toward different viewpoints that seems unnecessary. No one here is being harmed by someone else maintaining their own car with a different philosophy than mine.
In any case, this topic has been covered better and in more length on Bob Is the Oil Guy than the zillionth thread here will ever do.
In any case, this topic has been covered better and in more length on Bob Is the Oil Guy than the zillionth thread here will ever do.
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dklanecky1 (12-04-22)
12-03-22, 02:05 PM
#23
I'm pleased to report that the oil consumption I experienced (and posted about) on my new 2021 350 ES seems to have permanently ended at about 3500 mi. I bought her new in Miami and a couple of months thereafter drove her home to PA. I checked the oil prior to and throughout the trip. I was alarmed because the oil level went down about 30% (not to 30%) 2 or 3 times during the first 3,000 mi. and required topping off. I called dealership. Tech said normal during break-in (as per owner's manual) and not to worry. I was skeptical, as I considered break-in to be maybe the first 1,000 mi. and this oil consumption was still going on at 3,000 mi.
Thankfully, after about 3500 mi., the oil consumption ended. I recently turned 9,900 miles. Since my last change at about 7,000 mi., not a measurable drop of oil seems to have been used. I think I'm out of the woods now and I expect no oil consumption to speak of to become the norm for the next 15 years/75,000 or so more miles.
To those of you with 5 year old or older ES or 50,000 mi. or more on your ES, may I ask, "How often between changes, if at all, are top-offs required on a ES 350 as she 'matures'?"
Thankfully, after about 3500 mi., the oil consumption ended. I recently turned 9,900 miles. Since my last change at about 7,000 mi., not a measurable drop of oil seems to have been used. I think I'm out of the woods now and I expect no oil consumption to speak of to become the norm for the next 15 years/75,000 or so more miles.
To those of you with 5 year old or older ES or 50,000 mi. or more on your ES, may I ask, "How often between changes, if at all, are top-offs required on a ES 350 as she 'matures'?"
12-04-22, 07:30 AM
#24
Racer
Thread Starter
I don't have any idea why the oil was slightly (25% or so) down 2 or 3 times during the first 3,000 miles. The latter 1,500 miles of those 3,000 were fast, highway trip driving returning from FL home to PA home. Car was loaded with luggage, high speed driving etc. Thereafter, things settled down after 3,000 miles on the odometer. I assume the break-in was by then fully completed and everything had become sort of normalized. Since then, all has been just fine, not a drop used between changes. So I'm not concerned.
I suppose, at the end of the day, the need for more frequent vs. less frequent oil changes will be an eternal debate. Everyone's situation is a bit different, depending on driving conditions and style, surroundings and personal attitudes. Some will say don't waste your money, others will say better safe than sorry. I'm in the second camp.
Post break-in, the need for topping-off appears fairly rare.
I suppose, at the end of the day, the need for more frequent vs. less frequent oil changes will be an eternal debate. Everyone's situation is a bit different, depending on driving conditions and style, surroundings and personal attitudes. Some will say don't waste your money, others will say better safe than sorry. I'm in the second camp.
Post break-in, the need for topping-off appears fairly rare.
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Denzlex (07-25-23)
12-04-22, 07:49 AM
#26
I don't have any idea why the oil was slightly (25% or so) down 2 or 3 times during the first 3,000 miles. The latter 1,500 miles of those 3,000 were fast, highway trip driving returning from FL home to PA home. Car was loaded with luggage, high speed driving etc. Thereafter, things settled down after 3,000 miles on the odometer. I assume the break-in was by then fully completed and everything had become sort of normalized. Since then, all has been just fine, not a drop used between changes. So I'm not concerned.
12-04-22, 07:55 AM
#27
Racer
Thread Starter
Yes and also great to be able e to display all those service records when negotiating the sale of your car. As I buyer, seeing them would certainly justify my paying a decent premium for that pre-owned car over others!
12-04-22, 09:46 AM
#29
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dklanecky1 (12-05-22)
12-04-22, 05:06 PM
#30
Lexus Test Driver
My wife's RX and my ES both same engines, about 130k miles combined on both and NEVER had to top off oil. I change both cars at 6 or 7k miles.
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dklanecky1 (12-05-22)