steviej

iTrader: (1)

I use the K&N gold oil filter on my 2002 ES for only one reason (other than its quality construction and durability). The K&N fitler has a molded nut on the casing that greatly facilitates easy installation and removal. I don't need to finagle a constriction type wrench down under the HOT/Warm exhaust manifold.

steviej

sweetsc400

I go 3,000 - 3,500 on 10w 30 Mobil 1 Synthetic with a Toyota 90915-20004 filter. I know it's unnecessary, but the peace of mind is worth it, to me. It kind of makes sense to have somewhat clean oil come out when you change it, that's less particles circulating through your engine. But this is also the mind of a perfectionist rambling. . .

Threxx

If I was going to the dealership for changes or doing my own changes with regular (dino) oil, I would be changing every 5000. Since the manual says I can go 7500 under light driving conditions, as well as the fact that I'm using Mobil 1 synthetic (which can easily go twice as long as standard oil without breaking down its superior anti-wear properties), then the 7500 I change at is more than safe. I'm sure I could go to 10000 or even 12000 and be just as well off... I choose to change sooner just more out of habit than anything. I know the oil itself still has plenty of life left at 7500, but that doesn't help the fact that it's probably getting dirty, and dirt is dirt, no matter what kind of oil it's suspended in.

b1gredek

i use regular oil, but evertime i change my oil at 3k it seems pretty dark so i have been very skeptical at changing it any earliar. do u think i should wait till five thousand miles or should i just change to synthetic and wait till seven. this is for my gs and es330

docrings

I am probably the only one to use "HOURS" of operation for oil changes... and use only pure synthetic motor oil (Mobil 1, etc).

I go 200 hours between oil changes... so that works out to about 7500-10000 miles depending on city vs. highway speeds. "Hours" seems to average everything out... idling in stop'n'go rush hour traffic is adding hours, but not miles... which can be a lot of wear. Flying down the highway at 80MPH is hours, but more miles, but not heavy-duty use.

I am from the aircraft community, and we did maintenance based upon hours in military aircraft, so it made sense for me to go this way.

I am able to track hours, due to having a 2000 GS400 with NAV... the NAV menu has a "hours" meter, which I reset after each oil change. It trips over after 100 miles, so I just go through two cycles of 100 hours.

M2CW,

Doc Rings
US Navy
F-14A, T-34C, TH-57A, CH-53E

steviej

iTrader: (1)

hey doc, I use the same philosphy on my boat.

just out of curiosity, what's your average mileage that is racked up in 200 hours of engine use?

steviej

mburnickas

I will just say this since military and commercial engines are maintenance hogs, big time. Also the hour of operation or running is nothing new. they have been doing that in commercial cars, trucks, class 8 trucks (when cooling turbo's, sleeping etc) , police cars etc since they just idle and not moving in the jobs.

Last job was JSF and it is still being worked. From day one the program has MAJOR problems.

docrings

Depending on driving conditions and vacation driving, I get about 7500 miles to 10,000 miles per oil change.

Right now I'm at 140 hours and 6000 miles.

(LOTS of highway miles from Pensacola to Atlanta before and after Hurricane Ivan!)

It's a pretty good system. I always keep one of the odometers zeroed after a fresh oil change just as a back up!

Doc