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Oil Change Interval: 5,000 miles or 10,000 miles?

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by Lou, Aug 24, 2023.

?

What is your oil change interval?

  1. Every 5,000 miles

    129 vote(s)
    74.1%
  2. Every 10,000 miles

    30 vote(s)
    17.2%
  3. Other (please explain in the thread)

    15 vote(s)
    8.6%
  1. Aug 24, 2023 at 12:49 PM
    #1
    Lou

    Lou [OP] New Member

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    I've done the 5 Toyota care services (tire rotation every 5,000 and oil change every 10,000). I did the next one at 30,000 miles myself. I will be doing the 35,000 mile service myself this fall and have not decided whether to just do the tires or do the oil change too.

    What do you do, and what is your rationale?

    EDIT: I added a poll, so it might be easier to see the big picture.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2023
  2. Aug 24, 2023 at 12:54 PM
    #2
    2016Pro

    2016Pro Why all of the Pro hate?

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    Lol

    10k with whatever full synthetic I can find at the best price. My engine will last 500k
     
  3. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:00 PM
    #3
    Dillusion

    Dillusion Resident A**h***

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  4. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:04 PM
    #4
    EW///

    EW/// New Member

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    3k... LOL
     
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  5. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:05 PM
    #5
    2021venture

    2021venture New Member

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    Hoping we can keep this to poll so it doesn't get into bickering I am right and you are wrong. Either works totally preference.
     
  6. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:05 PM
    #6
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    Oh man another one. Remember, this is why aliens don’t visit us.

    I do 5K because I don’t trust extended oil changes. Toyota only wants to pay for 2 as you get it free so they say 10K.
     
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  7. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:07 PM
    #7
    Texoma-Brad

    Texoma-Brad OK Yota

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    Everyone will have different opinions and good reasons for the opinions they have. Here's mine:

    I'm operating 2 Gen 5 4Runners. In the case of my wife's 22' Limited, it lives on the interstate mostly and during a 10k mile interval it will have spent the vast majority of its time at 1900RPM on cruise control rolling up and down I35 on the 150-mile commute between our house and our business base. We use the factory recommended 10k oil change interval for the Limited.

    On my 21 Venture, it's more of a workhorse and goes to the beach, pulls boats and Jet Skis. It also goes on trails to get to our destinations sometimes. We use a 5k oil change interval for the Venture.

    We use Mobil 1 (or Toyota factory oil which is also Mobil 1) on both. We do 5k tire rotations on both. We had the services done at the dealership while they were free. We use a local shop to do the oil changes now and Discount Tire to do the rotate/balance.

    Current mileage on the Limited is about 33k. 42k on the Venture. We plan to run both vehicles to 200K at least.
     
    Tank010, brownersd, 2Toys and 3 others like this.
  8. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:08 PM
    #8
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    In my case it would be once a year. I never reach either mileage number in one year.
     
  9. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:12 PM
    #9
    2021venture

    2021venture New Member

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    Nice logic different use cases. Highway miles are the easiest on oil and motor. At operating temperature just cruising no stop and go. Short trips are harder not getting up to temp burning off moisture.
     
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  10. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:13 PM
    #10
    San Angelo

    San Angelo New Member

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    I follow Toyota’s recommendations and do it every 5k. Why because I am just like most everyone on here and use my 4Runner as a daily driver with stop and go traffic or short trips. Per the book in the glove box it says this is considered a harsh environment and should be done every 5k.


    On the weekend if I am not crawling the mall I am on dirt and this is also considered a harsh environment.

    The 10k change is for very few people or those that get their info from a forum and never read or understand what the maintenance schedule says. Or from some guy named Bob / amsoil salesman
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2023
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  11. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:17 PM
    #11
    Lou

    Lou [OP] New Member

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    In my defense, I did search the site first. After reading a couple pages of the 2,000 mile thread, I decided a poll might be better.
     
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  12. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:17 PM
    #12
    2016Pro

    2016Pro Why all of the Pro hate?

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    This will be fun!
     
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  13. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:17 PM
    #13
    Dillusion

    Dillusion Resident A**h***

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    This be me too.

    Its like a new year tradition.

    Lies the horse is beaten 100x over on this one. So much there is no horse anymore.
     
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  14. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:19 PM
    #14
    YetiMtnBkr

    YetiMtnBkr New Member

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    I have two mechanic buddies and one said every 5,000 miles and the other said every 6,000 miles. I do every 6,000 miles.
     
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  15. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:19 PM
    #15
    Captain Spalding

    Captain Spalding . . .

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    Lou, this is as you can see a contestable topic. You can read everybody’s preferences and rationale in other similar threads. You can also read the owners manual and the Warranty and Maintenance Guide that came with your truck. Enjoy the part about a 5k oil change interval for severe service. And don’t skip the blurb describing what constitutes severe service. Take a deep breath and relax knowing that your truck doesn't see severe service, that you are changing the oil twice as often as Toyota recommends, and that your baby is adequately pampered.
     
    MooreKen likes this.
  16. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:20 PM
    #16
    2021venture

    2021venture New Member

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    I agree it makes me feel better for low mileage vehicle to change once a year. Anyone have any research on it if it can go longer? Hasn't been worth it to me to research over at Bitog. Easiest just to change it and have confidence it's fresh. I suspect cold winters or being stored outdoors would affect it some.

    Will Toyota change it for free at a year with couple thousand miles or wait till 10k?
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2023
  17. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:29 PM
    #17
    Texas4Runner

    Texas4Runner New Member

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    Attached Files:

  18. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:29 PM
    #18
    Captain Spalding

    Captain Spalding . . .

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    That’s a little misleading. I’ve heard and repeated that most of us qualify for the severe service schedule, but after actually reading the Warranty and Maintenance guide I’m not so sure.


    The emphasis is Toyota’s.

    The special conditions are:
    • Driving on dirt roads or dusty roads
    • Driving while towing, using a car top carrier, or heavy vehicle loading
    • Repeated trips of less than 5 miles in temperatures below freezing
    • Extensive idling and/or low speed driving for a long distance such as police, taxi or door-to-door delivery use
    I don’t think that most of us do a majority of our driving under these circumstances.

    Stop and go traffic isn’t on the list. Short trips are on the list, but only count as severe service in the case of below freezing temperatures.
     
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  19. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:37 PM
    #19
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    Oh that 2K thread was hilarious. That’s such a waste.
     
  20. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:40 PM
    #20
    San Angelo

    San Angelo New Member

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    Note the words such as. I wound think lots of bumper to bumper traffic would qualify as low speed and idling. I don’t think the oil takes the time to ask or look if you have taxi / police / Uber on the side of your car.

    5k for life
     
  21. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:40 PM
    #21
    Lou

    Lou [OP] New Member

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    Most of my daily driving is less than 5 miles or 15 minutes, but it is only below freezing for a few weeks in the winter.
     
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  22. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:42 PM
    #22
    4R777

    4R777 New Member

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    Whatever Toyota says to do in the book, follow it.

    Fairly certain Toy engineers know what's best for the vehicle.
     
  23. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:47 PM
    #23
    BgBmBoo

    BgBmBoo New Member

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    My suggestion is this, do an oil change at 5k and send a sample to Blackstone. Do your next OC at 10k and send it to Blackstone again. Compare results and make a decision based on facts related to your vehicle and driving pattern.

    IMO, for the majority of people who own 4runners the Toyota recommended 10k miles fine. For some on this forum earlier is better because of how they use their 4runner. I do 10k intervals on both our Runners and every sample I've sent to Blackstone has come back fine.

    Do what you feel is right and enjoy your 4runner, at the end of the day your engine will most likely outlast the frame anyway...
     
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  24. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:48 PM
    #24
    4R777

    4R777 New Member

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    what's it cost to send sample to blackstone and testing? Which service option do you use ?
     
  25. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:50 PM
    #25
    BgBmBoo

    BgBmBoo New Member

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    https://www.blackstone-labs.com/tests/tests-price-list/

    Looks like $35 for standard group of tests. That's what I have always done. Worth the money if it helps you feel better about longer oil change intervals.

    Edit - they will email you a report of the findings for each test as well as an overall summary of engine health based on their max/min parameters and what they see with other vehicles like yours of similar mileage.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2023
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  26. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:53 PM
    #26
    San Angelo

    San Angelo New Member

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    I know people that do it once per 10k oil change to prove they only need to do it every 10k. Always found it strange they spent that much to “save money”. Seems the savings was very small for them. Around my area that only saves them $50-$60 a year. If you can’t afford that then why would you own a 4Runner.
     
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  27. Aug 24, 2023 at 1:55 PM
    #27
    Captain Spalding

    Captain Spalding . . .

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    And what conclusion do you draw from that? Do you think that you do that for a majority of your driving? Do your driving habits constitute severe service?
     
  28. Aug 24, 2023 at 2:04 PM
    #28
    BgBmBoo

    BgBmBoo New Member

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    I agree, no point in doing it every 10k, might as well just change the oil. But for a one time experiment it is interesting information.
     
  29. Aug 24, 2023 at 2:04 PM
    #29
    kmeeg

    kmeeg New Member

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    As I posted on last time also. Maintenance guide is the best friend. Take a look and see based on your usage what maintenance items you should do, not limited to oil change.

    upload_2023-8-24_15-3-0.png
    upload_2023-8-24_15-3-33.png
     
  30. Aug 24, 2023 at 2:05 PM
    #30
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    I voted for "other" because the correct answer depends on how you drive and where you drive.

    The majority of people will be fine with 10,000 mile intervals. As @Captain Spalding pointed out, the manual recommends the 5000 mile interval for people who do the majority of their driving in the circumstances listed.

    I did 10,000 mile changes with my previous 4Runner, because it was mostly highway driving, very little towing, and no off-roading. Also, generally didn't haul a lot of weight.

    I do 5000 mile changes with the 2019, because I off-road regularly, tow regularly, have oversized tires without a re gear, and have about 800 lb of extra weight constantly in or bolted onto the vehicle.
     
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