Author Topic: yet another Oil change question/poll (Read 4512 times)

echo7 · « **on:** July 05, 2007, 02:09:44 pm »

this question might have been asked before. i tried search but did not find a definitive answer and so I posted a poll. For the veterans here I apologize if you're seeing this question again.

"" toyotas recommended oil change is 6 months or 8,000 Km whichever comes first.. I usually do mine earlier.. However I would like peoples opinion on 2 cases...

I'll have my car oil change this saturday and the poll will influence me in picking regular or synthetic.. Your expert opinions are appreciated..."""

thanks

21Rouge · « **Reply #1 on:** July 05, 2007, 02:13:45 pm »

Quote from: echo7 on July 05, 2007, 02:09:44 pm

"" toyotas recommended oil change is 6 months or 8,000 Km whichever comes first.

There is no way that is true of all Toyotas ie recommended change is 6 mo/8k kms...maybe if you can verify/justify that your driving habits are easy ie mostly hwy.

Trainman · « **Reply #2 on:** July 05, 2007, 02:14:13 pm »

I would (well have actually

) go with full syn. But I have kept our 5,000 km change interval as well.

The Pathy runs much smoother on the syn, takes half the time to start than with dyno oil. I use NAPA Gold filters as well. The Sienna is just on its first syn change, we will see how it goes.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #3 on:** July 05, 2007, 02:27:19 pm »

I have no expertise on this topic, after reading often debates on this, I am sticking to the dealer's schedule.

Its Dino Oil every 6 months or 8000kms.
If the car is driven excessively in the city stop and go traffic, engine is a bit more noisy, doesn't run smooth, thats usually around 5000km.

ovr50 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 05, 2007, 02:52:44 pm »

I use synthetic oil and change every 6 mos/8000kms per the Toyota shop here.

infinitime · « **Reply #5 on:** July 05, 2007, 03:07:53 pm »

My Toyota dealer mechanic, who is also a personal friend, does my oil changes every 5,000km. According to him, the 8,000km thing is really for marketing purposes, and although you can definitely go 8,000 before a change, it makes little sense.

As for oil, he talked me out of using Mobil-1 in my Vibe (Toyota Matrix clone), and suggested a good quality dino oil instead (Castro). I now change my oil at 5,000km or six months, whichever comes first.

Trainman · « **Reply #6 on:** July 05, 2007, 03:12:52 pm »

Quote from: infinitime on July 05, 2007, 03:07:53 pm

As for oil, he talked me out of using Mobil-1 in my Vibe (Toyota Matrix clone), and suggested a good quality dino oil instead (Castro).

Would be interesting to hear what his reason are.

My shop, that does not supply syn, highly recommends syn oil over dino.

21Rouge · « **Reply #7 on:** July 05, 2007, 03:34:07 pm »

Quote from: infinitime on July 05, 2007, 03:07:53 pm

As for oil, he talked me out of using Mobil-1 in my Vibe (Toyota Matrix clone), and suggested a good quality dino oil instead (Castro). I now change my oil at 5,000km or six months, whichever comes first.

I have an 05 5 speed Vibe. I have used M1 and Penzoil Platinum 5W-30, M1 and German Castrol and Esso XD 0W-30.

I changed often in the first year of use and now go between 5k and 8k kms between changes...always synthetic and usually the larger filter. As well I have done several oil analyses.

echo7 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 05, 2007, 03:40:42 pm »

Quote from: 21Rouge on July 05, 2007, 03:34:07 pm

I have an 05 5 speed Vibe. I have used M1 and Penzoil Platinum 5W-30, M1 and German Castrol and Esso XD 0W-30.

I changed often in the first year of use and now go between 5k and 8k kms between changes...always synthetic and usually the larger filter. As well I have done several oil analyses.

from the oils that you used.. did you find any difference?? which one you prefer?

aquadorhj · « **Reply #9 on:** July 05, 2007, 03:58:19 pm »

I'm not voting on either option, because I use dino and change every 8k km.. that's usually when my car tells me my oil needs to be changed.

Speaking of which, what about people with cars that have maintenance minder system? Some of them go almost a year or > 10000 km before suggesting service. BMW comes to mind.

Leviathan · « **Reply #10 on:** July 05, 2007, 04:35:40 pm »

Just switched to Penzoil Platium on the last change at ~12000km on the odo. Will go with it on a 6 month interval as that is only ~5-6,000kms from here on in.

21Rouge · « **Reply #11 on:** July 05, 2007, 05:11:33 pm »

Quote from: echo7 on July 05, 2007, 03:40:42 pm

Quote from: 21Rouge on July 05, 2007, 03:34:07 pm
I have an 05 5 speed Vibe. I have used M1 and Penzoil Platinum 5W-30, M1 and German Castrol and Esso XD 0W-30.

I changed often in the first year of use and now go between 5k and 8k kms between changes...always synthetic and usually the larger filter. As well I have done several oil analyses.

from the oils that you used.. did you find any difference?? which one you prefer?

I really think that the 1zzfe engine can make any oil look good. I wont use again M1 0W-30 (showed too much consumption in the winter) or M1 5W-30 (more expensive than PP). I have a large supply of German Castrol 0W-30 and PP 5W-30.

airbalancer · « **Reply #12 on:** July 05, 2007, 05:17:49 pm »

BMW suggest 24,000km between changes
I change 6 months or about 8,000, pick up some BMW oil which is Euro Castrol, only $7.50 /L at the dealer

tpl · « **Reply #13 on:** July 05, 2007, 05:37:39 pm »

Quote from: aquadorhj on July 05, 2007, 03:58:19 pm

I'm not voting on either option, because I use dino and change every 8k km.. that's usually when my car tells me my oil needs to be changed.

Speaking of which, what about people with cars that have maintenance minder system? Some of them go almost a year or > 10000 km before suggesting service. BMW comes to mind.

Quote from: airbalancer on July 05, 2007, 05:17:49 pm

BMW suggest 24,000km between changes
I change 6 months or about 8,000, pick up some BMW oil which is Euro Castrol, only $7.50 /L at the dealer

My car is 25000 between changes. When I commuted the maintenance counter would count down that 25000 in 22000 real kms.
I change at 16000 & 8000 at an indy shop and at 0 at the dealer. It gets BMW oil at the dealer and some other 5w-30 SL/SM syn in the meantime whatever the indy shop is using, often Pennzoil or Quaker, I top up if required with German Castrol 0w-30. This regimen keeps both of us happy

The Fit is counting down its maintenance minder; its at 70% oil life remaining and 3200 km so I'll expect to get it changed at 15% remaing which should be at about 8500 km

articsteve · « **Reply #14 on:** July 05, 2007, 11:11:59 pm »

Not to burst anyone's Toyota bubble, but the syn oil installed in Ontario Toyota dealerships is not a PAO based oil. It's an "enhanced" Group 3 "synthetic". What I like to refer to as the fake sh*t.

I think every 4 months or 5000 kms with Toyota bulk oil (PetroCanada currently) would be super adequate. Most of the newer stores have 0W20 bulk oil available which should be good for winter.

Squishy · « **Reply #15 on:** July 06, 2007, 03:21:16 am »

I voted for synthetic, but with an addition. Unless you have a known sludger engine or do lots of short trips, synthetic could go much longer. I would shoot for 10,000 km on synthetic to be on the conservative side. The oil change interval suggested by Toyota will be for dino oil meeting the minimum requirements set forth by Toyota. Based on that, I wouldn't hesitate to go 8,000 km on SM-rated dino oil. 5,000 km oil change intervals are pretty outdated with modern engines and oils.

Keep in mind that going beyond the recommended OCI could bring up issues if your car is still under warranty. Before it expires, I would use dino (Petro-Canada makes a great oil, if that's what Toyota's bulk dino is) at 8,000 km intervals. Do a used oil analysis once in a while to make yourself feel better.

curls · « **Reply #16 on:** July 06, 2007, 09:33:09 pm »

Just my preference, but I average the "normal" and "severe" and change at 12,000km. Normal is 16000, severe is 8000km. My driving style is about 95% towards the normal side of the scale but I play it safe.

I use 100% PAO synthetic Esso XD-3 0W-30 and a genuine made-in-Japan Honda filter. Engine purrs like a kitten and the 0W in the winter allows very easy starts.

The wifes' car, a 2002 Protege5 with almost 120,000km on the clock, gets 8000km OCI's with good dino oils and Mazda filters, because she does a lot of short-trip, city driving, whereas I basically drive 20km minimum with most/all of my trips, and mostly highway or backroads at that.

21Rouge · « **Reply #17 on:** July 06, 2007, 09:59:51 pm »

Quote from: curls on July 06, 2007, 09:33:09 pm

I use 100% PAO synthetic Esso XD-3 0W-30.

Engine purrs like a kitten and the 0W in the winter allows very easy starts.

Definitely a great oil at a great price. But unless it is arctic like cold, a synthetic 5W-30 will flow better than a 0W-30....for most winter temps.

barrie1 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 07, 2007, 12:12:52 am »

Don't know if this has changed but the oil sensors on all engines only worked correctly with Dino Oil only a few years ago. My one Fleetwood has this device option and syn does not register on it properly at all. Many of the other makes are the same.

maritime_storm · « **Reply #19 on:** July 07, 2007, 06:01:33 am »

I'd love to know where the idea that you can extend OCI's with synthetic came from. Oil gets dirty at the same rate regardless of brand. Period. It gets the same amount of Hydrochloric Acid and carbon grit in at the same rate and the additives in the oil handle it at the same rate regardless of whether you put a synthetic oil or conventional(which are a synthetic blend anyway).

Poll

Which one would you prefer? and why?

Author Topic: yet another Oil change question/poll (Read 4512 times)