Why not 10k for synthetic oil change interval?

Chart directly from the Toyota Owners website.



Anyone have any info on why the Tacoma is still at 5000 miles and everything else is at 10000 miles for the synthetic oil change interval?

Interesting that all other 6 cylinder engines are at 10000 miles including the Tundra.

- Spindifferent

 

Is Toyota's recommendation for the oil change based on r e.g. oil, or syn?I always change my cars st 5, even if manual says I can go longer...don't know if it's a waste of money, but a new engine is expensive...if truck is new, you will void warranty if u don't follow recommendation of Toyota...I'm sure someone with more info will have better answer...

 

If I'm not mistaken, the filter the Tacoma uses is too small to last 10,000 miles. You can run the oil for 10,000 but will need to replace the filter at 5. If you do that, you need to add a little oil to make up for the amount in the filter...if I'm not mistaken.

 

The owner's manual for the 2013 v6 4.0 states:

"4.0 L V6 (1GR-FE) engine: SAE 5W-30 is the best choice for good fuel economy and good starting in cold weather." and doesn't specify whether to use conventional or synthetic oil. The chart from the Toyota Owners website is just for synthetic.

I plan on following the 5k schedule for sure while the truck is under warranty and the dealer is providing free oil changes.

 

That is interesting.

One would think that all of the newest v6 engines use the same size oil filter, but I guess that there could be different sizes on different v6 engines.

I'll try and find the oil filter specs for the v6 Tacoma and the v6 Tundra 2013 models.

A quick search of the Fram oil filters shows that the same oil filter works on both the v6 Tacoma and the v6 Tundra 2013 models. Fram part number TG3614.

Hmmm....

 

Since I have been out of warranty, I went 10K on the next oil change with Mobil1 full synthetic and the larger Mobil 1 oil filter. The next (and most recent) I accidentally went 15K, when I thought I was only at 10K. I should've sent the oil out for analysis, but I didn't. It seemed fine when it came out, not any thicker or dirtier or anything that I could tell from normal change interval. I won't be making a habit of 15K, but I think 10K is fine (with full synthetic).

 

iv gone 10k on every oil change since i got the truck. the dealership said see you in 5 for the tires and 10 for the oil. the paid program from toyota that covers 25k had the changes at 10k and 20k. im at 53k still following that regimend.
2011 4.0

 

Switched to sythetic and have been changing every 7500 miles.

 

I had a 2012 Camry SE before my Tacoma and the interval was 10,000 miles on the Toyota Care program. The dealer is supposed to use synthetic. Don't know if I fully trusted them on the two oil changes I got before I got rid of the Camry. I just changed my Tacoma's oil and went with Mobil 1 and will change every 5,000.

 

I've been using Castrol every time I change my oil... just switched to synthetic two changes ago. Usually change before 5,000 miles and oil is always dirty. Most of my miles are highway, don't know if that affects it. There is no way I'd go 10K before changing my oil.

 

I have used synthetic since my first oil change in the truck. But I change my oil every 2500 miles. I could not drive my vehicle 5000 miles and not change the oil. The owners manual says change more frequently than 5000 if you are in harsh driving conditions.

I have used synthetic in several of my vehicles and have always serviced at 2500 since I have been driving.

 

You can draw a sample and send it to a lab.
The only way I'd go more than 5k is with a lab sample and a new filter.

 

Thanks for all of the replies.

I realize that many people use synthetic oil and change it at various intervals, buy my question is not about the merits of conventional vs synthetic, or what brand of synthetic is best.

My main question is why does Toyota say to change synthetic at 5000 miles in the Tacoma when they also say to change synthetic at 10000 miles for all other v6 engines they make?

Are there mechanical or technological conditions that limit synthetic oil changes to only 5000 miles in the Tacoma under normal driving conditions? Why can the Tundra or 4Runner v6 go to 10k with synthetic and not the Tacoma?

I'm just curious, and this isn't intended to be a rant or anything against Toyota or type/brand of oil.

- Spindifferent

 

The different synth interval for Tacoma and Tundra is puzzling. I am still changing every 5k under warranty but will prob go to 7500 or 10000 when the warranty runs out. I see some folks here saying they would never go that long but I think it will be fine. What is really wild is BMW where they spec the extended performance synth oil and the change interval is 25k miles. Now that seems crazy to me.

 

Oil, filter, and my time are cheap compared to the engine. Mobil1 @ 5k. I used to change all conventional oils at 3k.

 

Life is too short to be doing oil analyses and such. There is just no need to be so anal over oil changes. Do them at reasonably frequent intervals and you'll be fine. And after all these are Tacomas so the frames will probably rust away before the engine wears out.

 

Just curious, but what is dirty? If I'm not mistaken your oil is going to darken automatically just from the heat that it is put up against. If by dirty you mean sludgy, I would say you are too late in changing your oil, but just because of color, doesn't necessarily mean it is dirty or bad.

That being said I don't go much past 5,000 either and don't know if I would trust 10,000. The biggest problem is you can't get a good sample of the viscosity without popping her open. At that point you may as well do the change.

 

This might help answer some questions:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/244798-300-000-miles-today.html

 

according to the Tacoma manual, the reason the Tacoma is at 5K is because it uses reg oil and the others at 10K are using synthetic

 

Hmm. I change my oil every 7,500 miles as well. I use Mobile 1 synthetic. I have had no performance issues.