Why the 5000 mile synthetic oil change interval?

I don't understand why Toyota is treating syn oil as only capable of 5000 miles. Please help me understand!

 

Lawyers.

 

Haha, seems about right

 

I usually go 6500 miles on mine, don't like the light tho

 

Seems like a good compromise... I may start doing that.

 

In my shop we use valvoline oils. All of our intervals are set to 3k. Valvoline will only cover their oils to 3k miles. If you want to go over that's all you but that's above my pay grade. In all honesty. It's not that the oil won't lest 10k miles before it breaks down, I'm sure it will but what a lot of people don't realize is that engines consume oil. Chevrolet has stated that 1qt of consumption per 1000 miles is normal. So if you have a 2007 Tahoe with a 5.3 that holds 6 quarts and you decide you want to go 10k miles, good luck. I change mine every 3k. Lexus has had some bad problems with oil consumption in the is line of vehicles. All engines consume oil. If your taking these extreme lengthy oil change gaps. Check your damn dipsticks every now and then. It takes 7 seconds

 

I think synthetics can operate effectively over 10k miles,its the dirt accumulation of the oil that's the issue

 

This^^
Modern day engines have low resistance piston rings which in turn provide better fuel economy but the cons are more blowby and oil consumption, DO NOT exceed the recommended oil change interval on todays engines. Older engines, sure you can go by the oil manufacturers once a year oil change if you wish but not the newer cars.

 

I do, my 2009 2.7l 4 cyl uses about 1/4 quart in a year and 10,000 miles, using AmsOil Signature oil.

 

There is no way chevy stated that losing 1qt ever 1,000 miles was ok.... that means in my 93 chevy pickup after the 3k miles driven for an oil change it only has 2 qts left... no way. As for my Tacoma it doesn't consume any oil really during its 5-6k interval

 

Believe it or not. That is what gm has released due to them consuming oil. I'm not talking about a 93 350 chevy that could withstand a nuclear blast. I'm talking about the newer pushrod v8 motors not a 350 smallblock

 

Mine was the 4.3 v6 but yeah same shit... if my new vehicle consumed 1 qt every 1k I would lose my shit

 

An oil change costs me about $30 and takes less than a 1/2 hour start to finish. I can't complain about that at 5k miles.

 

I did the 1st oil change at 5000 with synthetic. When the service engine light came on at 10K I just changed the filter and reset. When the light came on at 15K I changed the oil and filter and have continued that cycle for almost 10 years and 180,000 miles. I plan to continue the same oil change intervals for another 10 years. Filter every 5K, oil and filter at 10K. It won't be 180,000 more miles since I don't drive it as much, but I'll probably be at 300K in another 10 years.

 

Corrosive by products of combustion that contaminate the oil - especially if you're doing soccer mom type driving.

I change oil & filter every 5k miles using Toyota products; 95% of my trips are at least 75 miles.

 

Another hilarious topic on TW. In every other thread the Toyota engineers are gods that can do no wrong. When it comes to oil change intervals everybody throws them out the window because the engineers that set them have no idea what they are talking about.

I don't think it is lawyers or marketers, they would both opt for longer intervals I believe. Less environmental issue, less opportunity to mess up customer's vehicles, and they can market a lower cost of ownership. Really the only thing I can think of that would make the manufacturer want to keep them low would be to help out dealer service departments.

 

I change my oil every other tank of gas

 

I have been doing 10k oil changes and 5k OEM filter changes because I got tired of changing oil every 2 1/2 months. At first I was very nervous but ultimately I learned modern synthetic oils can go 10k no problem. But why they recommend 5k I don't know especially considering the 4.0 is easy on oil.

 

Just did first oil change on my taco got 3 years free unlimited oil from dealer. But all my other rigs been 10k oil change an filters all motors went beyond 200k never using a drop maybe have had a leak or 2 after 180 but never burned. Have done it in a Silverado, ram, f150 straight 6 an my recent Titan. I don't advise it but every time with those oil was fairly clean an so was filter tacoma I will do 5k just cause filter is puny.

 

GM doesn't say that it WILL USE a quart every 1000 miles, its says that in the incidence that it may use oil, 1 quart per 1000 miles is acceptable..... this is a cover our ass response they came up with when the Vortec engines came out and maintained it for the LSx and L18 big block.

the Maint Req light doesn't necessarily mean "change the oil" checking it would be a good idea though. my '08 pile has 270k, uses little to no oil at a 5k interval, its always been changed @ 5k, just cuz it bugs the shit out of me knowing its over. My 3rd Gen Runner gets the same.

my '13 Ford E250 w/5.4 work van uses a quart in 4k miles, has since new, i use the same oil in all 3 Valvoline 5w30 synthetic ( Carquest branded )