When to change the oil
 

I've been changing the oil in my cars about every 5k miles, and I have heard people say they change it every 3k. This article says oil lasts a lot longer;

http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/stop...-your-oil.html

I'm having mine changed for the first time tomorrow. I have 1600 miles on my FR-S. I will change every 5,000 after that. The fact that Toyota gives you a free oil change after 7500 miles doesn't mean you have to wait that long. Do what ever you feel is best.

I change my oil every 3k miles. Personally I feel its cheap insurance. I have no doubt that the oil can go much longer, but it does not cost much and after I change it, I just feel better inside knowing it fresh oil :thumbsup:

Owner's manual says every 7,500 miles

anyone else going to run synthetic?

It requires synthetic.

I did my first one at 1,000 and subsequent oil changed will be done every 5k.

For this car, every 5k miles to be safe. Just because the oil can LAST to 7,500 miles doesn't mean you have to bring it to that mileage.

Changed mine at 1000, will change q 5000 hereafter. Have had Toyota engines run well into 300,000 maintenance-free. Frequent oil changes are the key to longevity.

Oil quality has improved over the years. Any particular reason for changing more often than factory recommends? I don't think it helps anything.

depends how hard you drive it

Don't speculate. Follow the factory recommendations or do a used oil analysis with a TBN.
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

-Dennis

You guys doing it at 3-5k are paranoid IMHO. If the manufacturer recommends 7500, it's because it can go for longer than that. Oil change intervals are designed with neglect in mind, so manufacturer recommended is still well before the oil is in the end of it's life. I wouldn't be surprised if the actual oil lasts around 9-10k miles without any significant differences. If you were a manufacturer of the car, would you tell your customers to change it at 7500 and risk their engines messing up then having to do warranty work becuase you told them the wrong thing? Did you know some Porsche models have 20k recommended intervals? The 3k interval dates back to the 1960s and is a myth today when it comes to newer cars. It relies on the fallacy that since you've been doing it at 3k all along and nothing bad has happened, therefore you're doing it right. That's flawed logic and tests by manufacturers have shown that it can last longer in a safe, reliable manner without compromising the life of the engine.

Of course, the manufacturer wants your motor to last past the warranty period. After that?

Bah, I like changing my oil and I have money to burn, so what's the downside?

Makes no sense. Toyota's reputation is largely based on reliability. Do you think they would sabotage that image by making engines that break down shortly after the warranty period? Engineering an engine to last up to a certain point costs more than simply engineering it to last as long as possible. If your engines break after the warranty period and it becomes widely known, you're going to start losing customers FAST. Toyota knows better and there's many reasons why the manufacturer wouldn't tell you something they in the least bit believe will make your car run for a shorter amount of time.

raul,
after operating a car under the grueling conditions some of us put our engines thru, the carbon and blow by crap from constant redlining a car is significant enough that even if the viscosity is still within spec, you've got dirty oil. Do this at a track all weekend long, and there is no way you will leave your oil in for the recommend time by the book.

Things like temperature matter alot, as do things like what intake you run. if its not a stock filter the stock interval no longer applies. Got more flow from a aftermarket exhuast? same.

High flowing filters often let in more dirt particulate. Whatever my blackstone spectroscopy analysis says, dirt, carbon, pollen, and sand are never good to leave in, unless youre trying to prove how long an oil or filter can last and do its job. I'm not out to prove that or even test those limits.

i change filters often. More often than oil sometimes. Phoenix is tough as hell on oil, tires, brakes, everything runs hot, year round; and tracks are open, year round.

Again, if marketing a toilet bowl cleaner, you show a dirty bowl to sell the product. In reality, I would hope none of us let our toilets get TV commercial dirty before cleaning.

Similarly, a clean engine begins with clean oil. What do I know...ymmv
Every manufacturer has two intentions: one to show you how cost effective it is to operate their vehicle(hence BMW's 15,000 mile oil change) and to show you that the engine runs clean,consistent and performs for a given period- 7500 miles- under normal driving conditions witha given interval of change.

In a sports car, the 'norms' of passenger car use dont always apply. Agreed tho, the few times I've done a blackstone, they always tell me to leave the oil in longer. I just like knowing I am not even near approaching 'aging the oil spec downwards'

thats my 2 free cents of sense

Interesting. Your points make a lot of sense. I wasn't really thinking about aftermarket parts being involved. I was mainly thinking stock. I'm pretty sure Toyota tests in exceedingly hot and cold climates in which the car would be used to make sure they explore those limits and that their recommendation holds up in those environments. I myself plan to follow the 7500 recommended, but if I start modding the car then that might change.

Subaru turbo's prior to 2011 were allowed 7,500 mile intervals, but this was changed to 3,750 miles after numerous turbo failures due to turbo oil screen clogging. Sure, some of this was due to owner's not checking the oil, sticking with factory recommendations after modifiying the car, etc., but in many cases this happened on 100% stock cars. After removing these screens and rerouting of the oil lines, the interval was extended back to 7,500 miles from 2011 onwards.

While it's not a turbo, the BRZ/FRS engines will be stressing the oil with high revs and fuel dilution from the direct injection. While some applications will be perfectly fine going to 7,500 miles on an oil interval (lots of highway driving, etc.), everyone should not blindly go by the manufacturers intervals. Even a typical $30 used oil analysis will not pinpoint all problems like the formation of sludge (a uoa that checks for oxidation and nitration is a bit more useful here). 7,500 miles is also the limit of the OEM oil filter and many other oil filters.

And other manufacturers oil change intervals are meaningless. I'm not sure that you are correct on the Porshce 20k mile interval. But even if you are, Porsche has specific requirements for oil (e.g. current Porsches must use oil that meets Porsche A40 requirements). They also have a sump larger than 5.5 quarts. The smaller the sump, the harder a car is on oil.

-Dennis

I was very skeptical about this, but apparently many 2005 -2007 for some reason had a 20k interval.

Thanks. Keep in mind that the only viscosities that meet the Porsche A40 spec are 0W-40, 5W-40, and 5W-50.

-Dennis

I've had two Porsches and no enthusiast of cars that I know ever followed the 20k interval. Especially considering all the IMS bearing issues that the M96 and M97 engines had prior to 2009, when they removed the IMS altogether.

Yes, the Toyota manual calls for 7500k oil changes, but they also probably recommend up-shifting at 3000rpm or less etc..