TunedRX300

To name a few: waste of $ and natural resource, more engine wear, more pollution.

harleydjce

I always stick to 3K miles (5000Km). Oil and Filter. The cost is minimal (in perspective) and I have never had problems with any vehicle (Lexus or otherwise). It's a pain sometimes but better than having it off the road while it gets fixed

harleydjce

I can understand the $ and natural resources but oil changes should decreased engine wear and pollution

TunedRX300

Out of every 4 quarts of used engine oil, only 2.5 quarts can be recycled and re-refined. The other 1.5 quart is chemical waste.
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/UsedOil/Rerefined/Facts.htm

Moly in break-in oil is a friction reducer, by dumping it sooner, you are causing engine to have additional wear than leaving in until OEM's recommendation of change.

After break-in, it is also less engine wear if you let oil age a little. There is an official SAE paper published by Ford Motors Co. and Conoco Phillips. You can Google and find the link for this paper on-line, pay for it, and read it if you don't believe this link.
http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html
The study conducted by Neptune, using Used Oil Analysis result from independent lab further confirmed the SAE paper. Read the wear metal increase rate (in PPM per 1000 miles) as engine put on more miles in the link I provided above. You will see empirical data providing scientific proof.

harleydjce

As I said above. Still not personally convinced even after reading the above but not interested in getting into an endless argument over it. SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-3119 deals with a specific study on "Antiwear Performance of Low Phosphorus Engine Oils on Tappet Inserts in Motored Sliding Valvetrain Test". It is not a definitive test covering all facets of engine wear and all oil types.

This Quote "Engine wear actually decreases as oil ages. This has also been substantiated in testing conducted by Ford Motor Co. and ConocoPhillips, and reported in SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-3119. What this means is that compulsive oil changers are actually causing more engine wear than the people who let their engine's oil get some age on it." is on a lot of forums verbatim. No idea of the source. I am a Researcher by background and reports/statistics can be twisted to suit an agenda.

TunedRX300

Great, as a researcher, you must know that "more frequent is better" is an opinion that has zero scientific data, biased or unbiased. It is also 1000x easier to say what is wrong with a set of legit data than presenting another set that is absolutely 100% correct to all people.
If you discount all the evidence above, please present your scientific data to support "more frequent is better" in term of cost, time and resource saving, and less pollution.

liuk3

I understand the debate about frequency of normal oil changes. Can you guys confirm that the oil in a new engine or car is in fact different than the typical engine oil (i.e. is the oil in the new car an "engine break-in" specific oil formulation?)?

The G Man

I found documentation on the internet about Honda using break in oil but I cannot find anything on Lexus or Toyota. When I ask the dealer, I get a diff. anwser everytime.

TunedRX300

Here is an Used Oil Analysis of Toyota factory fill, showing Moly in very high 919 ppm.
http://theoildrop.server101.com/foru...&Number=947030

You can compare with any Virgin Oil Analysis and see the spike in Moly content
http://theoildrop.server101.com/foru...e=0#Post474179

See this link to explain function of Moly, which is a good friction reducer to prevent metal to metal wear.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/moly.html

The G Man

Good info TunedRX300, thanks for sharing.