I recently visited my local Lexus dealer for an oil change. After my last oil change, which was done at the same place, they updated the sticker for my next oil change to another 5,000 miles. So, 5,000 miles later, I went back and was told that the new interval is actually 10,000 miles and that I didn’t need an oil change yet.

This doesn’t seem right to me. Despite all the explanations I’ve found online about better oil quality and so forth, I plan to continue changing my oil every 5,000 miles. However, I can’t help but wonder if the dealer has ulterior motives. It could be because the oil change was free or included with my certified purchase, or perhaps they are hoping to encourage me to buy another car sooner by suggesting longer intervals, which I fear might negatively affect the longevity of my car.

I’m eager to hear others’ opinions on this because a 10,000-mile interval feels wrong to me.

 

Do what you think is best. Personally I drive around 10-12,000 km/year (6,000-7,000 miles) on average. I change the engine oil once a year...it worked for me on my old Camry (which is now approaching 400,000 km).

 

It took me a long time to come around to longer drain intervals. But the science is there.

I do 7,500 mile OCIs with tougher 30 weight oils - Mobil 1 High Mileage, or Euro 5w-30s. I have tested the oil after that mileage at laboratories and it was good and could have gone longer, including in higher-performance turbo engines. 7,500 miles on a high-quality synthetic of the right grade and quality is no problem for most engines.

Assuming they are 1) using TGMO (a Mobil product; very good oil) or equivalent, 2) the car is not abused, and 3) the oil has some room for shear (e.g., 30 weight and not 20), 10k would be do-able. Personally, I call it at 7,500 to 8k so I sleep better at night.

I don’t think your dealer has ulterior motives, but it is hard for those of us who are used to being preached to about shorter intervals in the past to come around to this at first. Try this: Run the current fill to six or seven K miles. Send in a sample for analysis ($20). See what the lab says.

 

There are probably 500 posts over time on this forum arguing for and against oil change intervals. Very contentious. Lexus says one year or 10,000 miles. Some say 5k some say 15k and most go with what Lexus says is best for your car. Your dealer doesn't have any "ulterior motives". They are following the OCI Toyota is recommending for your car. You'll get scores of advisories asking this question but after all it's your decision. The 6th. gen Lexus Es cars have the same engine as the 7th. gen. I would suggest that you do whatever you think is best for your vehicle. IMO 5k mile OCI of pure synthetic oil is a waste of time and money...

 

I’m starting to warm up to a slightly longer interval. I think 7,500 is likely the sweet spot. However, 5,000 definitely won’t hurt, and the dealer’s motive is most likely related to their cost of ownership figures.

If I completely trusted the dealer, I would get a new car every year.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply.

 

There is no point of guessing, send your oil to a lab.

 

Hey Chicago, I’ll give you another data point. One of the cars in my “fleet” (cars I maintain, meaning mine, my parents, ex, and step-sons) is a 2002 ES that now has 335k on it. I have been doing 7,500 k OCIs with it with top quality oils since about 120k. It runs like a top and the only non-scheduled thing I’ve ever done to the engine is replace the VVT valves @ about 250k miles, which is normal, and I changed two of the coils when they failed (other four are original). Not a thing else done to that engine. it uses about 1/2 quart of oil every 7,500miles, same as it did at 100k miles. My dad drives the car now and honestly, if he gets tired of it I’d likely sell one of my Volvo and start driving it because it drives and rides so nicely (I rebuilt the suspension once and have maintained the transmission to similar standards).

So these nicely-built Toyota engines will do very well with longer OCIs on good oil, no problem!

 

From my understanding, the dealer uses bulk oil and so I wouldn’t feel comfortable with a long interval. It makes sense for them to want to see you less often since it is free. I currently use Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic and would be okay to push it a bit past 5k.

 

They generally do, but “bulk” TGMO or Mobil 1 5w-30 in a 55 gallon drum is the same as it is in a quart bottle. The bigger point is that they are under no obligation to use TGMO and can be using something different. If that’s full syn Castrol, that’s no problem. So the point is to actually ask them what they are in fact using because you are right that it is not guaranteed to be TGMO/Mobil 1.

I have seen techs say on oil forums that some use Mobil 1 consistently, some TGMO, and some others use different syns that are available. So it does vary and you have to ask to be sure.

 

My Lexus dealer was using regular bulk pennzoil and charged $100, thats why I an DIY.
they are not requited to use TGMO.

 

Another part of it is climate and driving habits. Frequent short trips of less than 5 miles, especially in colder climates, is considered harsh driving and needs shorter oil change intervals.

 

On this point, I read an industry white paper on this subject a few years ago. Unfortunately did not cite it or bookmark it. Serious analysis showed on average 800 miles of hard city driving was equivalent to 5,000 miles of highway cruising. These were petroleum engineers doing lab tests, not just guesstimating.

 

I replace oil at around 5 K miles, if towing or driving in dusty traffic, maybe even 4 K. Cross country freeway driving I can go to 6500 to 7K.
Mobil 1 5W30 FS.

 

Why he should do that?

 

Because you can not accurately determine what is the good oil change interval without knowing driving conditions of the vehicle. For some of you 5K oil change interval is appropriate, and for others 10K is good. Its no one size fits all.