How often "Really" changing oil?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 945
From: CA
If you drive primarily under any of the conditions noted, you should replace the engine oil and oil filter every six months or 5,000 miles — even when the oil maintenance reminder does not appear.
These special operating conditions, which put added demands on a vehicle, include:
• Driving on dirt roads or on dusty roads
• Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below 32°F or 0°C
• Extensive idling and/or low-speed driving for long distances, such as police, taxi or door-to-door delivery use
• Towing. Not all vehicle sare designed for towing. Refer to the Owner’s Manual for details.
• Driving on dirt roads or on dusty roads
• Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below 32°F or 0°C
• Extensive idling and/or low-speed driving for long distances, such as police, taxi or door-to-door delivery use
• Towing. Not all vehicle sare designed for towing. Refer to the Owner’s Manual for details.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 887
Likes: 531
From: Alberta
I have almost 28,000 km on my car now and have had one oil change at 16,000 km. It runs perfectly still, no need to go less than 10,000 mile (16000 km) oil change intervals, that would be a waste of money, time, and oil.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,310
Likes: 1,602
From: SE PA
You're correct Mike... 10,000 miles or one year. No issues, no problems, haven't heard of anyone's engine imploding. The pure synthetic oil produced today is superior and could probably be easily changed at 15,000 miles w/o issue. 
Just go by the O.M. unless you're using your Lexus for a police car or a taxi on dirt roads only in the winter for short trips... 
Just go by the O.M. unless you're using your Lexus for a police car or a taxi on dirt roads only in the winter for short trips...
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,310
Likes: 1,602
From: SE PA
[QUOTE=Shaboom;11546432]
Did the service manager also suggest the differential service for your car?
Where do you see them stating to change at 6mo's? It's 10k miles, or 12 months. I've never heard of anyone having issues following that schedule. Some have gone well into 100k+ miles on the last gen ES doing so.[/QUOTE
service manager at two different Lexus dealerships said 6 months or 5,000 miles, whichever comes first.
service manager at two different Lexus dealerships said 6 months or 5,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Driver
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 98
Likes: 46
From: ACT
Here in Australia, the factory recommended service interval is every 10,000 kilometers, (which is about 6,000 miles), or every 12 months, whichever comes first. I think this is pretty reasonable and wouldn't really want to extend that to 15,000 kilometers personally. There is also no break in oil change, but it certainly makes sense to do one, even on modern cars you will find little bits of metal in the break in oil, so why not change it? It probably won't hurt if you don't as the filter catches most of these, but why risk it? One thing is for sure, I will be changing the transmission fluid more regularly than the factory recommends, haha.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 909
Likes: 415
From: TX
interesting! I used to do that myself just being a cheap *** doing driveway maintenance like oil and brake jobs. I changed oil more frequently than was required (it’s hot in Texas and lot of stop and go driving for me) but only the filter every other change.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,477
Likes: 959
From: IL
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 15
From: Montreal, QC
I live in Canada and I change oil every time I switch the winter tires : once before the winter around Mid-October and the other time after winter Mid-April. However, I do daily drive my car to work ever since I bought the car in May 2019 (the ODO is currently around 110 000 km / 68 350 miles). I absolutely love the feeling after the oil change. The acceleration feels a lot smoother.
