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-   ES - 7th Gen (2019-2025) (https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-7th-gen-2019-2025-301/)
-   -   Oil changes - every 10,000 miles? Even the first?? (https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-7th-gen-2019-2025/909376-oil-changes-every-10-000-miles-even-the-first.html)

mikemu30 Oct 17, 2023 08:40 AM


Originally Posted by artbuc (Post 11596673)
Yeah, I knew a man who smoked 3 packs per day. He lived to be 95 and died n a car accident. Just proves smoking is healthy and highly recommended.

Apples and oranges but I'm not a Dr nor an auto mechanic - what I do know - there's scientific proof smoking causes cancer so I'm certain none of us will debate that one. The truck mechanics I work with tell me to NEVER change trans fluid - I'll trust them and I rarely keep my cars beyond 100K miles anyway so it's a moot point for me.

artbuc Oct 17, 2023 10:08 AM


Originally Posted by mikemu30 (Post 11597115)
Apples and oranges but I'm not a Dr nor an auto mechanic - what I do know - there's scientific proof smoking causes cancer so I'm certain none of us will debate that one. The truck mechanics I work with tell me to NEVER change trans fluid - I'll trust them and I rarely keep my cars beyond 100K miles anyway so it's a moot point for me.

I was just joking of course. Anecdotal evidence and even real cases at tail of distribution mean nothing statistically. This entire thread is useless without data.

E46CT Oct 17, 2023 10:18 AM

The negative consequences for changing oil too often is I would have wasted money between oil changes. In my case, $40.

The negative consequences for not changing your oil enough would be you've caused additional wear and/or early failure to your engine.

I think I know which one is both safer and more satisfying, for which I do not need data.

Though aside from that, I'll probably not own another gas car for a good while.

tolian21 Oct 17, 2023 10:44 AM

https://news.aaa-calif.com/news/aaa-...torists-102702

Surprise, 62% fall under severe service category. I guess its some other people, not folks on this forum who have carefully evaluated their 10k OCI as suggested in the manual.

mikemu30 Oct 17, 2023 10:52 AM


Originally Posted by E46CT (Post 11597164)
The negative consequences for changing oil too often is I would have wasted money between oil changes. In my case, $40.

The negative consequences for not changing your oil enough would be you've caused additional wear and/or early failure to your engine.

I think I know which one is both safer and more satisfying, for which I do not need data.

Though aside from that, I'll probably not own another gas car for a good while.

Did you switch to an EV?

mikemu30 Oct 17, 2023 10:53 AM


Originally Posted by artbuc (Post 11597161)
I was just joking of course. Anecdotal evidence and even real cases at tail of distribution mean nothing statistically. This entire thread is useless without data.

:) yes indeed - amazed the moderators haven't closed this thread.

LeX2K Oct 17, 2023 11:19 AM


Originally Posted by ESh (Post 11597012)
You have no idea what you’re talking about.

Sarcasm.

The only driving style I know of that doesn't fit into the severe category is steady state highway driving. This is the perfect scenario for a gas engine it's run at the perfect temperature, moderate load all excess moisture burned off. Minimal stress on the oil very little bearing on/off load.

bc6152 Oct 19, 2023 03:48 PM

Sheese, You'd think after 126 posts and 5 years this question would be put to rest. But like 'ol man river it just keeps rollin' along... :egads:

LeX2K Oct 19, 2023 04:12 PM

There will never be agreement on this topic.

Marc780 Oct 19, 2023 10:39 PM


Originally Posted by losiglow (Post 11588758)
Did 10k oil changes on my 2017. At 225k miles, no problems. I used Pennzoil Platinum and OE Toyota filters. However, after that CarCareNut video about the Camry that had been taken to the dealer for an oil change every 10k and ended up burning oil due to obvious wear once the engine was torn apart, I'm now changing every 5k-7k. Small price to pay to avoid that, and I'm aiming for a minimum of 300k on my 2022.

Thing about piston rings and cylinder liners is that they may be wearing prematurely, but you may not have oil consumption until the oil control rings get worn enough to the point where they no longer provide the sufficient spring tension required to skim the oil off the liners of the cylinder. So for all I knew, my 2017 could start burning oil the day after I sold it. Or it could be fine. Who knows.

I dealt with a car that had internal wear to the point of oil consumption and it was a total pain in the side. I never want to deal with the BS of having to check oil every time I fill up with gas.

I concur with everything you just said. I own a 2002 Camry 1FMZE V6 and a 2001 Solara V6 and I maintain both of them. We got the cars around the same time and mileage so I've seen the effects of oil change intervals on the same engine.
Right now the Solara has 250,000 miles and my Camry has 204,000. The Solara had its oil changed every 5,000 miles (since it's not my car and I wasn't paying for the oil changes). The Camry had an oil change every 3 months regardless of mileage, I do tend towards over-maintenance.
As a result, I can see for myself the difference that oil change intervals made, and the difference is obvious. Despite having the same engine, the Solara has much less power than the Camry and is a lot less responsive than it was when we first got the car. If you stomp the gas pedal the Solara just sort of bogs down for several seconds, and you can feel and hear the engine struggle to accelerate. It also idles much less smooth than the Camry. If I stomp the Camry's gas to get on the freeway for example, it responds instantly exactly how it did when new (to me).
Also I used to work for a government fleet and I tore down and reassembled scores of engines. These engines were in general treated exactly how you'd expect a bunch of government workers to treat them, i.e. with either complete indifference or outright abuse. All the engines I worked on were all maintained "by the book" at the recommended intervals from the manufacturers. And as a rule they were all dirty, sludgy messes inside and had plenty of problems caused by lubrication, or lack of same. (My favorite was the 1990 Ford Escort that had a connecting rod that punched through the cast oil pan, because the operator decided to ignore the flashing oil light, and just kept right on driving until they couldn't).

hotwings Oct 20, 2023 06:21 AM


Originally Posted by BillUK (Post 11596973)

Transmission fluid is slighty different. Whilst most people probably never change it, and follow the liftetime recommendation, quite a few heve learned not to trust this, and so change at around 80-100k. Mostly though that's the kind of people who are interested enough in cars to be on a forum, which of course most drivers aren't.

As far as I recall that's always been the case in my 40+ years of driving.

Can anybody give thoughts why there would be a recommended TIME interval to change transmission fluid? The car care nut says to change even "lifetime" fluid after 6 years regardless of miles.

I understand the concept of engine oil becoming acid if moisture builts up as a by-product of combustion but what about transmission fluid?

ESh Oct 20, 2023 10:15 AM

The same story with ATF.

mikemu30 Oct 20, 2023 10:28 AM

Let the debate begin:)

artbuc Oct 20, 2023 02:04 PM


Originally Posted by hotwings (Post 11598787)
Can anybody give thoughts why there would be a recommended TIME interval to change transmission fluid? The car care nut says to change even "lifetime" fluid after 6 years regardless of miles.

I understand the concept of engine oil becoming acid if moisture builts up as a by-product of combustion but what about transmission fluid?

A hint comes from Toyota who recommends lifetime atf be replaced every 60k miles if towing.

grp52 Oct 20, 2023 04:15 PM


Originally Posted by artbuc (Post 11599036)
A hint comes from Toyota who recommends lifetime atf be replaced every 60k miles if towing.

One source of that hint is from the current/last generation Avalon's WARRANTY & MAINTENANCE GUIDE. Since both the Avalon and ES 350 use the same UA80E transaxle/transmission the maintenance recommendation should be similar (or the same) for the same operating condition cases. From Avalon's guide:


60,000 miles or 72 months (also 120,000 miles or 144 months)
...
Additional Maintenance Items for Special Operating Conditions³
...
Driving while towing, using a car-top carrier, or heavy vehicle loading:⁸
☐ Replace automatic transmission fluid
...
Extensive idling and/or low speed driving for a long distance such as police, taxi or door-to-door delivery use:
☐ Replace automatic transmission fluid
...
³ Perform these service items only if you drive primarily under the conditions indicated.
...
⁸ Not all vehicles are designed for towing. Refer to your Vehicle Owner’s Manual for details.
Since Lexus doesn't recommend/endorse towing, using a car-top carrier, or heavy vehicle loading for the ES that explains why Lexus doesn't have an automatic transmission fluid (ATF) replacement maintenance recommendation for that special operating condition; however, it doesn't explain the lack of an ATF replacement maintenance recommendation for the extensive idling and/or low speed driving for a long distance such as police, taxi or door-to-door delivery use case.


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