is time a factor in oil changes?
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 182
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From: ca
is time a factor in oil changes?
for various reason, my is hasnt been driven much.. since delivery in july 06.. it still only has about 3500 miles..
i know the first oil change should be 5k.. but since its been 6 month now.. will it be ok if i wait until i actually hit 5k to change the oil?? maybe in march or april??
or is time a factor in how often oil needs to be changed
thanks
i know the first oil change should be 5k.. but since its been 6 month now.. will it be ok if i wait until i actually hit 5k to change the oil?? maybe in march or april??
or is time a factor in how often oil needs to be changed
thanks
I always follow "whichever comes first." I've never driven a car less than 5k miles in 6 months, but others have.
Technology is changing rapidly for the better, and I hypothesize that most engines will survive more than 6 months, and changing at 5k miles will be fine.
Technique is actually doing a test on his car which he hadn't changed the oil for three years! His test should determine if the oil is good after waiting.
Technology is changing rapidly for the better, and I hypothesize that most engines will survive more than 6 months, and changing at 5k miles will be fine.
Technique is actually doing a test on his car which he hadn't changed the oil for three years! His test should determine if the oil is good after waiting.
Last edited by PhilipMSPT; Feb 9, 2007 at 02:37 AM. Reason: spelling...
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: ca
most of the miles are freeway.. and then the car sits in the garage for 2 weeks with out moving sometimes... alot of the time comes from it just sitting in the garage.. not that i go on super short trips day after day..
hopefully it'll be ok til 5k
hopefully it'll be ok til 5k
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 1
From: South FLA
My car is just over a year old and still only have about 8200 miles on it. I usually go by mileage since if I go by time, I'll probably only have about 3000 miles on that oil. I've done it this way on my Integra for over 10 years, and she's still running with no problems. I think you should be fine.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,102
Likes: 8
From: Hill Country, TX
Since it is your first oil change I'd wait no longer than six months. Remember the oil was put in in Japan. Check your build date, that will tell you how old the oil is. It could be a year old. No harm in changing it at the six months of ownership. Cheap insurance.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 598
Likes: 21
From: California
Seems to me the owners manual for my '06 IS350 says 5000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first for the first oil change. I only had 2600 miles on the car at 6 months but the oil was changed.
Most of the cars I own get driven so seldom that I always go by time and not mileage. I'm probably pitching out good oil every 6 months from those cars but I feel that I'm taking very good care of them.
Most of the cars I own get driven so seldom that I always go by time and not mileage. I'm probably pitching out good oil every 6 months from those cars but I feel that I'm taking very good care of them.
i always thought time was a factor too but a buddy of mine has a porshe and i went to the dealership with him to change his oil once... he barely drives it...1000 miles a year maybe... took it to the porshe dealership and he asked the same question... they popped off the oil drain and it looked like it was brand new...they changed the oil anyway... but i dunno, looked good to me....but maybe there's something that the naked eye just can't see.
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: VA
oil never becomes less of a lubercant it only gets dirty. So if you dont dirve much and change your oil every 500 miles but you live in a place where your oil could potenially become dirty quick, it is better to go by whichever comes first rule. mgiht not have many miles on it but the enviornment could be very dirty.
Good point. I wouldn't want to leave the factory fill oil in there any longer than you already have. If I were you, I would just get on a 6 month oil change interval using conventional oils. No reason to waste money on the expensive stuff if you aren't even putting many miles on it.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 341
Likes: 6
From: FL
i'm reading what lexus has online right now as far as the service manual and they say you should get oil changed every 5000 mi. if you drive under the following conditions
1.dusty roads or gravel
2freezing trips less than 5 mi.
3.tow with your vehicle
otherwise they recommend 7500 mi. for an oil change. so why did the dealership tell me otherwise???
1.dusty roads or gravel
2freezing trips less than 5 mi.
3.tow with your vehicle
otherwise they recommend 7500 mi. for an oil change. so why did the dealership tell me otherwise???
Lexus Champion
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,102
Likes: 8
From: Hill Country, TX
i'm reading what lexus has online right now as far as the service manual and they say you should get oil changed every 5000 mi. if you drive under the following conditions
1.dusty roads or gravel
2freezing trips less than 5 mi.
3.tow with your vehicle
otherwise they recommend 7500 mi. for an oil change. so why did the dealership tell me otherwise???
1.dusty roads or gravel
2freezing trips less than 5 mi.
3.tow with your vehicle
otherwise they recommend 7500 mi. for an oil change. so why did the dealership tell me otherwise???
Oh, and a guy has never been told wrong information by a dealer as a rip off?? C'mon, the original question is an honest question.
I have the pdf available in 2006. I downloaded it from Lexus. It was written 10/8/2001 and revised 3/19/2003. This is pre-sludge issues. It says:
This is the same document I received when I purchased my car. is250gurl certainly has a good point here.
Determining the Proper Maintenance Interval
Depending on your circumstances, you should obtain maintenance for your Lexus every 5,000 miles or every 7,500 miles. Follow these guidelines to determine which interval to use.
5,000-Mile Intervals
Use 5,000-mile intervals if you primarily operate your vehicle under any of the following conditions:
Driving on unpaved or dusty roads.
Towing a trailer or using a camper or car-top carrier.
Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below freezing.
7,500-Mile Intervals
Use 7,500-mile intervals if you primarily operate your vehicle under conditions other than those listed above.
Depending on your circumstances, you should obtain maintenance for your Lexus every 5,000 miles or every 7,500 miles. Follow these guidelines to determine which interval to use.
5,000-Mile Intervals
Use 5,000-mile intervals if you primarily operate your vehicle under any of the following conditions:
Driving on unpaved or dusty roads.
Towing a trailer or using a camper or car-top carrier.
Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below freezing.
7,500-Mile Intervals
Use 7,500-mile intervals if you primarily operate your vehicle under conditions other than those listed above.