Low mileage oil change intervals (1 Viewer)

[mulberry083]

We’ve had our GX OT+ since 07/24, and currently have less than 7k miles on it. Love the car, but are a 2 person, 3 car family so we baby it. My question is about oil change frequency wrt time vs mileage. I had the oil changed at 1000 miles (12/24), and then at ~5000 miles this past July. Should I wait until 10k miles (which could be 07/26), or do it in 01/26, even if we only have 7000 miles or so on it?

 

[Warrantero]

Car car nut recommends 5k or 6 months for turbo engines.

 

[RetiredSteelWorker]

^ Yes, he does.

Even though Car Care Nut (see his YT video on Totota/Lexus engines with turbos, the GX 550 has two), the correct answer is you should follow as a minimum, the specifications from Lexus for a GX 550. Those specs are: Change the oil and filter at 10k miles or 12 months, whichever occurs first. If you fall under "SPECIAL DRIVING CONDITIONS" then 5k miles or six months applies instead.

You can, a lot of people do, change oil and filter at lesser intervals -- time or mileage -- but you should never go over the intervals.

To directly answer your question, you'd satisfy the 12 months, 10k miles specification at either of 1) or 2): 1.) 15k miles, because your last change was at 5000 miles. 2.) on 07/26, one year from your last change done in July of this year. whichever comes first. Every time you change the oil you apply the 10k miles or 12 month rule to determine your next change.

You can, and a lot of people (i.e., many, many, many people) do, change at less than the minimum intervals. But you should never go over. So if you were to change at 7000 miles or 01/26 you'd be doing better than the specs. And you simply figure 10k miles or 12 months forward from that point.

My own approach, and I'm only a sample of one in the huge pool of people who will change more frequently than the specs, is: I'll have a dealer do the 10k miles or 12 month changes, and I'll do my own change at 5k miles or six months. That way a dealer always does the items on the recommended maintenance interval checklist, so no questions on 'was the scheduled maintenance performed' for any future warranty coverage questions. And I get peace of mind along with some satisfaction in having oil changes myself at 6 months or 5k miles.

This was a long-winded reply, if it doesn't answer your question reply back and we'll try again.

 

[Sixgun95]

My dealer says 10k mi, or 12 mo, whatever comes first. Anything more is a waste of money. I agree, QC and manufacturing is light years ahead of the past.

 

[roaniecowpony]

We’ve had our GX OT+ since 07/24, and currently have less than 7k miles on it. Love the car, but are a 2 person, 3 car family so we baby it. My question is about oil change frequency wrt time vs mileage. I had the oil changed at 1000 miles (12/24), and then at ~5000 miles this past July. Should I wait until 10k miles (which could be 07/26), or do it in 01/26, even if we only have 7000 miles or so on it?

How long do you expect to keep this vehicle?

If the answer is 5 years, it's not likely to matter what you do, as long as you do at least the OEM interval. If you intend to keep it 10 years or more, in your place, I'd either change the oil twice a year or drive it on the highway for an hour straight at least once a month to burn out fuel dilution and moisture.

We are likely to be in the same situation with my wife's new GX at some point, since we're retired and 3 vehicle, 2 driver family. I tend to change the oil in our vehicles at much shorter intervals than the OEM recommendations, since retiring and doing a lot of short errand trips where the oil never gets up to operating temp and stay there for any length of time.

 

[swarnerus]

There is no need to change oil more frequently than OEM specs. This is especially true with full synthetic oil that does not degrade the same way as conventional oil.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Fuel dilution and moisture are two reasons you may want to change oil more frequently than the maximum interval recommended by the manufacturer. There are other operational conditions that would justify oil change intervals of less than the maximum recommended interval.

 

[spiderjoe]

It also depends on how you drive.. if your service advisor tells you to change at 10k miles /12 months interval, and did not ask how you use your GX, they are assuming your vehicle is a mall crawler, or you do not take the vehicle off roading or strain the engine. Even the manual recommends more frequent oil changes if you use the vehicle in harsh conditions.

We change ours 6mo or 5k. No off roading but frequent drive up hills/ mountains during ski season. I plan to keep the vehicle long term, rather take a hit on a $100+ oil change than getting issues 5-10 years down the road.

Ask Motorsports or F1 mechanics how often they change engine oil and the answers are always more often than you think. But it all depends on your driving condition. For normal driving or a lease/short term vehicle, you may get by with longer oil changes

It’s not only the oil change, you need to use fuel with detergent (such as Shell V Power or others) and/or top the gas tank with a fuel cleaner from time to time. This helps with engine heath. The ethanol they put in our gasoline gunks up the cylinders.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I think many people take the maximum oil change interval in the owner's manual to be an absolute, as if the oil was magically perfect up until that point, then absolutely engine devastating after that point. The truth is that there are enough variables to support that as, both, factual and myth. What many people don't read is the part about your usage and how that can affect what they recommend for your oil change interval, and when they do read that section, they think that they drive nice and easy, just going to the store a few times a week a mile or two away, and therefore their utilization is not "severe". What they don't know is that they are just barely warming the oil and not cooking out fuel and water, and in fact, causing more absorbing of fuel and moisture. Retirees like me and my wife are probably among the worse for this. Our daily routine involves going to a store or restaurant within a mile or two, maybe both, in two separate trips hours apart, allowing the engine oil to warm partially, then cool (condense moisture) then heat partially again and cool several times a day.

 

[jfalabrino]

Turbo charged engines, every 5,000 miles. No longer than that. Dealer changes at 10 and I change at the next 5. When I change it at the 5 interval I notice it's kinda dirty which is normal for a turbo charged engine.

 

[JoeRob]

We’ve had our GX OT+ since 07/24, and currently have less than 7k miles on it. Love the car, but are a 2 person, 3 car family so we baby it. My question is about oil change frequency wrt time vs mileage. I had the oil changed at 1000 miles (12/24), and then at ~5000 miles this past July. Should I wait until 10k miles (which could be 07/26), or do it in 01/26, even if we only have 7000 miles or so on it?

Follow Lexus miles/annual recommendation. If you hit 10k first, change the oil. If you hit 12 months since oil change, change the oil. Simple.

 

[mulberry083]

I’d like to thank everyone for their input. We’re planning to keep the GX for at least 10 years, and do a lot of start/stop driving, with 1-2 long trips during the year. Looks like I’ll be doing the 6 month interval even with very low mileage. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[RPA8888]

It's easy for individuals to offer up opinions on this topic - and those opinions certainly vary. What you want to get at are the facts because with the investment you've made in your vehicle, you have a lot at stake (whereas those that offer suggestions base on their opinions about the maintenance of your car have nothing at stake.) I would recommend using Blackstone Laboratories run an analysis of your used engine oil. (They make it easy for you to do this - just contact them and they'll send you a kit for free.) You return the sample to them and for a fee, they will put together a detailed analysis and recommendations based on the findings. Facts matter.

 

[Regnar]

I do my own oil changes so I guess I don't understand the reluctance to change it. If this was me and mine I would only change the oil. Filters work better when they are a little dirty trapping smaller particles and would change it out at the 10k mark if the time and mileage work out.

For those that think the manual is god......The recommendations are for the bare minimum to meet emission/milage standards and not to keep the warranty. Op is obviously doing it right with the first few oil changes getting any debris out of the engine before ruining bearings.

If this is DIY we are talking less than 40 dollars in oil compared to a 40 dollar oil test and if you are thrifty, OEM filters are around 4 dollars if you buy by the case. Fumoto Valves ($25) makes everything tool less and no mess. Just saying

 

[nartmot]

I did my first oil change at 500 miles, and plan to change it out every 3k-4k miles with Kirkland full synthetic. Turbos heat your oil a lot more than non-turbos. I will continue to get my oil analyzed by Blackstone for the first 3-4 changes to make sure I am on the right track. If they suggest extending the intervals, I would consider it.

 

[Gone Fishing]

We are the same way. Two person family, 4 Runner, f150, and gx550. I drive the F150 and wife drives the 4 Runner. We have had the GX for 10 months, has 2K miles. Sits in the garage and looks great.

Given the engine problems I will have an outside shop do the first oil change and send a sample in for analysis. Waited till 2025 to purchase. Hope we don't get caught up in the 2024 engine issues.

 

[3 mile]

I change mine after 10k miles interval

 

[GoGetIt]

I would do it every 5k or roughly 2 times per year. I may take my sweet time and change at 8 months when I drive lightly though but rarely go past 5k. Although 10k is within spec etc, it represents a maximum amount and for the cost of an oil change I would hate to push any envelope. Plus it’s good to treat your car well and oiling properly goes a long way.

 

[Sixgun95]

It's easy for individuals to offer up opinions on this topic - and those opinions certainly vary. What you want to get at are the facts because with the investment you've made in your vehicle, you have a lot at stake (whereas those that offer suggestions base on their opinions about the maintenance of your car have nothing at stake.) I would recommend using Blackstone Laboratories run an analysis of your used engine oil. (They make it easy for you to do this - just contact them and they'll send you a kit for free.) You return the sample to them and for a fee, they will put together a detailed analysis and recommendations based on the findings. Facts matter.

This! And I bet the factory schedule exceeds their recommendations. Would the dealer take a sample without any heartache at the 10k service?

 

[Rpa11]

I have also had my ‘24 OT+ since 07/2024. At 32k miles. Changed oil around 900 miles and every 5k thereafter to date. Running as good as the day I bought it. I also sent out oil samples for analysis and everything is also normal as of last testing. Gonna test again at next change. Enjoy it!