Service Intervals

The Book says every 10,000km for my 2002 100 series TD but I still change the Oil every 5,000.

I guess old habits are hard to shake.

Regards
japmel

10k under normal conditions. 5k under severe conditions.
Its a direct injection EFI motor, so it runs cleaner than the old ones.

The problem is all associated with the cars duty cycle.

We did a lot of work on this when I worked with Kenworth, and the trouble with manufacturers service intervals, is that they are for average use.

MB monitor the duty cycle, and you can actually see on their diesel models, the due milage change as the duty cycle change. Around town using a fully synthetic oil, the ML270 would tell you a service was due around 20,000 kms. We left Adelaide for Perth with a meter reading of 12,000 kms, showing service due at 21,000 kms. By the time we got to Perth it went out to 23,000 kms and by the time we got home it was up to nearly 25,000. Once we started metro running it quickly bought it back.

This and our studies with KW, clearly showed that long distance running will mean that using a straight interval, that the vehicle will be over serviced, and metro running could indicate not soon enough.

The only way to do this correctly, is to test the oil and water, and this really is the best way to establish what you are about.

Toyota themselves appear to also be confused. If you go into the Europe site, you will see that on your car, they service them in the UK every 10,000 miles. Same engine etc, and I suspect a lower duty cycle. I think here Toyota ten d to tin their butt. On the discontinued Prado, oil changes according to Toyota should be done evry 5000 kms.

In conclusion it is the duty cycle that should determine the changing of liquids, that is if you want to get maximum value for the dollar. However in saying that, it costs extra to do the oil sampling, coolent you can do yourself. However with coolent test strips, do not buy in bulk, as they have a limited shelf life.

Also cutting the corners with poorer quality oils, coolents and filters is a dumb way to go.

Regards

Col

Hi Matt

Ask any experienced engine re builder. Changing the engine oil and filter every 5,000 kms will definitely increase the longevity of engine components that rely on engine oil lubrication. They will tell you how they can always see the difference in an engine that has had oil and filter changes regularly and often.

The cost do do your own oil and filter changes is very small. Get the experts to do the hi tech bits.

Also, if you commit to 5,000 kms oil changes and find that circumstances arise that you have to extent a period to say 7,000 kms you are still OK. However, if you have already completed 10,000 kms and cannot get the oil changed for another 2 or 3 weeks what then?

The point I am trying to make is that 10,000 kms oil change period is not an average, e.g. 8,000 this time and 12,000 the next. It is the maximum period. If you change it every 5,000 kms and have to leave it until 9,000 kms due to circumstances, most likely no harm is done.

Cheers
Phil