ENGINEER EXPLAINS HOW OFTEN TO CHANGE OIL & FILTER // UPDATED CRITERIA-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS!

Thank you everyone for your comments. A number of people have asked for a data as a backup - but you have to remember that when it comes to predicting the durability of engines, the best way to do that is to take the engine apart. You will then clearly see the residue of the oil, condition of the inner components etc, and often times the condition of the engine itself does not correlate with the condition of the engine oil. So it is very deceiving - and dangerous - to assume that the engine is in good condition due to the good condition of the oil (through data and analysis). People like AMD from Car Care Nut, myself as an automotive engineer, and Mr. Takumi Kurosawa (Nissan GT-R engine leader) have all taken hundreds of engines apart and correlated the condition to the frequency and type of engine oil used. That's the best type of "data" and most accurate way to predict the engine condition (you can see it). Because I have taken apart hundreds and hundreds of automotive components apart, I know exactly what needs to be done to take care of automobile components and parts (not just engine), and my recommendations are based on these experiences. My two good friends AMD and Mr. Kurosawa will back me and support me as they have the same insights and ideas as in this video. I hope this helps you understand how I came up with my recommendations. At the end of the day, you are free to decide what to do based on your own experience and knowledge. I am simply sharing my insights based on 35 years of working with cars inside and out.

Great advice on how to make an engine last. Personally I don't care if I'm planning on keeping my vehicles basically forever or if I'm going to get rid of them every 50,000 miles. I'm going to treat every vehicle the same. I want to know when someone purchases something I bought new, broke in, and maintained, that they're going to buy something that could last another quarter million miles. I don't care if that person is a grandkid or some stranger I'll never meet. It's just the right thing to do.

2007 4Runner. Oil and filter change every 5k and transmission flush every 60k. Currently 343k miles. Runs and drives as good as the day I got it. Burns no oil, no leaks, transmission is milky smooth. Wouldn’t hesitate to jump in and drive it from Georgia to California and back. Just a great vehicle made in a place where they value work ethic.

I'm an "A" guy. I've always bought new, kept them for 10+ years, although nowadays I use synthetic and go for 4-5k miles. I am disappointed in the "C" recommendation. This is why I don't buy used. The attitude is basically "I don't care if who gets it next will have a long-term car. I got mine.".

Own two Lexus, 17yrs old and 13yrs old. Change oil and filter every 6mths or 5000miles, with mobile 1 full synthetic. No engine problems at all, to include no oil burning. I use the same interval for my son’s Prius Prime. Other than 1 hr of time, the cost for oil change is about $40 (I do my cars oil change. Can’t trust jr. Mechanics). That’s cheap for worry free engine.

David, my 4Runner’s have lasted many trouble-free years as I have always changed the oil and filter at 3,000 miles. Thank you for your expertise and recommendations.

My step father was a master mechanic and I tend to take amazing care of cars regardless of how long I intend on keep it. I 100% agree with your recomendations

First thing: manufacturers recommendation on severe service schedule is my baseline. I typically do a 5k mile OCF using whatever synthetic OEM spec oil I can get on sale, a high quality filter, and the occasional lab analysis. I also do other fluids at 60k for trans, 90k for coolant, and brake fluid every three years. Service on 4wd transfer case and differential is approximately every 30k - 50k depending on the component. I’m not afraid to go longer on the OCF if on a long over the road trip and have done an 8800 mile change with lab analysis showing the oil still held additives and no degrading wear byproducts. Excellent summary sir. Grease is cheaper than steel.

I have a 2003 Highlander V6 with 160,000 trouble free miles. I change the oil every 5000 miles. I like this number and recommend it to friends because it is easy to keep track of. Whenever the car hits the next 5000 mile increment it is time to change the oil. I also keep a spreadsheet of all maintenance ever done but find the 5000 mile increment easy to remember.

Thank you, David. Your recommendations for oil change intervals are good reminders for all of us that doing proper maintenance is the best way keep your car running in top shape. I follow AMD, AKA The Car Care Nut, and watched almost every video. His technical reviews are among the best. From what I have seen, frequent oil changes can prevent castrophic failure no matter how long you plan to keep it.

In a previous job I got to visit the lab where a very well known brand of oil was formulated and tested. The chief engineer told me that if I wanted to have virtually zero engine wear I should take the recommended service interval and halve it. So 12k miles becomes 6k and so on. I followed his advice and my last car was 19 years old when it had to be scrapped due to rust. But the engine still ran like a sewing machine.

I'm glad to hear you quote AMD, the Car Care Nut, as I follow his recommendations to the letter for my Toyota. Thank you!

As a mechanic for over 35 years, I agree 1000% with what you said. Spot on.

I let the dealer from whom I purchased my 03 Toyota Sequoia change the oil every 5k miles. I purchased the lifetime oil change plan, which cost me only $500 and a $10 environmental fee per oil change. At 301k miles, the 4.7 L engine is still going strong.

Thanks David. I love this topic. Really appreciate your views as well as a few others like carcarenut, fordbossme, and motoroilgeek who all say similar things. 6 months and 5K is the most i will do if I'm doing lots of highway driving.

Hi David. Excellent simple explanation with your three categories. My dealer in Toronto recommends a 8000 K interval. I alter this by changing oil and filter myself at the 4K mark. Makes it easy to remember. I always use synthetic primarily as it is easier on the engine for cold winter starting.

David, Excellent video and your time and effort to make it is most appreciated. I need to ask a question. I recently purchased my 11th Honda, in this case, a 2024 Honda CRV Hybrid Touring model. I live in Saskatoon Saskatchewan and get really cold winters and very hot summers. Having purchased the vehicle at the end of October 2023, we had to endure a brutal December. While I park underground in heated parking, I still need to venture outside in those temperatures, park it, and leave it sit for several hours, before restarting to drive it home. The CRV has active grill shutters that assist with getting the engine up to temperature as quickly as possible, in addition to giving me cabin heat, even though the vehicle operates in battery only mode at times. My question is, should I trust the Honda Maintenance minder or go with my gut and change it more often. My concern is that the number of on/off cycles of the hybrid system means that I am more likely to not have the engine up to operating temperature for long enough periods of time to purge the crankcase of unwanted blowby and contaminants. I would really appreciate your thoughts on this question. As others have said, the cheapest engine is really expensive, however the most expensive engine oil is cheap. Thank you.

Thanks for the video! I just have my 2023 GX460 serviced for first oil change from the dealer. They told me to go back for the next service after 16000 kilometres. I was shocked. I guess I will go back to the oil change for another 8000 kilometres.

I love this piece of advice. I'm criteria A and I currently have 2 cars. Both use synthetic oil and both get oil and filter change twice a year independently of mileage. I typically drive between 3000 and 4000 every semester. I organize myself and I perform my own oil change mid-year and I take to the dealership once a year so that they plug it in and lube doors/etc. Greetings from Argentina! Nacho.

My typical oil changes consist of 3000 mile or 3 months for good conventional oils. 4000-5000 miles or 6 months with good synthetic oils. I’ve been a heavy line tech with Ford for 15 years and worked at independent garages for 14 years……have seen a lot of damage from people not changing their oils frequently enough….typically it was lack of proper oil changes or lack of oil that caused 90% of all my work concerning internal problems….even repeatedly changed engines in customers vehicles for not changing the oil again after the first engine replacement …..some people just never learn.