I changed my oil at 1,000 miles and now I’m coming up on 5,000 miles. I usually change oil every 5,000, but with a hybrid, the engine doesn’t run as much. Would it be a waste to stick to the 5k schedule?
I talked to my dad about this since he knows cars and has mechanic friends. He said the manual says 10k, but the shop I go to recommends 5k. He advised checking the oil at 5k—if it’s clean, no need to change it. He suggested maybe splitting the difference and going with 7,500, but 10k should be fine if the oil looks good.
@Weston
How do you define clean? Is it just a visual check or something more detailed? If oil still looks clean after 10k miles, should I keep using it?
Toyoyo said:
@Weston
How do you define clean? Is it just a visual check or something more detailed? If oil still looks clean after 10k miles, should I keep using it?
You can tell by the color. If it’s clear, it’s generally clean. Over time, carbon builds up, and the oil gets darker. In the U.S. Army, we used to send oil samples for analysis, but it turned out to be a waste of money. It’s better to err on the side of caution. Changing oil a little early doesn’t hurt, but letting it go too long can cause problems.
Toyoyo said:
@Weston
How do you define clean? Is it just a visual check or something more detailed? If oil still looks clean after 10k miles, should I keep using it?
You can visually inspect it. Clean oil is roughly the color of new oil. If it looks darker, it’s probably time for a change. My dad showed me how to check it when I first started driving, and I’ve done it ever since.
@Weston
That makes sense. I usually err on the side of caution and change it every 5,000 miles. Even if it looks fine, there might be tiny particles that aren’t visible but can cause wear over time. Thanks for explaining.
The factory recommends 10k miles with synthetic oil, but many people on forums say 5k. Frequent changes can help your engine last longer, especially if you drive a lot on the freeway since the ICE runs more in those conditions.
@Sloan
I drive mostly freeway and changed my oil at 5,500 miles to check it out. It looked almost like new, so now I’m comfortable with 10k intervals.
I did the first 100k miles on my hybrid with 10k oil changes, and it’s been fine. Now that it’s older, I’m switching to 5k intervals for peace of mind, but 10k worked well when it was newer.
Follow the manual. 10k miles is fine.
This debate comes up a lot. I settled on every 7,500 miles as a middle ground, but 10k should be fine if you follow the manual.
I drive my RAV4 hybrid about 2 hours a day and change the oil every 5,000 miles. By then, it’s usually pretty dark. I think it depends on how quickly you rack up miles.
TEXIANA said:
I drive my RAV4 hybrid about 2 hours a day and change the oil every 5,000 miles. By then, it’s usually pretty dark. I think it depends on how quickly you rack up miles.
I drive around 500 miles a week, about 2.5 hours daily.
Fuel dilution can be a concern with hybrids since the engine starts and stops frequently. This can lead to fuel mixing with the oil, which isn’t good. Changing at 5k can help avoid issues.
In cold climates, if the engine doesn’t run long enough to heat the oil properly, sludge can form. For that reason, 5k changes might be better for hybrids in cold conditions.
I stick with 5k no matter what. It’s cheap insurance to keep the engine in good shape.
It depends on how long you plan to keep the car. If you want to keep it for a long time, 5k changes might help it last longer. If you’re planning to sell it in a few years, 10k is fine.