Oil Maintenance Required Soon

47693 Views 29 Replies 17 Participants Last post by Rblover69, Jul 1, 2012

ballerchild

Discussion Starter · Oct 19, 2011

I just hit 4500 miles on my odometer and a 'Oil Maintenance Required Soon' message popped up on my MID. I thought oil changes were every 10k miles and that the 5k service was basically just a general check up?

1 - 20 of 30 Posts

dkid

· #2 · Oct 19, 2011

You are correct. Oil change at 10,000 miles. The computer is set for 5,000 miles on all Lexus, so you still get the light at about 4,500 miles and it will probably come on and stay on at 5,000, miles. I guess it saves programing the software for different cars. I did my 5,000 mile service at 4,500 miles because I was going on a long trip and did not want to stop to have it done on the trip.

SurgeCT

· #3 · Oct 19, 2011

Is it possible to reset this MSG without visiting the dealer?

Bigleftyinaz

· #4 · Oct 19, 2011

I have nav , and yes you can change or reset it. It under settings menu

TAZII

· #5 · Oct 20, 2011

Page 502 in the manual. Very easy to do.

Bluecoupe

· #6 · Oct 20, 2011

Unfortunately, Lexus missed the boat slightly on this. The "Oil Maintenance Required" should have been changed to "Maintenance Required" on the models that only require oil changes every 10k or 12 months. Some maintenance is required in 5,000 mile intervals(rotations/balances/filters). I'm in a unique situation where I have set my maintenance to remind me for my oil change, wipers and air filter in 12 months. The tire rotation will remind me at 5,000 miles- this will be beyond 12 months. I will have to research at what time other maintenance will be required as my mileage will be very low.

Bigleftyinaz

· #7 · Oct 20, 2011

Bluecoupe said:
Unfortunately, Lexus missed the boat slightly on this. The "Oil Maintenance Required" should have been changed to "Maintenance Required" on the models that only require oil changes every 10k or 12 months. Some maintenance is required in 5,000 mile intervals(rotations/balances/filters). I'm in a unique situation where I have set my maintenance to remind me for my oil change, wipers and air filter in 12 months. The tire rotation will remind me at 5,000 miles- this will be beyond 12 months. I will have to research at what time other maintenance will be required as my mileage will be very low.

I had my oil changed at 5K and will continue to have it changed every 5K.

IMHO,the most important oil change is the first one.New motor breaking in might have some loose metals floating . It's all speculation,but makes total sense to me.

midcow3

· #8 · Oct 20, 2011

Be wise, save money - change synthetic oilevery 10,000 miles

Bigleftyinaz said:
I had my oil changed at 5K and will continue to have it changed every 5K.

IMHO,the most important oil change is the first one.New motor breaking in might have some loose metals floating . It's all speculation,but makes total sense to me.

Twenty years ago the first oil change was critcal and was usually at 1,000 miles to get rid of any metal filings. Nowadays with synthetic oil even changeing at 10,000 miles is too soon. Some cars have sophisticated optical sensors that actually check the viscosity and tell you exactly when to change the oil. My S2000 has a percentage of life indicator, but I still change it every 12 months ( about 3,500 miles per year) ths and I have a friend with a Corvette and the sensor usually goes 17,000 miles on synthetic. Unless you own a service station or have stock in Fram filters changing synthetic oil at less than 10,000 is like throwing money away. I notice the tire palces still put the stickers on and try to get you to change oil every 3,000 miles; there is a lot of profit in oil service.

Remember when you HAD to change points and plugs every 10,000 miles or you gas milage went bonkers and your car started running like crap ?

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Bigleftyinaz

· #9 · Oct 20, 2011

midcow3 said:
Twenty years ago the first oil change was critcal and was usually at 1,000 miles to get rid of any metal filings. Nowadays with synthetic oil even changeing at 10,000 miles is too soon. Some cars have sophisticated optical sensors that actually check the viscosity and tell you exactly when to change the oil. My S2000 has a percentage of life indicator, but I still change it every 12 months ( about 3,500 miles per year) ths and I have a friend with a Corvette and the sensor usually goes 17,000 miles on synthetic. Unless you own a service station or have stock in Fram filters changing synthetic oil at less than 10,000 is like throwing money away. I notice the tire palces still put the stickers on and try to get you to change oil every 3,000 miles; there is a lot of profit in oil service.

Remember when you HAD to change points and plugs every 10,000 miles or you gas milage went bonkers and your car started running like crap ?

I will totally disagree with you on oil lasting as long as you state.

I've had my oil analyze in 4 cars and all four the oil broke down at approx 7500 miles.
Cars tested
98 Chevy Z28 SS
99 Cadillac ETC
05 Cadillac STS
08 Mini cooper S

The Mini's oil broke down the fastest and was low 7000's avg.Tested 4 times

The STS lasted the most on avg, 7800 .

So,for me I will change long before the recommend of 10K .To me it doesn't matter if I do it at 7K or 5K. It's just insurance and money.I'd rather be overly safe then sorry.

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midcow3

· #10 · Oct 20, 2011 (Edited)

Bigleftyinaz said:
I will totally disagree with you on oil lasting as long as you state.

I've had my oil analyze in 4 cars and all four the oil broke down at approx 7500 miles.
Cars tested
98 Chevy Z28 SS
99 Cadillac ETC
05 Cadillac STS
08 Mini cooper S

The Mini's oil broke down the fastest and was low 7000's avg.Tested 4 times

The STS lasted the most on avg, 7800 .

So,for me I will change long before the recommend of 10K .To me it doesn't matter if I do it at 7K or 5K. It's just insurance and money.I'd rather be overly safe then sorry.

Hey that is okay and I agree with you if the oil breaks down that quick, you then should change it sooner than 10,000 miles. But synthetic oil is supposed to last at least 10,000 miles. We are talking about synthetic oil correct? Because non-synthetic oil does break down much sooner.

However, one has to wonder why is the current Lexus/Toyota synthetic oil on a scheduled 10,000 mile interval. Surely they have some built in safety factor, meaning the actual limit is probably much higher than 10,000 miles

Bigleftyinaz

· #11 · Oct 20, 2011

midcow3 said:
Hey that is okay and I agree with you if the oil breaks down that quick, you then should change it sooner than 10,000 miles. But synthetic oil is supposed to last at least 10,000 miles. We are talking about synthetic oil correct? Because non-synthetic oil does break down much sooner.

However, one has to wonder why is the current Lexus/Toyota synthetic oil on a scheduled 10,000 mile interval. Surely they have some built in safety factor, meaning the actual limit is probably much higher than 10,000 miles

Mobil 1 was used. The sensors ,I don't know what they do,but it seems cars were going a long time between oil changes .

I got my info and learned of the oil company who performs the analysis while I was a MAC tool guy.because I became good friends with many mechanics I learned this .Cadillac cars were being done at 12000- 17000 due to what the obc was telling it was time. That's when I started my own research and was amazed.

3500 was conventional oil , synthetic moved it to 5k-7k,now more by auto manufacturer's. I believe they want you to follow the schedule , so things can go wrong.they are in business to sell you a new car.

Just like I believe ,the tool companies are in bed with auto factorys .do we really need all these new types of bolts. New bolts,new tools must be made and then bought

midcow3

· #12 · Oct 20, 2011

Thanks

Wow, eye opener -- Thanks for the info

Dozer42

· #13 · Oct 20, 2011

A lot depends on your driving habits.

If you take a lot of short trips, say under 15 miles, you're likely not burning off any condensation built up in the oil, and would therefore want to change your oil more often.

7,000 miles for synthetic seems pretty reasonable to me.

Oil is cheap.

Engines are not.

Keep all receipts.

And there's nothing wrong with getting an oil analysis for $20 or so, that will tell the real story with YOUR own individual circumstances.

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JLowe

· #14 · Jun 28, 2012

TAZII said:
Page 502 in the manual. Very easy to do.

AHHHhh there it is!! Thanks for posting that tidbit. Nothing in the index about resetting it. That was easy.
I just hit 15,000 miles (in 8 months

!), had Lexus perform the free 10k oil change with recommended 0W-20 synthetic, think I'll pass on anything now at 15k. Didn't see anything necessary or beneficail, other than rotating the tires. I'll do that in the garage tonight. I'll wait for 20k and replace oil as recommended. Another factor to keep in mind, with oil getting better, engines running cleaner, is with a hybrid, the engine isn't running for that whole 10,000 mile interval. Where a conventional engine is still running at a stop light going 0 miles toward that 3k or 5k or 7,500k interval, or coasting, or sitting in traffic, our hybrid's ICEs are not running. As everyone knows, idling isn't easy on an ICE. Our hybrids don't have that extra wear and tear and breakdown of the oil. I'm comfortable going 10,000 miles b/t synthetic oil changes in this car, but to each their own.

BTW, does the CT have an electronic oil pump or something fancy to 'pre-lubricate' the ICE prior to start up? Anyone know? I guess not so bad with synthetic flowing around, but all the starting and stopping of the ICE w/o oil pressure may be lead to some wear....maybe not.

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danielskshin

· #15 · Jun 28, 2012

Bigleftyinaz said:
I had my oil changed at 5K and will continue to have it changed every 5K.

IMHO,the most important oil change is the first one.New motor breaking in might have some loose metals floating . It's all speculation,but makes total sense to me.

There shouldn't be any metal floating around that is what your oil filter is for.

9mmgurn

· #16 · Jun 29, 2012

I'm gonna change my oil every 5k with sustina 0w-20. My 5k was performed at a Lexus dealer and paid for an oil change with their oil. After the 10k I will be changing the oil.

Call me a smart or retarded which ever works. I use premium gas and gonna change oil at 5k. It's my car and I know I'm doing the right thing.

Joe166

· #17 · Jun 29, 2012

9mmgurn said:
I'm gonna change my oil every 5k with sustina 0w-20. My 5k was performed at a Lexus dealer and paid for an oil change with their oil. After the 10k I will be changing the oil.

Call me a smart or retarded which ever works. I use premium gas and gonna change oil at 5k. It's my car and I know I'm doing the right thing.

No you aren't. I have no idea if you are "challenged" (which I think is the politically correct term) but you aren't smarter than all the engineers that designed the engine. You are doing what YOU WANT to do, and that is perfectly all right because it is your car and your money, but why would you waste money on premium fuel? The car engine is designed for regular and it will NOT take advantage of the higher octane.

Do what you want, but you are kidding yourself if you think you are doing the right thing, you are not! Now on the oil change, that is your call, but I fail to see what benefit there can be to change the oil more than is recommended.

If you just want to throw money away, PM me and I will give you my address so you can send me what you want to waste.

9mmgurn

· #18 · Jun 29, 2012

To me it's all relative. 40k car, spending 20 cents more on better fuel. Not really an issue to me. Car mfg want to keep the cost of ownership down that is why oil changes or pushed to 10k and if they said the car runs only on 91 alot of people from this forum would not have got a CT, just look at the fuel thread. My car has never and will never run on anything less that 91. Next time I'm in Fla. I'll fill your car up and take you to dinner just no **** sh&t

I go to training in davie from time to time.

sjw91

· #19 · Jun 30, 2012

What magical qualities do you think 91 octane has? It burns slower than 87, and that's why it's necessary for high compression engines to prevent knocking. It does absolutely nothing for engines that don't require it.

The marketing guy that came up with the Premium name for the higher octane fuel has made the oil companies a lot of money from "challenged" people that think it makes a difference.

KKM

· #20 · Jun 30, 2012

sjw91 said:
What magical qualities do you think 91 octane has? It burns slower than 87, and that's why it's necessary for high compression engines to prevent knocking. It does absolutely nothing for engines that don't require it.

The marketing guy that came up with the Premium name for the higher octane fuel has made the oil companies a lot of money from "challenged" people that think it makes a difference.

From my experience, you are spot on.

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