Oil change intervals in SA

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anthor

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In South Africa, most cars with a petrol engine have a service interval of 15,000KM or more. If you do a few quick Google searches on the matter, the consensus seems to be that oil changes should be at around the 7,500 to 10,000KM mark. In many cases (especially with slightly older, but not ancient cars), the dealers don't even use full synthetic. I asked Toyota what oil they use in my car, and if I remember correctly it was Total Quartz 15w40 conventional oil. All resources I can find online seem to think that 15,000km on conventional oil is way too long.

Why do we have such long intervals? Do the Americans (and maybe the rest of the world) just overdo it, or do we have a scenario in SA where we push it that far because brands are all trying to be competitive when it comes to maintenance? I know oil tech has progressed a lot, but I don't think that brands are always using cutting edge oil options.

I only had to spend 5 mins reading opinions on engine oil to learn that if you ask 10 people what they think you'll get 10 different answers, so I'm ready for that 😄
 
Long story short:
1. Recommended oil changes are only sufficient to get the vehicle to reach the manufacturer's warranty distance, after that it's the owner's problem!
2. 15,000km is fine if you drive long distances, not if you do multiple short trips, which are hard on engines.
 
anthor said:
In South Africa, most cars with a petrol engine have a service interval of 15,000KM or more. If you do a few quick Google searches on the matter, the consensus seems to be that oil changes should be at around the 7,500 to 10,000KM mark. In many cases (especially with slightly older, but not ancient cars), the dealers don't even use full synthetic. I asked Toyota what oil they use in my car, and if I remember correctly it was Total Quartz 15w40 conventional oil. All resources I can find online seem to think that 15,000km on conventional oil is way too long.

Why do we have such long intervals? Do the Americans (and maybe the rest of the world) just overdo it, or do we have a scenario in SA where we push it that far because brands are all trying to be competitive when it comes to maintenance? I know oil tech has progressed a lot, but I don't think that brands are always using cutting edge oil options.

I only had to spend 5 mins reading opinions on engine oil to learn that if you ask 10 people what they think you'll get 10 different answers, so I'm ready for that 😄
Click to expand...

Just RTFM!
 
I would say 10 000km or 1 year. This was recommended to me by a Toyota engineer a few years back. Apparently the pH of the oil changes after a year or so and with rough use/lots of short trips.

Don't spend extra money on oil - Midas uses Astron for their in-house oils for the fully synthetic.

I got a 5L bottle of Midas brand 5W30 Synthetic (API/SN/CF) for R449 a few days ago - been using this for 150 000km so far on my small runaround car.
 
Last edited:
longboy said:
I would say 10 000km or 1 year. This was recommended to me by a Toyota engineer a few years back. Apparently the pH of the oil changes after a year or so and with rough use/lots of short trips.

Don't spend extra money on oil - Midas uses Castrol for their in-house oils for the fully synthetic.

I got a 5L bottle of Midas brand 5W30 Synthetic (API/SN/CF) for R449 a few days ago - been using this for 150 000km so far on my small runaround car.
Click to expand...


Sure, no-name brand oils are fine for shitboxes, but if you have a decent car, rather spend a bit more on a brand like Mobil, LiquiMoly, etc.

The proper way to know when to change the oil is through a proper oil analysis.

Just follow what the manufacturer recommends, and if you don't feel comfortable with that, once a year is fine.

As always, oil changes are cheaper in the long run than an engine replacement.
 
longboy said:
I would say 10 000km or 1 year. This was recommended to me by a Toyota engineer a few years back. Apparently the pH of the oil changes after a year or so and with rough use/lots of short trips.

Don't spend extra money on oil - Midas uses Castrol for their in-house oils for the fully synthetic.

I got a 5L bottle of Midas brand 5W30 Synthetic (API/SN/CF) for R449 a few days ago - been using this for 150 000km so far on my small runaround car.
Click to expand...
That's the accepted gold standard, apparently what happens is past one year even if on relatively low mileage and theoretically "clean" the oil gets contaminated with fuel blow by that gets past the piston rings and that is bad for any rubber oil seals that comes in contact with the engine oil, it can make them prematurely fail.

But with modern synthetic oils you could probably push it safely to 15k km, that being said I don't know if synthetics can better handle fuel contamination. I've read some brands in some markets even do 20k 2yr oil change intervals.
 
Just follow the manufacturers advise. Everybody has their own opinion on something that won't make any difference if you keep you vehicle less than 10 years. Choose the oil and intervals that make you happy and convince yourself that you insightful on the topic and move on with your life.

There is people who swear by mono in their cars, and they all smiling
 
So my reading/research:

Oil is designed to work at specific temps. Short distance, means that the oil may not get up to temp and not last as long.

Hence the once a year recommendation.

Anyway, I used to change my oil once a year myself and take my cars for a service at the stealerships every 15000km.
 
Every 1 year/15000km under warranty.
Every 1 year/10000km when out of warranty.

It’s also important to follow the recommendations for transmission fluid/coolant and other longer interval things you might forget about.
 
Modern oil is an entirely different beast.

Stick to what the book says and you’ll be just fine.

More concerning that you say Toyota reckons they aren’t using fully synthetic.
 
longboy said:
I would say 10 000km or 1 year. This was recommended to me by a Toyota engineer a few years back. Apparently the pH of the oil changes after a year or so and with rough use/lots of short trips.

Don't spend extra money on oil - Midas uses Castrol for their in-house oils for the fully synthetic.

I got a 5L bottle of Midas brand 5W30 Synthetic (API/SN/CF) for R449 a few days ago - been using this for 150 000km so far on my small runaround car.
Click to expand...
Jirrr, is there even pH levels in oil???
 
10 000km, full synthetic oil and filter
Change CV fluid every 30 000km
Brake fluid every 30 000km

2018 Honda CRV and 2013 Honda Civic
 
SauRoNZA said:
More concerning that you say Toyota reckons they aren’t using fully synthetic.
Click to expand...
Do you really think workshops have multiple 5l oils on shelf that they use in their service centre?
What goes into a D4D will go into the GR Corolla from a 210lt drum.
 
Do your own oil changes and put in decent oil, I had a 99' model Hyundai accent with 545,000km on it before i sold it, engine never opened, i used Shell 5w40 ultra (full synthetic).

My Ford Fiesta is 16 years old now, and has either shell ultra 5w40 or 5w-30 when i can find it, service intervals are 20,000km.

Don't cheap out on oil kids.
 
@OP
South Africa have a very moderate dry climate.
Cars don't operate in extreme cold conditions and generally garaged overnight.
Our cars heat up quicker and deposits can burn off.

Shell Helix HX8 or Ultra if you have extra $$$ to burn and change every 10k km.
 
A3@MBB said:
Do you really think workshops have multiple 5l oils on shelf that they use in their service centre?
What goes into a D4D will go into the GR Corolla from a 210lt drum.
Click to expand...

When I sent my renault in for servicing at Renault Pinetown (30k service) they used the shyte 15w40 in a 200L drum and charged an astronomical price for ~5L of that oil.

I had to go to the dealership again and demand they drain it properly and replace with synthetic Elf 5w30.
My original sump copper seal was still intact so they used the vacumn to suck out the oil instead of draining it via sump.

Dealerships will rob you blind with cheap parts and replacements.
 
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