QUOTE(tchinhe @ Sep 22 2021, 03:26 PM)
Hi Zeng bro,
2016 Estima 2AZFE 53700km
Oil brand unknown, recond dealer changed it. Most likely mineral oil as the sticker show change after 5k.
Oil mileage 5200km
I had added about 20ml of Toyota engine flush at 52500km.
After that my per trip fuel economy range 11+km/L to 15km/L. Before was at 11+ KM/L to 12+km/L. Oil colour is slightly darker now.
I am planning to change it to Toyota synthetic formulation 5w30 soon. And 60k km change to full synthetic. I have recond warranty so will need to follow the 10k KM OCI.
Thanks for your input.


Hi Bro,
Yes, the blotter is a bit on the darker side for a 5200 km usage and probably the 'main' culprit is the use of 20mL of Toyota engine flush as alluded by you which may have 'forcibly' remove some varnish/contaminants previously 'stucked' on the oil control rings of this Odo 53700 km Estima.
Is the slightly darker shade caused by the use of mineral oil as speculated by you?
After looking through Post #1 for blotters around 4000-7000 km against that of yours, I beg to differ with you for suggesting mineral oil as being in use. I wouldn't be surprised really if the recond dealer has given this car a semi-synthetic or fully synthetic PCMO petrol engine oil as there is absence of darkened jagged zig-zag external edge on the outermost zone of your 5200 km blotter , indicating there is absence of water mositure and/or very slight sign of oil oxidation which is good news.
The Centre zone (of around 8 mm diameter on real physical sample in hand) is slightly darker in colour but remains transparent indicating the presence of larger size contaminants and/or higher density metal wear or contaminants, which I would attribute it to the use of engine flush.
Darkened aureole zone/perimeter ring is absent, indicating absence of agglomeration of contaminants/dirt, never mind with the use of Engine flush in this 5200 km blotter.
Diffusion zone is transparent although it is also slightly darker for a typical 5000 ish km blotter indicating a certain level of medium/light density contaminants, which again I speculate to be caused by the Engine flush.
There is vaguely a very slight sign of translucent halo at the outermost zone indicating a very preliminary stage of fuel dilution.
The lowly usage of 5 month driving with 5200 km travelled may have caused this, or you may have been doing short tripping with this car thus far. Of course one may speculate it is fuel system tuning for which I do not think so.
Overall, I would speculate this used oil (whether or not mineral or full/semi syn) at 5200 km is fit for continuing service.
For how long ? I don't see another 2000-3000 km usage is a problem, never mind the recond car dealer indicated expiry of 5000 km oci .
This post has been edited by zeng: Sep 23 2021, 11:52 AM