who changes their own oil?

[gatorwire]

Well I hit 5,000 miles on the DC and I just got a oil change with 5w30.

I don't know what brand of oil or filter.

I paid $28 for the oil change

Later that night, I headed to walmart to check out some prices for the filters, oil, and equipment for changing the next oil.

It would cost me $12 to change my own oil

I know I can't use fram filters but I plan on using pennzoil or valvoline oil.

I also rotated my own tires. Maybe I have too much time on my hands...

Anyone else change their own oil or rotate their tires?

[Toasted Coastie]

I change my own oil. I use mobil1 filters (large) and mobil one synthetic oil (5w30) I do most of the maintanance on my truck, except for things that would be too time consuming, or what I don't have the tools to do.

[Shite2k]

I think you should switch to Mobil 1. Your truck will appreciate it in the long run.

[helica]

I do my own changes. Costs me less than $20, and I use all genuine toyota parts. I get the lexus filters for the LX470, and I buy a case of the Toyota synthetic blend motor oil (1 case covers 2 oil changes).

Check out www.bobistheoilguy.com if you wish to use aftermarket filters. I've always trusted Mobil and Purolator. I wouldn't trust Fram or Penzoil. Never used valvoline, so no-comment.

[shall36]

Whether or not to do your own oil changes is really a matter of what you like doing. I like doing it and I'm very particular, so I do things my way. Also, I do an overall inspection of the truck during oil changes. I rotate the tires, adjust the rear brakes, check all of the other fluids, etc.

I use Mobil-1 synthetic and Wix oil filters. That motor will last 300k miles on regular dino oil changes, but I figure why not use synthetic. I drive so little as it is and cost is not a factor (let's see, $25k truck and I can spend $15 or $40 on an oil change...not a big deal in the scheme of things).

The regular maintenance stuff that is typically ignored but does have an impact on reliability are the brake fluid and cooling system services. Both should be flushed at 2 year intervals. My wife has a BMW with the service maintenance plan and they do both of those service items for us as part of the deal. In the long run, it will pay off as you are much less likely to have component failures in either system. It's also not a bad idea to flush the power steering system at 2 year intervals while you are at it.

[Lunkerbass]

I was fortunate for the dealer throwing in full maintanance at no charge .I have them do the oil change with my supplied Mobil one .They use there Toyota oil filter

[krodad]

I do the oil changes myself with Mobil 1 and KN oil filters. If you plan on keeping the truck for a long time, switch to the synthetic and do it yourself. Wix air filter every oil change as well.

About the only thing I don't do is the tire rotation. A tire shop down the road will do it for $11.00 (no balance for this price) so I have them do it every 5k miles. This is something few people do, but it will make those tires last much longer.

The suggestions above about the other fluid flushes, including brake fluid, are great ideas to keep in mind also. I think us truck owners who care enough to belong to this forum group are probably the most intense about maintenance. I have many friends that would look at me dumbfounded if I asked them when they last had their tranny fluid flushed on the vehicle with 150k miles.

[tempetom]

I use the Mobil 1 and Toyota oil filters. I put 7 quarts in by accident, I was talking while doing it and didn't stop at 6 1/2. I didn't seem to matter. By the way, I just saw that Mobil 1 is $3.99 at Wal-Mart. That's the best price I've seen. I also rotate my own tires but not every 5k miles. I really don't care how long these Bridgestones last.

[basian99]

I use Mobil 1 w/ OEM filters and have always done my own maintenance on every vehicle I own. In part because I enjoy it but also because I don't trust anyone else to do the job as well as me. If you search through this forum you'll find dozens of stories about people having almost unbelievable problems w/ service stations and even dealers doing just routine work.

I took my wifes 4-Runner in to get a wheel alignment and Firestone asked me if I wanted the tires rotated while they were at it (no charge). I figured "what the hell" since they already had the vehicle. I didnt find out until about a week later that the moron who did the work snapped off one of the lug bolts. He snapped the thing right off when he was trying to tighten the lugnut w/ an air ratchet and then threw out the bolt w/ my lugnut and didnt say anything to me!!!!!

Bottom line, If you want something done right the best way is to do it yourself. If you cant, double check everything a shop does.

[GaryFisher]

CHange my own oil and use Mobil 1...Cost me less to use mobil 1 than to get the junk put in by the dealer.

[naunibecker55]

Does anybody hee use Pennzoil Full Synthetic? I went to Jiffy Lube the other day and they gave me some crap about how they dont use Mobil 1 anymore because Pennzoil outperformed it in some test...

I'm assuming its because Mobil 1 costs more and most people dont care what kind of oil it is. I got the oil change simply because I needed one, the dealership only takes appointments, and I don't have any tools at school.

I'm thinking about getting whatever I need and just doing it in a parking lot somewhere. I really don't trust these quick oil change places...

[TacomaOffRoadGrl]

I change my own too. Bought a case of Toyota filters (they are cheaper that way..I think $3.00 each) and Mobile1 fully synthetic for $20. So I guess it costs me $23 to change but that's a cheap change for full synthetic. The dealer or the oil change places cost double that...around here anyway

[Wadingboy]

I always wondered why there are two trip odometers on the Tundra until I started to use the second one for tire milage. My memory isn't that good and this way I don't have to look in the book to know when I'm due. Sometimes wish I had a third one, gas milage, tires, and trips. Think the auto makers ought to have them labeled as such, maybe with oil too. WB

[helica]

I rotate tires every 3,000 miles with my oil. And to keep things simple, if I changed the oil at 3,200 miles, I still change again at 6,000 miles... With the tire rotation, as well. Get it all done at once, and nothing difficult to remember -- it's easy to see when the odo reaches a multiple of 3,000.

[wktjr]

OEM filters and whatever quality oil is cheapest at Walmart. I'm not loyal to any particular brand.