Ugh. Both Tacomas need oil change this week.

[Darth-Baiter]

What are the odds?  Both warning light are starting to blink, letting me know an oil change is imminent.  My new truck; it will be my first attempt.  It is equipped with a new fangled type where I only need to change out the filter element.  Looks like I’ll prob make a giant mess the first time.  I ordered a special socket to remove the housing. I should get it Monday.  I called my mechanic and he wants $130 for the job w fuel synthetic juice.  NOPE!  I’m not that lazy to overcome 130.   The socket was $30, I still have to buy oil and filter, do the first attempt will probably get to $130 anyways.  Haha.  (Now that I think about it)

 

my old truck, I have everything already. The right viscosity oil and filter.  I got it down to a 10 minute job, including driving it up on ramps. 
 

I don’t love doing oil changes anymore.

[TOXIC]

I’ve never, in any of the trucks I’ve owned relied on the oil use monitor to tell me when it was time.  My old 3/4 ton Silverado it was every 3,000 miles.  My new 1/2 ton Silverado is every 7,000 miles.  

[Darth-Baiter]

luckily, Toyotas align with my own personal thought on oil changes.  5000 miles with full synthetics.  

 

I write the date and time on my old truck canister filter, so I kinda have a reminder, but it is useless redundancy.  

[TOXIC]

It’s funny because the trucks are supposed to monitor your style of driving, hi-way/city miles and oil condition and adjust the monitor accordingly.  I’ve never had one dip below 30% oil life remaining when I change it. 

[A-Jay]

My last several trucks "monitored" just about everything.

Motor oil, air & oil filters, brake pads, coolant & transmission fluid, and tire air pressure.

Engine and Transmission System, Antilock Braking System, StabiliTrak Stability Control System,

Air Bag System, Emissions System & OnStar System.

And not with a light but with a % of use available.

I also get a monthly email from my truck informing me of the 'status' of everything;

including any open manufacture recalls. 

All of that's an OnStar deal I think.

Either way, while I appreciate the info,

it doesn't dictate my mainainance routine schedule.

The price of most all lubricants seems to have risen quite sharply.

A-Jay

btw - there used to be a not so nice name for those dashboard warning lights. 

 

 

[GreenPig]

I used to do all normal maintenance on our trucks. Nowadays for oil, I take it to a shop I've done business with for 32 years. They do the oil change for $82 per truck versus me doing it for $79. The $3 isn't worth disposing of the oil and my time. 

[galyonj]

What warning light are you talking about? 

[DogBone_384]

4 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Toyotas align with my own personal thought on oil changes.  5000 miles with full synthetics.

My '17 Tundra's light comes on at 5K but my OM and local dealer both say 10K.  I slide under and do it myself at 5K.  

 

As far as making a mess with your new Taco, you'll be fine.  If your oil filter cover is like mine, all you need is a 3/8" ratchet and short extension.  The filter wrench is 'optional'.

[TOXIC]

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

btw - there used to be a not so nice name for those dashboard warning lights

I used that term the other day and my wife was offended. 😂

[Log Catcher]

I don't keep track of the mileage between oil changes. When light comes on telling me it is due for an oil change I take to a shop that does it for me. Cost around $65.

 

My wifes car doesn't have a warning light so it gets an oil change every 3000 miles.

[gim]

I use my electronic oil tracker on my Ford to dictate when I need to schedule an appt. 
 

At first, I was skeptical that these electronic oil life trackers were accurate because the shop still wanted me to come in every 3000 miles, when the oil life was still at 70%. So I called Ford and spoke with an engineer. He told me it is absolutely accurate and they wouldn’t put it in there if it wasn’t. The shop is just trying to make more money on me.

 

I go by the tracker, not the sticker on my windshield. When it hits 10%, I make an appt a week or two out. Takes an hour to do and costs 75 bucks. They also rotate tires, top off fluids, and do a 10 point inspection. All my vehicles are under full warranty. I get rid of them before warranty ends.

[Darth-Baiter]

I'm pretty sure my oil light is just a simple counter ticking off the miles I drive.  nothing more.   it sends out a "oh, boss, you better go and buy some filters and oil" warning at 4700 miles, and at 5000, it say, "its time.!"

 

there are no analytics going on.  it does the same thing I used to do as a kid.  I wrote down date and miles in a notebook.  and I checked on it occasionally.  

[TOXIC]

As an aside, my last truck had free oil changes for as long as I owned it.  It was a 2004 3/4 ton, 6.0.  The dealer still wanted it in every 3,000 miles.  I traded it in 2016 for a new Silverado and I take it in every 5,000.  I had 12 free when I bought the truck.  They are on me now.  

[TnRiver46]

9 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I'm pretty sure my oil light is just a simple counter ticking off the miles I drive.  nothing more.   it sends out a "oh, boss, you better go and buy some filters and oil" warning at 4700 miles, and at 5000, it say, "its time.!"

 

there are no analytics going on.  it does the same thing I used to do as a kid.  I wrote down date and miles in a notebook.  and I checked on it occasionally.  

That’s the way my work truck does, 2019 F150 

[DaubsNU1]

I change the oil every ~5,000 miles regardless of what the oil life monitor says. For all my vehicles, cars or trucks. 

 

Have sent in oil samples to Blackstone labs for analysis...all have checked out good so far. 

 

The Duramax does have higher maintenance costs...10 quarts of oil. I change he fuel filter every 10k, and the Allison spin-on filter every 10k as well. 

 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

Started with the 2023.  My first time doing this vehicle. It’s wasn’t a pain, but it’s not easy either.  Took me 30 minutes and about 9 shop paper towels.   The fill tube is at the most ridiculous angle. 
 

then I did the 2006.  5 minutes and 2 paper towels.    Maybe it’s the familiarity. 
 

it was nice to see my wife pull away in her Tesla.  No oil change needed ever.