1st Oil change, free but $38 more to change to Syn oil!! Is it worth it??

Hey guys, just spent additional $38 on my first oil change to have them switch it to syn oil, but now I'm wondering if it is worth the extra $$ !?
I understand that I may get a extra mpg, but it may not be worth if I compute....
Cheers
David

 

Change it yourself.

 

WOW, i was thinking of doing this for my first oil change, i didnt think it would cost so much just for them to put synthetic oil.

 

Or if you can't figure out how to do it yourself or don't have a place or things to do it with just buy your own 5 30w Mobil 1 and have it in the truck. Tell them the oil is in the truck. 38 for the oil don't sound correct. For the calculation you can't just use mileage. The future repair costs will be significantly less.

 

I am getting ready to do my first oil change on my Tacoma and that is the amount the dealership told me. I don't really want to change my own oil but the dealerhsip is also going to include rototating the tires and looking over the truck. If you can afford it, WHY NOT ???

 

I bought the oil at wally world last week for my 1999,( i have never paid for an oil change) then had to buy a hose for my 1999 Tacoma,(oil cooler from water pump) at the dealership then...what is right there on parts counter in front of me...use original Toyota oil,....and a picture of mobil 1 oil on the same sign that says use factory parts. I'll take a picture tomorrow.

 

My new truck purchase includes free service for the 1st 25K miles or 2 years...including oil changes.

I will still be changing the oil with Mobile 1 myself.

As I already did at 1200 miles.

When I go in @ 5K for the 1st service, I will have already changed my oil 2 or 3 times...I'll let them do the other 5K service checks...but they will be told to leave the oil alone. I may just ask them to give me the filter...they can keep the Dino.

 

I change my own oil every 4 months. With the mileage I drive (around 5,000 miles a year) useing synthetic would be a total waste of money. After putting around 350,000 on my last Toyota useing nothing but dino every 3,000 I really don't see a reason to switch. When I sold that truck the engine ran like new and hardly burned a drop of oil.

 

Hey David, I have had the same debate myself, as a chemist, I can tell you that there is no significant difference between synthetic vs petroleum base. The difference is petroleum is created in the extraction process from crude oil where as synthetic oil is created from a base oil, which is pure base component which as then added with other components to form longer chains. Theoretically, synthetic should be a purer oil than petro base, but you have to remember that contaminants from the machinery that is use to create and purify synthetics do get dirty and release particles into the oil itself. I from my personal experience of driving my 96 for 10 yrs now,the petroleum product is just fine, and that synthetic is not really necessary. They key is to stay consistent, as even though all 10W-40 are supposed to be the same, the small variations between Synthetic vs Petroleum and Mobil vs Pennzoil can be amplified and harm your engine.

My advice is stick to one brand and one type (Petro vs Synth)! When it comes to Cars this is the one case in which truth about loyalty pays off. Stick to one brand for your oil, filters, antifreeze, power steering fluids...etc.

Hope this helps.

 

If you want synthetic, forget the "free" change. Spend $25 on five quarts of synthetic and a decent filter and change it yourself.

 

Here's your answer.

 

350,000 / 5,000 = 70 years for you to put 350,000 miles on your truck.

I assume your driving habits have changed since then...

 

I know i have a first gen but for 5quarts of Mobile1 and a Toyota OEM filter i spend a few cents over $25

Get your mobile1 at wally world and order a pack of OEM filters of a dealership online
Done

 

^ like he said, a case of oem filters can be bought for cheap and if changing your own oil, this device is a must..
http://www.qwikvalve.com/F103N-12mm-1.5-w-nipple.html

 

Stay with the Synthetic, its better for your engine. I would do a DIY oil change though, its simple on the Tacoma, oil filter is right on top, oil plug is easy access.

 

Go to bobistheoilguy.com and read up. Both synthetic and conventional oil, if displaying the API "certified for gasoline engines" mark, will protect your engine. If you're going to spend extra money on your own oil, consider using a 0W-30 grade (0W-20 for the 4 Cyl.) oil for the best possible cold starting protection, I am.

 

From your post I assume that your having it done at a dealership right? Well, theres your problem. Id either do it yourself, or find an oil change shop elsewhere. From all the oil threads ive read on this board, the concensus seems to be that there is no difference, oil is oil is oil.

 

I recommend changing it yourself and switching to Mobil 1 Synthetic

 

what he said. it cost me $37 to do my own with syn oil

 

I can't begin to count how many times I have changed the oil & filter on different vehicles since before I could drive (legally). Other than changing them on my airplane, I haven't done any in a lot of years because I have driven fleet vehicles & the company had a contract with vrs service providers. I have this 2010 Tacoma w/ V-6 & it had 14K miles on it when I purchased in April. I am going to change the oil/filter myself & go to Mobil 1. Crawled under the pu the other day & it appears the crankcase drain plug is just behind (aft) of the skid plate (I assume its a skid plate although its a rear wheel drive). Is that the correct plug? Sure wouldn't want to drain the transmission. (Weird that today's transmissions (auto) don't have dipsticks to check the oil level and I guess there is no place to add oil. Dealer advised its a 100,000 mile transmission & nothing to do till then.) While I am asking questions-----does the V-6 engine have a timing chain of belt?