Free oil change or mobile 1 for first change

So i just hit 4500 miles and am curious if I should start using mobile 1 or use my free oil changes from the dealership. What have you guys done?

 

Did mine at 6 months (2700 miles), went with new Toyota filter and Mobil 1. Not using the free (?) changes at dealer.

 

Boy Mobile One has one fantastic advertising campaign.

 

no reason not to use free dealer changes if you have them. You're just throwing money away

 

my closest dealer is also 30 minutes away.

 

I changed mine at 4500 with Mobil 1. Not going to use the free changes.

Do it yourself and you can be sure it was done, and done right.

 

My buddy has a tacoma with 250k on it and only used mobile one so thats what I decided to use I'm not partial to one brand though I've used wall mart oil before.

 

I'm torn by this as well.

I have a '96 4Runner with 330K miles on it, have used conventional valvoline 5w30 since day one.

I changed my oil myself at 1200 miles on the new truck, put the same thing in. Used the free dealer oil change at 5K (reluctantly, as I'd rather do it myself).

I read all the accolades about Mobil 1, but as I've had great experience with Valvoline conventional, drive a lot of highway miles, and change every 5K I'm not sure there is any huge benefit to me, and I'm a little reluctant to change from something that has always worked well...

 

I'm going to use the free changes until 20k then switch to Mobil 1.

 

Has anyone asked their dealer what the up charge is to go with synth on the free oil change?

I bought mine certified used with 32k on the clock and switch to synth at the next oil change.

 

Ask your dealer, some actually use the full synthetic as the free oil. I have used 2 different dealers where I live and 1 did and 1 didn't.

 

Untill your like me and watch them drain the oil, put the plug back in, lower the truck, change the filter, and go to move it..... missing one key step.... PUTTING OIL BACK IN IT.

thank god i was standing next to my truck watching the work get done.

Never again. Save yourself the time and hassle and do it yourself. you can get 10 OEM filters and drain plug gaskets on ebay for ~45 bucks. I run full syn at 6k mi oil change intervals and call it good. Takes me less time to do the oil change in my driveway then it would in just drive time to the closest dealer (10mi away)

 

My dealer says they do use full synthetic. I have no way to verify it but I don't see why they would lie since the ToyotaCare is free for 2 yr/25k and you really would not have any basis to complain if you try to look their gift horse in the mouth.

When you go in for the first service they will check a lot of stuff in addition to changing the oil and filter. I got a printout with tire tread depth measured, brake pad thickness, levels of all fluids, coolant strength, the whole enchilada. It will be interesting to monitor those things throughout the 25k of free service. (I am going about 2,000 miles per month so mine will end by mileage and not time.)

Moreover it works in your favor from the warranty standpoint if you can prove that all of the initial maintenance has been completed by Toyota. And, as others have said, with a 5k maintenance interval it really doesn't make that much difference whether or not you use Mobil 1 for the first 25k.

Finally, there is the savings. Mobil 1 0W20 is about $28 per 5 quarts at my local Walmart (and the 2.7 takes more than 5 qts). The Bosch filter is $11 at Walmart (not sure about the price of the Toyota filter), so round figures taking Toyota up on 5 free services saves you $250, which to me is significant.

 

I buy mobil-1 and take it to the dealer for the change. Costs me about $30 and I get their recorded service record. And,, they give me my 6 quarts of toyota oil that would've went in. After all,, it is my oil. I use it for my lawn equipment.

 

Good idea if you want Mobil 1. So then the question of the hour is, what is this mysterious oil they give you in exchange? I am betting 3 in 1.

 

It's actually genuine Toyota 5-30 in 1 quart bottles. I figured $18 in their (mine) oil back, it only costs me $12! And,,,, I demanded to watch. They said OK. I figured that's good enough for me.

 

Ok but see you have the V6 and the OP (and I) have the four-cylinder. My dealer says they use synthetic in the four-cylinder. So the question rages on.

But I am still glad to take their free oil, even if it is not synthetic and I will go to Mobil 1 at 27k (Because I am bringing it in for ToyotaCare as soon as the Maint Reqd light comes on at 4,500 miles my last freebie will be at 22,500.)

 

I changed to synthetic 5W30 Mobil oil after 1000 miles and never looked back for free oil changes. I do the oil changes myself as I am picky about my truck. There is only one other person I trust to work on my cars, and that is not at the dealership service department.

 

You can enter your own maintenance by setting up an account on toyota.com

http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/home

 

Hey kenjw, I believe your trucks, the 4 cylinder's do use synthetic's. I believe 0w-20? I think its mobil-1 in Toyota jugs. I've told that, and read it somewhere also.