Help: How best to document oil change?

I've got a 2010 DC and have only put on about 2400 miles since October 2009. I'm wanting to change the oil myself (since it's been about 5 months) and replace the filter and oil with Mobil 1 products.

What is the best way to document/prove the oil change if I do it myself?

 

This.

 

I've already bought the Mobil 1 in bulk from Costco, so the only things I'll be able to document through receipts are the oil filter and oil filter gasket. I didn't realize the 4.0L Tacoma had an oil drain plug gasket. I guess I could buy this from the dealer.

The reason I ask the question is what if I get some paranoid or nit-picky dealer if I have a warranty problem? Will the receipts be good enough? There's also the possiblity that I bought the products but never did the work. A time-date stamp could also be fudged..unless there's some atomic clock time stamp available. Anyone know if there's some atomic time stamp?

Maybe I'm too paranoid, but I really don't want any problems with Toyota.

 

You're not paranoid, it's always good to keep documentation of all the work you do. Even if you never need to show it to Toyota some day you may want to sell it, and a well documented service history makes a used vehicle more marketable.

 

If you do regular oil changes, the dealer could probably tell just by looking at your oil or sending it to a lab for analysis. That plus a detailed work log should CYA.

 

I dont go as far as saving receipts but I just use my label maker and put in the mileage of the last oil change and stick it on the inside of my driver side door. Works great for me!!! I also do that for my tire rotations as well to remember.

 

Didn't even think about saving reciepts for oil and filters although I have for every mod purchase since I've bought her.

I've created an xcel spread sheet for all maintenace and mods to include dates, mileage, part #'s etc.

 

I use an MS Access template found here:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC102382071033.aspx?CategoryID=CT101428511033&av=ZAC000

I digitally scan all my receipts and attached them in the database.

 

I enter the oil change (and other maintenance) into the vehicle service history through ToyotaOwnersOnline.com, and toss receipts into my "Tacoma Receipts" folder in my filing cabinet.

 

This would seem like the way 2 go to document maintenance on Toyota's own site ToyotaOwnersOnline.com. If you have a problem you need the dealer to address your maintenance is documented on their site, along with receipts - how do they argue with that ?

 

Do you have to change oil plug gasket?

 

Depends.. How does the one on the plug look? If it isn't beat up I re-use. On the other hand they are so cheap.. I paid a buck.. that I wouldnt waste much time debating.

 

Ditto. Access makes it super easy to scan and attach. I also keep the originals around.... Probably overkill.

 

I do the same thing. The last change the washer looked pristine so I popped it back on. Yes, they are cheap, but that will save me from having to go by the dealer for awhile to get more. This is the second time I have reused them with no issues whatsoever.