ToyotaCare 5k Service - No Oil Change?

I just got off the phone scheduling my 5k maintenance, and was surprised when they told me I would need to pay for an oil change if I wanted it now. I know that the "schedule" for the Tacoma says that the oil change is not needed until 10k, but with my other 2 vehicles (2011 camry and 2016 4runner, both synthetic) they changed them at 5k, no questions asked. Has anyone else had to pay for the 5k oil change? Thanks!

 

I had one dealership tell me the same. I called another and they took care of it at 5k under Toyotacare on my wifes Rav4. Guess which one is getting my business from here on out?

 

Unless you fall under the severe service interval you get the changes at 10k intervals. The Toyota care manual lays all this out.

 

Yes, they're free at 10k and 20k. If you want them at 5k and 15k, you have to pay.

 

I'm not opposed to waiting until 10k, just surprised since they always did it before. Oh well, no big deal

 

My dealership did them free every 6 months for the first 2 years.

 

My dealer changed them at no cost when I asked him to. He was like sure not needed but no problem.

 

Its probably a waste of money but especially on the first oil change I'd just pay and get it done at 5k "just in case"

I REALLY wasted money and changed it at 1k AND every 5k miles ever since, even though I know better and there's empirical evidence that its a waste of money I still do because it makes me feel better lol.

 

Same. I'm waiting for 2k on mine and will be changing it at 2k, then again at 5k and every 5k thereafter. I know there is evidence against this, however I'm not willing to go 10k between changes. The wife's car (non-toyota) has an oil life monitor that factors in engine hours, ambient temp, and driving conditions and it usually gets me to about ~5k miles give or take. Same oil. So why should I let my truck go any more?

 

Because there is no f'in way possible that oil "life" monitor is measuring the important metrics that effects oil life in the real world.
Temperature, to a synthetic oil, is a non factor. Engine hours is a decent metric unless... wait for it... it just is sitting there idling. Driving conditions? Is it measuring the dust particle in the air or something? Does it measure tongue weight to see if you are pulling a trailer 5X/wk?

Now, if the analytics were: Engine LOAD, Engine RPM, the differential pressure on the air filter from intake to box, etc, then I would believe the monitor. Otherwise? They just want your money every 5K lol.
I drive about 3K a month. I know that if my oil filter had a bit bigger dirt holding capacity I would be fine going 15K between oil changes.

 

Just did my second oil change at 10K miles and the first one with the baxter performance adapter and spin on filter. Really was a lot easier and quicker than the first one with the canister.

 

I was once told by a Honda mechanic at the dealership I worked at, that the oil will last 10k miles, but the oil filter will begin to let crap pass through prior to 10k. I’ve never been comfortable waiting that long. 5k for me!

 

Idk about measuring dust particles, but a while back I looked into the accuracy of these things (trying to get myself to abandon the old 3k intervals) and I read some pretty in depth analysis of how its programmed to be accurate. Granted it's an algorithm but it monitors things like driving speed, engine rpm (even idling creates wear and deposit build up), cold starts, engine hours, even things like stop and go traffic is factored in.

Now I changed the oil every 3k in my old explorer and I just traded that in with 150k on the ODO, and didn't benefit at all for changing the oil as much as I did. In any case, i just can't bring myself to go 10k between changes. Just because the oil is better doesn't reduce the carbon build up in the oil any...

 

$22 for 5 qts of synthetic at wally world. Just drain and fill at 5K. Change filter every 10K. Might not be "ideal" but it puts clean oil in there and gets the coking and dirty oil out!

 

I just recently did my 10k last weekend and my 5k a few months ago, both had free oil changes. I specifically asked what was involved in each service and if there was a cost. No cost to me and an oil change at each service.

 

No, but the clearances on the new engines do, along with the unique design of this engine. You ought to try it... it's liberating bringing yourself into the 20th century lol. Personally I wouldn't be so flippant about this subject if I didn't work designing systems with oils and filters haha. But I do and I know how much better fluids, filters and mechanical components are versus 28 years ago when I started. 10K easy. If you want to really learn, head over to bobistheoilguy. Smart people over there.

 

I’ve bought a few new vehicles in the past few years and my dealer will change the oil for free no matter the mileage but they tell me that I only get 2 free oil changes for the free 2 year 25 thou mile Toyota Care program.

 

Browse around bobistheoilguy.com and their forum for your oil science reading pleasure. The need for a 5K mile OCI is a myth. If it makes you feel good, go for it. It's kinda like mowing your yard twice a week, IMO.

Funny thing happened though. My truck came with 5 oil changes. My dealer did an oil change at 5K miles at my Toyota Care check by accident! I was a bit perturbed and when I inquired about it, they didn't dock me one of my changes and said, "well, you're good for another 10K miles"! So now they still owe me 40K miles worth of oil changes, assuming a 10K mile OCI.

 

The oil change topic comes up at least once a day with the same old tired viewpoints about not trusting the intervals at 10K. If you search you can read tIL your eyes bleed.

 

Yeah, but is Toyota going to release a diesel Tacoma? If so, what's an acceptable mileage change for their oil?