Question about dealer oil

No Doc. Any engine in production today can use synthetic oil from the first time it's started. The rings seat just fine no mater what type of oil is used. That's been proven. The real advantage of synthetic oil is it flows better when cold & maintains it's rated viscosity when hot. Not because it lubricates better.

 

There is so much misinformation in this thread I think my head is going to explode.

Toyota care is for the first 2 years or 24,000 miles.
The 4.0 Liter V6 does not come with Synthetic oil.
Only the 2.7 Liter I4 comes with Synthetic oil.
There is no designated break in Period or oil.
You can run synthetic oil as soon as you take delivery if you want it will not hurt anything.

.....

 

Thanks Jimmyh, that clears it up

 

Toyota is devoted to safety and dependability, and proper vehicle maintenance is important to both. That's why we include a no cost maintenance plan1 with the purchase or lease of every new Toyota for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. 24-hour roadside assistance2 is also included for two years, regardless of mileage.

 

I'll throw my hat into the ring....

I bought a 2014 Taco Sport a few months back. I told them I only drive 12k a year, they told me to bring it in every 4.5 months for an oil change etc... so that my free changes wouldnt go to waste. I'm on track to have less than 4k on the clock when I get it changed...


on Synthetics from the factory....
I hate to always use the same line... in the Neon world (where I am from) I've formed many relationships with Dodge/Chrysler techs, as well as engineers and engine builders. Most of the state that heat cycling a new engine is the key to a proper break in. Get it up to temp, shut it off, then do it again. By the time we've got our rides, there should be little to no issue with metal pieces in the engine, esp with what we can achieve today for tolerances and quality. Dodge Vipers, as well as most of the newer lineups come with Mobile 1 Synthetic in them from the factory. (again, I am stating what I am familiar with). Todays gaskets are different than 20 years ago, they dont tend to degrade as easily. Yes there have been issues with people switching between synth and conventional oil, mostly in older cars. Now there are synths for higher mileage cars that have extra additives to 're-invigorate' the older gaskets and stuff....

Honestly, I drive the truck like I would at 100,000 miles that I drive it now with 2500. When Toyota is done giving me free oil changes and tire rotations (something I prefer to do myself, but if I am somehow paying for this service anyway, I'll use it until its done), I'll continue the 5k oil changes with Mobile 1 and a filter of my choice.

again, just my $.02.

 

I've never been a fan of dealership service depts. and will therefore change my own oil and rotate my own tires. It ain't worth the grief.[/QUOTE]

Do my own also since the first trip to my dealer for tire rotation. Halfway home I felt like I was driving on ice. When I got home I only had 3 lug nuts left on the wheel. I called them and insisted they send a wrecker to pick it up and reinstall the lug nuts. The mechanic claimed he was overworked and had never made that mistake before. Just my luck on my brand new Taco.

 

It's amazing how frustrating finding that info is. The dealership I got my truck from could not even tell me if my 2014 Tacoma 4.0L V6 came with synthetic oil. The oil cap says 5W-30 but no one knew if it was regular or synthetic. Mind boggling.

Thanks for the info.

 

I don't understand your frustration. None of this is secret, and you don't have to rely on sketchy info from dealer employees or anyone else. The manual clearly states what weight and type of oil Toyota recommends. You also should have received a Toyotacare brochure describing the program.

Manuals are available online at https://auth3.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/resources/owners-manuals#Owners-Manuals

You can request a Toyotacare brochure at https://auth3.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/parts-service/toyota-care

 

I'll have to check again, but I don't recall the manual mentioning if the oil was synthetic or not. Only the weight. That's where I first went. And then ended up here.

 

OK, you have a point about the type. For the 2.7L, they call out 0W-20 (2014 manual). I'm pretty sure zero-weight conventional oil does not exist. For the 4.0L, they specify 5W-30 (2014 manual). Dunno if full synthetic comes in 5W or not.

Another clue is the manual calls for Genuine Toyota Motor Oil or equivalent. If you look up GTMO, their 0W-20 is listed under 'Synthetic Motor Oil,' and the other grades are not. So I take that to mean when Toyota says 0W-20, they mean synthetic, and when they say 5W-30, they mean conventional. You can bet any technician who puts synthetic oil in a six-cylinder Tacoma in for ToyotaCare service is going to get his or her ass chewed big time for costing the dealer extra oil money.

 

Yeah, that's what I was talking about. You can get fully synth 5W or regular 5W. Both of which are safe to use in the 4.0L I assume. But would be nice if the dealerships knew what it comes with from the factory (expecting too much?). At any rate, I'll likely get my mechanic to put fully synthetic 5W-30 in when I get it changed.

Unless the customer specifically asked for it...

 

... and agreed to pay the upcharge for it. And believed the dealer would keep his end of the deal and actually use the higher-cost product. [Just trying to keep to the cynical spirit of this thread.]

I think it's a safe bet Toyota does not ship 4.0L Tacomas with synthetic oil.

In fact, do they ship them with oil in them at all? That could be part of dealer prep. Just asking. I have no idea.

 

All cars and trucks come with oil in them as they are drove on and driven off the boat....

 

I have 2013 v6 taco. dealer said truck came with synthetic. Just got the oil changed at 15k miles at dealer using toyotacare. oil used was the synthetic 0-20. I thought I read that all toyotas are being delivered with synthetic oil standard. Im confused...

 

I hope that wasn't your first oil change!

Sounds like your dealer is confused. A lot of the misinformation Jimmyh mentioned seems to come from dealers. Consult your owner's manual. Or even look at the oil filler cap. Synthetic or not, 1GR-FE engines are supposed to get 5W-30.

 

Here we go again. Download this and read it. Then put a copy in your glovebox so you can show it to the dealership..

http://rav4world.com/pdf/T-TT-0005-10.pdf

 

Thanks!

 

Whatever oil they use, it sure isn't going to hurt your engine. Just take their free stuff while it's available, and then run your oil of choice after that.

 

I also brought my own oil (mobile 1 5w30 synthetic 6 quarts) for the free service. I always get my half quart back and the oil filter looks changed. I mark the oil filter before doing the oil change so I feel they are putting the oil in or have a lot of half quart oil containers around. I am not worried enough to hang out in the service bay to watch them do what they say they are gonna do. I have gone to two different dealerships and the results are the same.

 

I think it would probably open your eyes if you hung around and observed! Some of these guys working at dealerships, especially doing oil changes are remarkable! The lengths that they'll go to, for essentially nothing, is an (inspiring experience?). At least follow Ronald Reagan's, trust but verify?