Where are people getting their oil changes these days?

I used to change my own oil but at 74 years young crawling around on my back got tuff to do. So, I bring my 2016 back to the dealer. I asked if I could watch them do it one time and they said no problem. I am OK with them doing it from now on.

 

Take my Taco and wife's Avalon to the dealership. About the same cost as the oil change shops but it does take a bit longer. But then again you can get any recalls fix at the same time.

The last oil change I had, I couldn't get into the dealership at a time that fit things I had going on, so I took it to an independent shop. Not a dedicated oil change place but a general service repair shop. What a disaster. I've got a TRD skid plate with the trap door for oil changes. Well they had the tool to remove the filter, but complained it was offset too far from the opening so when they pulled the filter it spilled oil inside of the skid plate. They of course failed to drain the filter, or didn't know they could, and later said next time (which there will not be) would remove the skid plate for a $10 charge. They failed to completely clean up the oil inside the skid plate which then leaked on my garage floor. Back to dealership next time for sure.

 

I just like doing any maintenance I can figure out, myself, in order to enjoy truck driving just that much more. Queen Elizabeth was trained to work on the WWII ambulance she used to drive in London.

 

Good for the queen, i take it they have tacoma ambulance's?

 

Tis true, same issue the vintage BMX market has at times "don't ruin original finish" "don't use reproduction parts on your old bike" and so on, I get a good chunk of guff for a few of my habits but oh well.

Time, that's just it. When I used to do mine I just had to bring the old oil to the dump (where I was going anyway) versus make a special trip now, for instance.

Hello fellow MA guy

 

Hitler destroyed all the lifted, tuned Toyota ambulances in The Blitz.
probably out of shear meanness

 

Another DIYer here. Where I live my local Toyota dealer is so busy that getting an oil change would likely take a half-day (or sometimes a full day based on what my neighbor who takes his Prius there for service tells me). I can do an oil and filter change in 30-45 mins in my garage (I take my time, working on cars is a hobby for me). I have several other trucks, MC's and ATV's I maintain so getting rid of the oil is no big deal (I take it to my local O'Reilly, I'm there every week or so buying stuff anyway).

DIY oil changes are not for everyone, but for me it works. I do have one vehicle which I take to a local shop or the dealer for service (F-550 work truck) it's on a lease and maintence is included as part of that lease, plus I don't have a great way to catch ~15 Quarts of oil at home!

As far as warranty concerns go, I just keep receipts for the oil and filters I buy. On my '20 there is a way to update services completed in the Infortainment system so I do that. In all honesty I'm not super-great at keeping records; I write the date, miles and type of oil used on a piece of blue masking tape and stick it to the door jamb then try to remember to look at it occasionally. Last fall I bought a car from a former airplane mechanic and he gave me a three-ring binder full of records for everything he'd done to the car while he owned it. That's nice but I could tell by just looking at the car that it had been well-maintained; for me his binder full of records didn't really add any value.

YMMV

 

without a proper history aviation parts might as well be made out of sand

 

Some guys are into that...

 

I take mine to the dealership for all maintenance...I change my oil every 5K miles which for me is about every 6 weeks. My wife has free oil changes for her 2022 4Runner (TRD Pro) so dealer for her too. Our dealership has been great - I just pull up and they do mine right away (with no appointment).

My son has a 2002 Tacoma ( TRD OR)..he changes his and his sisters cars too along with our tractors, 4 wheelers, UTVs etc. I'm not sure if he enjoys doing it himself but he is frugal and he knows it is done right. I certainly understand both sides.

 

You save the receipts for oil and filter. Btw, you know what else relies on simple logbook entries? Aircraft

 

First, I see a Purple Heart on your front plate. Thank you for your service & sacrifice.

Secondly, I agree...there comes a time when certain tasks need to be done by someone else. As long as it's with a trust-worthy technician/dealership.

 

I do my own. It’s not a trust issue or a manliness issue. I actually enjoy it more than driving somewhere and waiting, honestly.

 

About 50 feet from my basement door. Just did it yesterday. Took me longer to get the tools out than to do the job. Way less time than a dealer and I trust my work and that the oil & filter were really changed.

 

And I’m willing to bet you ensured that the old drain plug gasket was scraped off and a new one inserted in its place

 

Just did it for the first time. You will need a special tool to remove the oil filter housing and I highly recommend the Motiv

$30 MX2320 Motivx Tools Oil Filter Wrench for Toyota Camry, Tundra, Tacoma, 4Runner, RAV4 and More - 64mm 14 Flute Precision CNC Machined Aluminum Oil Filter Removal Tool

MX2320 oil filter housing tool. Grips the housing with precision and performed beautifully. I changed my oil at 1,200 miles to get the break in oil out and synthetic oil in. Took me about an hour taking my time, researching the torque specs and putting the skid plate back on.
Torque specs for those wanting to know:
oil drain bolt: 30 ft/lbs
Oil filter housing: 18 ft/lbs
Oil Filter Drain cap: 10 ft/lbs

 

Another driveway experience here also. I did add a Fumoto valve to simplify the process.

 

Dang you put a lot of miles on that Taco! That’s pretty cool the dealership will change your oil without an appointment. My local dealership doesn’t have the best customer service from what I’ve experienced in the 3 times I’ve been.

After seeing a decent number of people in this thread that are satisfied with their dealerships, I’m toying with the idea of giving the service dept. at the Toyota dealership where I bought the truck a chance before I start going to an independent mechanic. My local Toyota dealership that I’ve been going too is not where I bought the truck.

 

Of course. And cleaned the surfaces to ensure good seal.