2012 oil question

I just finished my free oil changes that came with the truck and was wondering... I know Toyota uses a SYN Blend, and i am due for another change... but i cant afford to take it to the dealer...


So big question is, what oil do you use? Can i go to normal, or should i buy blend, or go full syn?

 

What I do (and I never let the dealer change the oil, I just had them give me a filter and drain plug gasket/washer): Full synthetic, Toyota filter, change every 5K miles.

 

I did the oil changes there cause they were free, and im trying to save for a wedding lol. So every penny helps!

 

I've only had one oil change since I bought my truck and I let the stealership do it mainly because it was free. This was a bad idea!!! I didn't double check their work and I should have. I found an oil catch cup hanging below the filter and rubbing against the serpantine belt! The cup was partly melted and it was damn close to burning through. NOT THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL I WOULD LIKE FROM SOMEONE WORKING ON MY 35K BABY!!! I promptly called the service dept. and let them know I would be back and they should have their ass-kissing face ready. I made the discovery right before I left for a visitation, which might have added to the heat they caught. They apologized and "inspected" everything and my truck came back with a clean bill of health. My second change is almost due and I think I will give them another chance, but only because it is free and I am broke. However, this time I will be double checking their work immediately after.

Soooo, I don't have recommendations for whether or not to go full synth or not, but if you decide to go with the free services follow up behind them.

 

No worries!!!!! Thats just an extra cup holder!

 

Don't waste your money. Use conventional if your owners manual calls for it. I have a 1st gen with 120K miles on it. Just change it when you're supposed to.

 

Mobil 1 is what I use. I drive hard and have had conventional breakdown and turn black in less than 3k.

Spun a rod bearing on my 2000 prerunner at 140k (more my fault than the oil IMO), only Mobil 1 from now on.

 

Here's the way I see it. Assuming you use conventional oil and change every 3K, or synthetic and go 5K between changes. At 25.99 a jug for conventional and 36.99 a jug for synthetic, synthetic will save you about $125 in just oil cost over 100K miles, and about $50 in oil filters over 100K.

And AutoZone keeps sending me coupons for 10 bucks off any full synthetic jug, limit of 2, so I just keep stocking up and getting synthetic for the price of conventional.

Not sure why people think conventional is cheaper. But I do tend to agree that if you change your oil regularly (3K intervals), conventional performs well enough.

What I DO recommend is picking a type and brand of oil and sticking to it.

 

Conventional oil is at 5k miles on these trucks. Most newer vehicles are going 5-10k miles between oil changes on conventional oil. My last Honda and my wife's acura are close to 10k between changes.

 

My 2013 came with conventional and says to change every 5k miles. Some newer Tacoma's I've seen come with synthetic. Not sure why some come form the factiry with synthetic and some conventional. Really makes no sense to me.
I just had my first oil change and tried to get the dealership use the synthetic blend but since my truck came with conventional they would not swap.

 

full syn all the way. you'll gas mileage WILL increase. i dont trust the 5k mile oil change either. mine gets changed every 3k.

 

$$$

 

Did they give you back your little nipple on the end of that oil drain? Dealer never put my dads back on his Tacoma either. Not an issue, but still....

 

Shell rotella t6 full synthetic with lucas full syn oil stabilizer every 5k.

 

So you could go 5K conventional, 7.5K synthetic, and synthetic would still be cheaper.

 

Why don't you yeah-hoos who insist on changing your oil every 3K miles actually do some oil analyses (Blackstone Labs) and put some science behind your decision? Instead of just blindly going along with what your grandpappy did 50 years ago and dumping perfectly good oil.

It's amazing how many car and truck aficionados out there still have trouble wrapping their little craniums around the use of dino vs synthetic oils.

 

Finally someone with common sense

 

I'm with you, I wished all Tacomas came from the factory with synthetic, not just the 2.7L (2TR-FE).

 

Because its my truck and my money. thats why

 

mobil 1 full synthetic, supposed to be just as good toyota brand.