Decided to do my own oil change

You think Toyota would mandate a checklist for all technicians that perform oil changes, just to lessen the chances of missing gasket, no oil, wrong oil filter, and wrong oil quantity and they have to show the service manager the signed list, before it leaves the bay.

 

They only would state at what mileage things needed to be done, but it wasn't a hard pitch. I could just call when ever I needed an oil change and they were fine with that. I wouldn't even need to tell them it was free, when they handed me my keys and the receipt it would always say balance due....0

 

Can't beat that promotion then.

 

Maybe the 13 buck oil change is a loss leader, gets ya in the door so they can up sell ya other services. I bought a jug of M1 High Mileage at the WW black Friday for 19 bucks, throw on a OEM filter and I'm looking at 24 bucks. Also like others have said it gives me a chance to crawl under and around the truck. I use a Fumoto valve so no crush washer worries.

 

Gasket? You mean crush washer?
Yeah, it should be there but I bet things would be fine without it.

 

Nothing to do with an oil change, but I had my truck at the dealership a few weeks ago to get my door adjusted, they gave me a new 17 to drive for a few days. Anyway, when I picked my truck up I noticed a nice dent in the door will, looks like the tech dropped a hammer on it! Still waiting on them to set up an appointment with the body shop to get it repaired.

 

Correct....

 

I like how Ricky appears to be checking out your Speedway Blue access cab.

 

I use full synthetic, so its cheaper to do myself.

 

Always give my truck a walk around before I leave the lot. I've never had an issue with my dealership but people makes mistakes. You can bet if you would have returned the loaner with a dent there would be hell to pay.

 

I took extra care of that 17 Tacoma, i put a disposable seat cover on, cleaned the windows, and put gas in it. I did not notice that dent immediately, had to go to the hospital for a test and thankfully noticed it there and was able to go right back to the dealer to show them.

 

First oil change on my new to me truck, I went to napa and bought a nylon washer for the drain bolt and made sure it was tight on the threads (like I had screw it on) now I don't have to worry about crush washers, leaks or losing it.

 

I have never seen an actual crush washer on a Toyota Oil Drain Plug.

I have seen gaskets and I have seen Copper seal washers.

Copper washer:


Gasket:



Crush Washer:

 

i'm right around 30 -33 depending on the day for my dealer oil change. now they toss in a wash. last time i found the antenna in the passenger foot well. not sure why

 

Because they ran it through a tunnel carwash with all those spinning rags cleaning your truck. they took it off so it doesn't get torn off.

 

i'd call that blue ring i put on mine..a gasket, not a crush washer.

they are so inexpensive, i just buy a bunch of them and keep them in a baggie pinned to my garage wall. i do a lot of toyota oil changes for friends. so far, they ALL use the same blue gasket. prius and everything.

 

$13 seems fishy to me. This is 'on sale' at the dealer near me.

 

Some dealerships do that. They aren't trying to make money on that. They are selling oil changes as what's known as a loss leader. They want you to get into the habit of bringing your truck in to the dealership for everything. They'd be thrilled if you decided to buy wheels and tires you see while you're waiting. They can see things that they turn into repairs that they might talk you into "That heat shield bolt has a spot of rust on it, could fail! For $45 it could be spotless and new again."

And they do it as cheaply as they can. Probably use a wrench who isn't certified, maybe even just a high school dropout who'll work for Burger King wages. Shitty oil. Their cost on branded filters is low, and I'd guess they might skip it if they know there's less than 10K on the one in there (because you came in for your last 4 oil changes).

I had a dealership sell me a dozen changes for $100 or some crazy cheap deal. I quit after four or five because they couldn't figure out how to not overfill it. Always had to crawl under to drain some out even though I paid for a change. False economies. Doing it yourself is the bomb.

Git you a grease gun to hit the driveline zircs while you're under there.

 

Yep, I gunned the drive shafts a few weeks ago.

 

Do you use mobil 1