Decided to do my own oil change

Man. My oil changes cost ~$70 for the oil, plus a filter.

 

Congratulations on changing your own oil... you know it was done right! To make it even easier permanently attach with a hose clamp a 3-4' piece of 5/16" ID fuel line to the drain nipple, run it down past skid plate. Drain filter oil into pan on floor and when done cap the end off... no mess!!

 

My dealer has a checklist for Toyota Care stuff. They measure fluid levels going and going out, tire pressure, and what specs wheels were torqued to. I've watched them one time and the tech actually do all that. But like everywhere else, you can get a good tech and a bad tech.

 

That was ur first oil change ever?! Better late than never I guess. I was changing oil with the old man before I was in middle school.

The lesson he taught me that keeps me changing it out myself to this day is simply this " Nobody cares about you or your shit more than you do." Ya it sucks crawling under there but at least you KNOW it's done right.

 

Not a fan of having ANY service provider adjusting tire pressure. Tires are likely to be partially "warm". If anything, I have them set them 5 pounds above normal, then the next morning, at home, no driving, no sun I lower them to what I want - usually 33 pounds on my P series tires.

 

not a bad idea, i usually hang a solo cup underneath it. I keep it for future changes

 

WOW...

 

I remember just waxing my Tacoma and the next day I had the dealership do a recall, they also gave me a free car wash. Going around the back of the dealership, I remember seeing their car wash, that looked old., with dirty looking brushes. The dealership should ask customers if they want the free wash IMO, because the time I spent waxing mine was wasted after they did their car wash and I would have passed on mine.

 

I think that's the same deal for dino oc that my dealer charges in Maryland. I'm sure the dealer is still making bank on the deal. I guess that the dealers cost for the oil and filter is 1/3 of what it cost us retail.

 

I usually decline the car wash.

 

No, there is no need to. I change oil every 3k miles and at that frequency Mobil 1 is a waste of money and provides no more protection than dinosaur oil.

 

I poked a hole in the filter and let it sit for 20 minutes. When I removed it not one drop spilled.

 

I get two free oil changes /yr from my dealer. I took advantage of it for the first 4 years or so but with my mileage building they seemed to 'find' issues with the truck with every oil change. Plus every time I would change the oil after they changed it I need to pound a screwdriver thru the filter to remove it.
I plan on making a waste oil heater for my workshop and I have plenty of oil for that.

 

Ouch..why so much?

 

Using any good quality oil that meets spec will do the trick. I have used M1,QSUD and Pennzoil Platinum synthetics and I'm satisfied with all of them. If you want solid info take a sample of your next oil change and send to Blackstone Labs to get it analyzed. I change every 4500-5000 miles and could go much further on it if I wanted, I'm just not sure the OEM filter can go the distance.

 

Yeah I though I used valvoleen in it last and I didn't hear the lifters now I put Mobil 1 back into it and I hear the lifters on higher rpm's and I bought 5 stock oil filters from eBay for $24 and they work good changed it every 4500-5 more towards 5000 when light sticks but the oil black black

 

I wonder if they replace the blinker fluid on that deal

 

Just turned 46 in nov. had two previous Tacomas that are still on the road neither had ever been to the dealer after i bought them. Never have paid someone else to change oil for me or taken the "free ones" this go around on a the 15. In my younger years I used to lie on a piece of cardboard on a rocky driveway in winter. Lucky now to live in TX and built a barn. As has been posted, it gives you a chance to look under the truck and and check things out. Lube the driveline and know that it's done the right way with the oil and filter that u want to use.
The guy with the 400,000 mile post uses mobil1 and an oversized m1-209 filter. good enough for me.
Did the same on the 1st Gen and when I pulled the valve covers off to replace the leaking gasket it was like new at 15 years old
Congratulations on changing it yourself OP.

 

I change my oil in my yard, parked across the ditch in front of my house. Yes I use a drain pan, the ditch gives me a foot or two of extra room. Bonus is that it pisses off the neighbor

 

To add to that is when ppl see the hood up and ask what's wrong with your truck....Nothing..that's the fuckong point. !