My 2018 TRD Pro is now six months old with only 3,700 miles. Service manual says bring it in for the Toyota "Care" treatment at earlier of six months or 5,000 miles. This first scheduled visit is only tire rotation and multipoint inspection best I can tell (no oil).

OK I am at six months so according to manual it should go in. But I read the oil service on this isn't scheduled until the 2nd appointment or as much as 10k miles! My father-in-law (an old mechanic) says I'd be crazy to let the oil go that long and I should have already changed it at 2k miles. He harkens from a time when machining tolerances in new vehicles were not as precise and synthetic oil was not as advanced so that it was prudent to empty the oil after a few thousand miles to get rid of the shavings and other impurities. I know that is probably not necessary (he says otherwise) and have read much here about the preferences over the spectrum and it all only serves to confuse the crap out of me more.

I am also conflicted whether to forsake the "free" (or more apt prepaid oil services altogether after reading the horror stories here of Dealer service staff stripping the bolts on the skid plate and even cross threading the filter itself. Arghh

Based on everything the Toyota care service does now it would be just a multi-point inspection and rotating the tires (also premature at 3,700 miles) so they wouldn't touch the skid plate or oil filter. I am struggling with what to do now vs. later and what to let the dealer do for "free" vs. taking it upon myself. Do I let them do the scheduled service now and wait for June (12 months) when I'll likely have around 7k miles to do oil? Should I do the oil myself and waste the prepaid oil services or roll the dice on the dealer service?

I am sorry in advance for what many would view as a redundant post but I have read the others over past months and am stuck with what to do. Advice here is much appreciated.

Cheers and Happy New Year to everyone!

JC

Here’s a suggestion....use the Toyota service manual, and follow their factory recommendations

There is also a warranty component to letting them look at it. They will be checking to make sure everything is running as it should be and making sure nothing is working it's way loose.
If you are really adverse to having them rotate the tires then ask them not to, although I'm unclear why it would be an issue.
As far as time frames and oil changes I always brought mine in based on miles not time and they never objected.
Bottom line it's "FREE" except for your time
If you don't like the dealer touching your rig don't take it in but I'd generally follow their maintenance guidelines. Toyota engineers have kept quite a few vehicles on the road for a long time

Toyota has positioned themselves to be just like a jiffylube. While sitting in the dealership for some post delivery issues, It was hard to keep from laughing as the service guy came back and ushered the customer back out of ear shot to tell them about some impending doom if they didn't act on their inspection. I'm going to do all my own light service, like I always have, and for any more routine maintenance I'll go to my long-time independent shop. The dealers can deal with any warrantee issues. I have already decided to do my first oil change at 5k, just because, but I would have zero issues waiting for the 10k interval.

I have always done my own tire rotation, which is just tire changing practice, it also allows me to scrub the back sides of the tires/wheels which no tire shop will do for you.

IMO - Check the fluids and tire pressure yourself. Look at the tires and if they don't show signs of uneven wear, skip the first visit. Go back for the 10K and oil change. Don't tell your father.

Just purchased a new Sienna and going to do the same.

--- I did do an oil change at 5K on the 4runner because I may be the same age as your father.

I think the most important question regarding dealer work is whether you trust the dealer with your investment or not. You just bought a $40k truck and ToyotaCare will save you a few hundred dollars in parts and labor over the course of a couple of years, which isn't really that much in the grand scheme of things. But if you don't trust the dealer's service department it does you no good at all.

If you have the time, tools, space, and wherewithal to do work yourself, I think most people would find it both very rewarding and easier than they thought it would be.

I understand wanting to care well for your investment but Toyota's maintenance schedule is pretty specific, and their engineers designed your truck. Dependability and design was likely a part of your purchase decision. Having said that, they also stipulate that if you've been running the truck hard (towing, high RPMs, etc.) you can change the oil at 5k, but ToyotaCare won't pay for it until 10k.

In short, do whatever helps you sleep better at night. Good luck man.

Get an alignment done at 6 mo / 5k when you get your tires rotated


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ask them to provided a detailed list of what they will check if you bring it in, then share with the class. I would love to think they would go over it with a fine tooth comb but I highly doubt its more then popping the hood to check the fluids and a 30second glance on the underside (if that)

Mine has a dealer lifetime powertrain warranty but you have to stick to the every 6 month schedule or its void. My biggest concern is just knowing which visits I need to take my skid plates and pedal commander off.

At six months you change the engine and transmission

Now don't confuse the 4runner with a Jeep

i changed by oil at 1000 miles and change it every 3000 miles

And it should be free. Toyota covers the cost of one alignment within the first 12 months of ownership.

1. Your father-in-law is wrong.
2. Take it in to the dealer and let them do, probably, nothing of value, aside from rotating the tires.
3. Find a dealer you trust and keep going to them. Or find a local shop you trust.
4. Only you know if you can do a competent job of changing your own oil. How much is your time worth?

The struggle is real...

As someone above recommended, follow the Toyota recommendations. That said, I’ve never heard of any harm coming from changing the oil too often. So your father-in-law isn’t recommending anything harmful. But I believe oils and filters are better than they were “back in the day”.

From a personal experience perspective, I’ve used Mobil 1 in all my Toyotas since about 1990. I’ve been, um, neglectful at times (15,000 miles between many oil changes) and not one of them developed an oil consumption problem. And I’ve put about 1.25 million miles combined on the Toyotas I’ve owned. So 10,000-mile oil change intervals don’t bother me.