1St oil change

[Jeff Kleb]

Although what you did is very honorable, but man, did you waste money!! If i were you, then I would buy a vehicle instead of leasing it with all you do.

Well, not really. Since I do it myself, it still costs less to use Mobil-1 than to take it to a stealership and have them use dino oil. I also allow the oil more than enough time to drain completely from the pan, whereas most shops will want to "hurry up" and close the drain plug so they can get onto the next customer.
:bash:

But anyway, my payment would have been almost twice as much if I bought my 4Runner outright rather than leasing it for three years. Since I keep the miles low (because I have my little Sentra for commuting) and it has such a good residual, I felt it better to lease it.

I still have the option to purchase it at the end of the lease if I want to.....which I probably will not. It is a great truck, but is honestly "more than I need" -- for the reasons I mentioned in another post. I've taken it to Michigan and back twice and am going again next month, and I have taken other trips with it across several states. Flawless, comfortable ride - even on the highway. Still, though, the siren song of the Mustang beckons me.
:bigok:

 

[keylay31]

This has NEVER been proven. In fact, Honda uses a special break-in additive in their factory oil, at least when i had my CR-V. Thus, Honda does NOT recommend changing your oil before factory recommendations. As for Toyota, i am not sure if Toyota puts in any additive from factory. However, changing oil at 1000 miles has NEVER been proven to be of any benefit. No manufacturer recommends this practice...and they would love to make money on the oil changes...so, you would think that IF this was of benefit, then they would recommend it.

Remember also, oil works best after a few hundred/thousand miles, NOT when it's fresh from the bottle.

People doing this is based on old thinking. Remember, the engine of today is precisely designed and manufactured.

IMHO, doing the 1000 mile oil change is a waste of money/effort with no proven benefit. And, in Honda's case, it may be harmful.

If this was true, why would the dealership offer a free 1k oil change AFTER the purchase of the vehicle?

 

[Thai]

If this was true, why would the dealership offer a free 1k oil change AFTER the purchase of the vehicle?

To hook you to their dealership...to make them seem "generous"...so that you will come back to them at 3K miles, which almost all dealership recommends!

Just read your Owner's Manual. And if you call Toyota to ask them this question, then they will say the same thing...follow the Owner's Manual.

 

[Thai]

One exception to the rule above: BMW M3. BMW recommends engine oil, tranny fluid, and rear diff fluid changes at 1200 miles (no more no less!). Apparently, their engine oil from factory is a special break-in oil that needs to be changed at 1200 miles. When i had my M3, there was a difference in engine smoothness and "revness" between the factory break-in oil and the regular oil that you get after 1200 miles.

So, as you can see, unless the manufacturer demands the change (aka written in Owner's Manual), it is not beneficial to do an oil change at 1000 miles. No manufacturer will recommend or not recommend something that will hurt their engine = hurt their reputation.

 

[keylay31]

So, as you can see, unless the manufacturer demands the change (aka written in Owner's Manual), it is not beneficial to do an oil change at 1000 miles. No manufacturer will recommend or not recommend something that will hurt their engine = hurt their reputation.

Ok Thai, I argued for you to stay last April 1st, I'm beginning to regret my decision here. :bash:

Changing your oil at 1k miles will not hurt your engine. No one has ever suggested such a thing. Your conclusions are failed logic. You might argue that its a waste of money and resources, but even then, I haven't seen any proof that it doesn't help at least somewhat...

Leave us T4R owners to our babies, keep your reason (with regards to waste, not "hurting" the engine) elsewhere :bigok:

 

[Thai]

Ok Thai, I argued for you to stay last April 1st, I'm beginning to regret my decision here. :bash:

Changing your oil at 1k miles will not hurt your engine. No one has ever suggested such a thing. Your conclusions are failed logic. You might argue that its a waste of money and resources, but even then, I haven't seen any proof that it doesn't help...

Leave us T4R owners to our babies, keep your reason (with regards to waste, not "hurting" the engine) elsewhere :bigok:

kaylay, what does owning a 4runner have to do with this discussion?? Is the 4runner different from other vehicles??

As far as you wanting me to stay here...thanks! But, let's keep things in perspective...it is still my forum...thus, it is my right (as it is yours) to state my opinion on this forum as long as it is relevant to the topic at hand and back by facts.

I am sure that changing the oil at 1000 mile on the 4runner is not harmful (never said otherwise). When did i say that changing oil on your 4runner at 1K miles hurtful?? Please READ again my posts. However, it is a waste of money and NOT needed (according to Owner's Manual). But there are exceptions as i stated above...my 1997 Honda CRV did indeed have a special break-in oil that Honda recommends to be in there till 3000 miles or later. This is not something i made up...it's fact.

So, if my logic is "failed," then are you saying that since the Owner's Manual does NOT recommend such thing, then the OM's logic is failed too???

Where is YOUR proof that changing oil at 1K mile is of ANY benefit?? MY proof is located in the glovebox of every 4runner sold in the US.

 

[keylay31]

I am sure that changing the oil at 1000 mile on the 4runner is not harmful (never said otherwise). When did i say that changing oil on your 4runner at 1K miles hurtful??

So, as you can see, unless the manufacturer demands the change (aka written in Owner's Manual), it is not beneficial to do an oil change at 1000 miles. No manufacturer will recommend or not recommend something that will hurt their engine = hurt their reputation.

And I'm not specifically saying that its of any benefit, I just think that if someone wants to treat their car with that little extra, then why not. I just wanted to clear up the insinuation that it was bad to do so. The cleaning rituals of some members and or the constant changing of oil at 3k isn't necessarily necessary, but it doesn't hurt. Get my point?

kaylay, what does owning a 4runner have to do with this discussion?? Is the 4runner different from other vehicles??

just poking a little fun :bigok:

 

[Thai]

Get my point?

I do not think that you are truly understanding my statement above: "No manufacturer will recommend or not recommend something that will hurt their engine = hurt their reputation."

Read it again. Basically, what is written in the Owner's Manual does not harm the vehicle. Therefore, if you do not do the 1000 mile change, then it does no harm to the engine. Do you understand now??

 

[Thai]

And I'm not specifically saying that its of any benefit,

I beg to differ...

Helps to clean out all the metal machining shavings that might be left in the engine and whatever else is a by product of the manufacturing process, as well as just helps the engine "break in"

You might argue that its a waste of money and resources, but even then, I haven't seen any proof that it doesn't help at least somewhat...

Things that make you go, Hmmmmmm.

 

[keylay31]

Keywords being "specifically" and "might" =P

and I still contend:

You might argue that its a waste of money and resources, but even then, I haven't seen any proof that it doesn't help at least somewhat...

Gnight.

 

[Indy4Runner]

Amazing

Absolutely amazing. Suggesting that you follow the owner's manual equates to failed logic? The most common argument I read for frequent/unnecessary oil changes is, "peace of mind" or "I just FEEL better". Not very logical.

People, we are not dealing with the flat tappets, inferior oiling systems, single camshafts, cast rings etc. of the 1970s. Modern machining and metallurgy is your friend!

You will not see negative results from changing your oil at 1000, however, it is unnecessary as supported by the factory recommendation.

 

[Thai]

In addition, IF you do not do the oil changes yourself and let some monkey with a wrench do it, then you may be harming your vehicle! Why? If you change your oil at 1000 mile and then every 3000 miles, then you're exposing your 4runner more often to these monkeys with a wrench which may lead to certain disasters (e.g. overfilling oil, underfilling, not changing oil at all, wrong filter, wrong oil, etc.).

 

[keylay31]

Well, I'm certainly not advocating 3k OCI's nor paying to have it done, thats for sure.

 

[Thai]

One exception to the rule above: BMW M3. BMW recommends engine oil, tranny fluid, and rear diff fluid changes at 1200 miles (no more no less!). Apparently, their engine oil from factory is a special break-in oil that needs to be changed at 1200 miles. When i had my M3, there was a difference in engine smoothness and "revness" between the factory break-in oil and the regular oil that you get after 1200 miles.

So, as you can see, unless the manufacturer demands the change (aka written in Owner's Manual), it is not beneficial to do an oil change at 1000 miles. No manufacturer will recommend or not recommend something that will hurt their engine = hurt their reputation.

Since keylay31 may be asking why i posted this info, i want to explain further. The reason is to show that IF a car manufacturer wants the consumer to change oil early to get better engine performance or durability, then it will tell you specifically when to do it in the Owner's Manual. So, the Owner's Manual is not shy to tell you when to change the oil in your engine for optimal performance and durability.

 

[Koz]

A new engine is almost broken-in when you get it. It only takes a couple hundred miles to complete the process. This gives the engine the required amount of heat cycles. The next couple changes are more for flushing out break-in debris which would make sense to use cheap dino oil. To get out most of the break-in debris several changes before 10K miles are desirable. I do three changes before 5K miles and then spend the money on quality pure synthetic oil that can last up to one year with an UOA (Used Oil Analysis). If you wait till 5K miles for the first change it will only take longer to get the break-in debris out of the oil system. This is not my personal opinion, this is fact backed up by UOAs.

Toyota engines are generally gentle on motor oil (especially the 4.7 V8) and have shown (through UOAs) to be able to last 10K+ miles between changes, with high quality synthetic oils.

Koz

 

[iLLWiLL]

if i should change my oil at 1000 miles, and then switch to synthetic at 5000 miles --- what brand/kind of oil do i use for the 1000 mi change?

 

[Koz]

if i should change my oil at 1000 miles, and then switch to synthetic at 5000 miles --- what brand/kind of oil do i use for the 1000 mi change?

Any 5w-20/30 dino oil. Castrol and Havoline are good Petrolioum oils.

Koz

 

[keylay31]

A new engine is almost broken-in when you get it. It only takes a couple hundred miles to complete the process. This gives the engine the required amount of heat cycles. The next couple changes are more for flushing out break-in debris which would make sense to use cheap dino oil. To get out most of the break-in debris several changes before 10K miles are desirable. I do three changes before 5K miles and then spend the money on quality pure synthetic oil that can last up to one year with an UOA (Used Oil Analysis). If you wait till 5K miles for the first change it will only take longer to get the break-in debris out of the oil system. This is not my personal opinion, this is fact backed up by UOAs.

Toyota engines are generally gentle on motor oil (especially the 4.7 V8) and have shown (through UOAs) to be able to last 10K+ miles between changes, with high quality synthetic oils.

Koz

So even after my heated debate with Thai, you still believe in this eh? ... :bigok: