First 5k oil change. I want to avoid dealership.. Mobil1 or OEM oil?

Any quality synthetic oil is OK. But, unlike what others have said, you do not need to change the oil at 5K miles. The engineers at the factory who designed and built your vehicle know best, not the "knucklehead" or "master" mechanics at the dealership or some tech school kid. Engineers say 10K is all you need. I vote with the experts (engineers).

Just be sure to use an OEM oil filter: Thinking the dealer used the wrong filter for my 10k oil change
LOL, calling the guys who fix the stuff "knuckleheads". I have real world experience that shows what the engineer develops on paper, in a cubicle does not always work out. Also, what percentage of consumer actually checks their oil? Let me tell you, not a lot. We constantly get customers with " the oil change light" on. Nope, that's the oil pressure light, you idiot and there isn't any oil in the pan. You assume a 0% oil consumption rate or a highly motivated consumer to add oil during the extended oil change interval.

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What about the time between oil changes, regardless of mileage? Does synthetic oil go bad? What about oil filters? During covid, I’ve only been driving around 1,500 miles/yr. I just changed my oil (Mobil 1, Toyota filter and new Fumoto valve) at the end of June.



Many oil change places say either 3,000mi/3 mo dinosaur oil or 5,000mi/6 mo synthetic oil.
Oil doesn't "go bad", rather you accumulate moisture and fuel in the sump. This is made worse with short trips. If you drive that little, pull the dipstick and oil cap and looks for any moisture or yellow sludge. If you see that, go for more long drives on the highway. That is the best way to mitigate it.

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Dealer for filter, Costco for 0w-20 synthetic. I'm hitting 5k next week, and already switched to Kirkland oil at 1K.
 
I change every 5k. I'm a Toyota trained tech. I feel the extended LOF interval is heavily driven by EPA concerns over recycling and Dino consumption. Also consumers love to not have to take care of their vehicles because its a hassle. I LOL at people who brag to me about their extended LOF intervals. I haven't seen a vehicle yet that won't be low on oil after running an extended interval. The exception is that one guy who actually tops their oil up (haven't met him yet). VW products are usually out of oil. Do some research on what the OEM considers acceptable oil consumption. Chrysler and VW say 1 quart per 1k miles. Hmmm, in a 4 or 5 quart system that doesnt quite work for a 5k or more interval. How long do you think your paper filter lasts? I cannot cou t the number of filters i have pulled out of the cannister in pieces. Do whatever you think is best, but I tell my customers 5k synthetic LOFs are the way to go.

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I have went up to the 10k mark on my 2014 several times over the years. Never had to add a drop and I check it constantly. Most years I do not make it to 10k so I get it changed every year. All oil changes have been completed by the dealer.
 
Always enjoy it when auto mechanics think they know more about the engines they service than the engineers who designed them, did all the calcs, all the product testing, all the revisions, etc, etc.
 
I change mine every 500 miles, and at 8k ... zero problems.

Sorry, couldn't resist. For as long as I have been on car forums, this exact conversation has taken place. So far, aside from old Dodge Intrepids, it seems like most people do fine with any reasonable change interval.

That said ... If your going 10k, I totally agree with the previous poster that you should be checking your oil level. You should be checking it regardless ...

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Go watch the car care nut guy on utube. He's a Toyota master mechanic. He recommends no matter what type of oil you use is to change it every 5K miles. He also said the Toyota oil is actually Mobil 1 so use that if you can find it cheaper or on sale. Personally if I mostly drive in hot desert weather, off road in dusty areas I would stick to 5K mile intervals. If on the other hand you mostly drive on road, no towing etc. 10K is probably fine. This is what I would tend to do.
 
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I can really appreciate you wanting to avoid the dealership, and crawling under your rig to do a DIY service is a good policy. I think most off the self oils are a solid 5k interval, but it really comes down to peace of mind. For me 5k is what im comfortable with and it gives me the opportunity to do a good visual inspection of all the components and put a few pumps of grease in the driveshaft. If you want to quiet your engine down try a 5w30, I've been running 0w30 in winter and 5w30 in summer and i really like how the engine feels and sounds. Oil reports are solid!
 
I did the 5K service on my '21 last night.

Took about an hour to:
  • remove bash shields
  • drain oil and install Fumoto valve
  • remove filter and plastic filter housing
  • install new filter and metal filter housing
  • fill and set oil level
  • reinstall bash plates
  • lubricate prop shafts
  • reset service reminder

On Tuesday I rotated the tires (KO2s) and that took less than an hour. Used the spare as a placeholder on each side so I only had to jack one wheel at a time. Heavy truck!

It was fun and I don't mind working on my own.

I have HAD IT with shoddy service from dealerships.

Tip for those that do their own service: keep a log with date, mileage, service notes. I also take a pic of all filter and fluid packages and of the odometer. This helps me remember what got done when and helps with warranty issues.

Jason
 
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I did the 5K service on my '21 last night.

Took about an hour to:
  • remove bash shields
  • drain oil and install Fumoto valve
  • remove filter and plastic filter housing
  • install new filter and metal filter housing
  • fill and set oil level
  • reinstall bash plates
  • lubricate prop shafts
  • reset service reminder

On Tuesday I rotated the tires (KO2s) and that took less than an hour. Used the spare as a placeholder on each side so I only had to jack one wheel at a time. Heavy truck!

It was fun and I don't mind working on my own.

I have HAD IT with shoddy service from dealerships.

Tip for those that do their own service: keep a log with date, mileage, service notes. I also take a pic of all filter and fluid packages and of the odometer. This helps me remember what got done when and helps with warranty issues.

Jason

I change my oil/rotate tires/inspect brakes/grease drive shaft yokes and U joints in november.. runner 7500 miles every year. then I inspect and fix any rust .. frame welds rust up..I change the oil draining it 45min.. takes a longer time ...my old GM engines drains 20 min .. new engines have smaller ports so the oil drains much longer.
my Toyota engine drains like new oil .. 0-20wt mobil 1 or Toyota oil..hard to read the oil level on the stick ...7500miles drops 1/8 QT ..
runner 20-21 MPG ..no issues ...inspect the drive train fluids.looks good..
had to replace the rear diff oil @3K miles .. was a breakin on the rear diff ..my GM diff's new I had to replace the gear oils 3-5K miles .. looks dark grayish... I inspected my 2000 silverado rear gear oil and looks like new .. 30K miles .truck.180K miles I change it 40K miles no engine drive train failures ..
 
Always enjoy it when auto mechanics think they know more about the engines they service than the engineers who designed them, did all the calcs, all the product testing, all the revisions, etc, etc.

I suspect it's not engineering recommending the 10K service intervals but rather the sales/marketing that are promoting that to sell vehicles and feel the need to compete with what other MFG's are saying. Do what makes sense to you is the bottom line.
 
It’s interesting reading about people’s comments “ I replace my oil every 5k” or sooner intervals in regards to just following Toyota’s maintenance Schedule

Why go against Toyota Maintenance schedule? ( of course with aggressive driving)

I know a handful of Toyota that just followed Toyota’s ( god forbid we go against engineers) maintenance plan and worked out well for their 250+k miles


To OP

Go with Toyota, go with mobile 1, it’ll do you just the same. Just do it as often the maintenance booklet asks for. Want it to last as long as you want it? Don’t heavily modify it. And by heavily modify, don’t lift it, don’t go over the stock store size
 

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