Yeah I agree. I will do that next time.
Does anyone know why castrol makes like few different types of synthetic oils? I don't remember of the top of my head. But I remember there was one with titanium additive , and some other stuff.
How much do you guys pay for your oil changes?
- Thread starter duke808
- Start date
Yeah I agree. I will do that next time.
Does anyone know why castrol makes like few different types of synthetic oils? I don't remember of the top of my head. But I remember there was one with titanium additive , and some other stuff.
T4R2014
Elite Member
So, I decided to be a manly man and drag my knuckles along the ground to my garage and change my oil myself, just to determine what all this forum fuss is about. Draining the oil - mess. Removing filter - mess. Drain plug washer - crumbles, leading to trip to Auto store. Pouring oil - possibly the most annoying location on the 5VZ.
Two hours later and I was done. I looked and smelled like shit for a grand total savings of...
10 dollars.
To think I could have been standing and watching someone do that while drinking an iced coffee for ten measly bucks. And I still have to dispose of the old oil. And I need to clean up the drips on the skid plate and driveway. And until I take a shower, there's no lady that wants to be near me.
But yeah... at least I don't have to worry about my plug falling out or my filter blowing off!!!! Even though that never happens when a good shop does the job.
ATX-Runner
New member
Don't forget the "we don't have that filter, Its ok this one fits" guy
shahsmerdis
New member
I totally agree....It took me once also realize,..... NEVER AGAIN! but hey. You did it!
JayRolla
New member
LOL, love this. I agree on the oil filter. Still no way to do it perfect without making a mess.
When I bought my 4runner the oil filter loosened up and dropped all oil. Was done at the most reputable toyota shop in denver.
I have never had an issue with oil from the pan making mess. Thats what an oil catch is for.
Also your oil washer crumbled because your crappy shop is not replacing them. I replaced mine 5 years ago and its still good.
shahsmerdis
New member
I swear its to confuse us. Mobile 1 EP, any top shelf oil should be fine toyota's.
Amazon prime, 2 day shipping to my door, never have to deal with parts guy
T4R2014
Elite Member
Yeah, but when some stranger on a forum tells you to use a Ford Taurus 1516 filter from Napa, or when a forum sticky says to use the larger Toyota D3 filter meant for a V8, no one *****es.
Newsflash people, filters are a simple part and many vehicles share similar filters. No shop is making money if the customer has to wait 3 hours for an oil change because they're waiting for Alberto the delivery driver from Worldpac to deliver Toyota part number 90915-YZZD1. And then he has to do another delivery loop because the 4Runner owner read on T4R.org that part number 90915-YZZD3 is going to make his 4Runner get to 400,000 miles, even though it's listed for a Tundra. And then you're waiting 6 hours in total to do an oil change. And then your wife or gf leaves you because you keep looking at pictures of cut-open oil filters and waiting 6 hours for an oil change.
You'll never be able to please everybody.
I thought you'd like it. I guess that shop isn't so reputable after all. Did you get something out of the incident for your troubles? It was an OEM washer changed 6 months ago. I know because it came with the OEM filter and I saw him install it. Maybe he tightened the bolt too much. It didn't leak though. Maybe he should've used a torque wrench and tightened it to spec, but what if the wrench is out of calibration and cracks the pan? I'll never be able to sleep at night if I keep thinking up these worst case scenarios. Besides, the threads on the pan and drain bolt looked so lovely and precise, so I guess it was no big deal.
TheDurk
Elite Member
Just recognize that the reason your plug gasket crumbled was because your dear trusted professional didn't bother to change it. Count yourself lucky it did not start leaking before you got to it. They are good for two or three changes before they crumble.
How long does it take you to drive there, wait while he does it, and drive back? I can get it done total in about twelve minutes--I keep filters, oil AND gaskets on hand. It's not about the ten dollars, it's about the certainty it's done right with the oil and filter of MY choice, and saving my very valuable time. I DO NOT consider drinking ice coffee in a mechanic waiting room quality time. And I don't make that much mess because I've been doing it on this truck for seventeen years. I consider it a personal defeat if I get any on the driveway.
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JayRolla
New member
Exactly my point. The best rated, 5 star shop is NOT REPUTABLE. Nothing I got because I bought the car from someone that had it at the dealer. I just tightened the filter and put oil back in.
Again I have only swapped my washer on my first oil change and its still good 5 years later.
T4R2014
Elite Member
Read my above post. It was changed prior. I should note that it looked fine until I just started touching it. I recall my dear trusted professional telling me before installing it that he didn't like gasket and said it looked flimsy. He was right. I went against his professional recommendations and told him to install my supplied parts. Since I supplied the parts, I hold myself accountable for any failure. I could've installed that OEM washer myself and done the exact same. So much for following OEM specs...
My other 4Runner has a different, thicker metal washer. For all I know it's the OEM one that my dad drove it off the lot with way back when. Hasn't been changed in a while but it always looks good to me.
My dear trusted professional is 5 minutes from me. Plus I can give it a nice on-lift undercarriage inspection. He once pointed out to the owner of a 2001 SR5 that the rear control arm mount was ready to snap off from rust during an oil change. And that truck's drain washer didn't fail since I didn't supply it!
FWIW, it's some damn good coffee, and there's always some funny people there.
T4R2014
Elite Member
Without a doubt; I totally agree. But people can screw up doing a DIY job too. Maybe not you or me, but maybe some guy reading this that puts the drain plug too loose because he read too many forum posts about the dangers of overtightening. Who can you sue in that scenario? Hahaha
There's always a double standard too. People will piss and moan saying that a shop sucks because they put the oil filter too tight and it was hard to remove in their driveway. In that business, it's better too tight than too loose. You can always use a filter wrench later. Besides, who the hell torques an oil filter to spec.
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
This cracked me up too. Pretty similar to my experience as well. Prior to last year I'd never changed the oil on any car before. I've rebuilt top ends, steering, suspension, you name it but had never changed my own oil. $30 for someone else to do it is just too easy. And it's not worth the time for sure. I only did it myself since I wanted to put a long-lasting synthetic that other shops don't sell.
On my Altima I have to JACK UP THE VEHICLE AND REMOVE THE TIRE to get to the filter, per the FSM. Much easier and almost the same price to have someone else bother with it for $30.
P.S. I switched to using aluminum washers for all drain bolts a long time ago. Alows you to torque it to spec without having to worry about the washer deteriorating and it still molds to the opening since it's a much softer metal.
gmcmanus663
Member
I think if you're up to it it's absolutely worth doing it yourself over dealer pricing. I run normal penzoil in my 02 and always go for a oem oil filter.
I buy my oil at walmart. Just simply can't beat the price compared to the auto stores around me. And I get my filters through a family member that is a Lexus certified tech, so its cheaper than going to the parts counter at the stealerships. But you can get them online for decent prices. I recommend buying a few at a time to make it easier if you do that.
A great place to get them is 1st toyota parts. Heres a link:
https://www.1sttoyotaparts.com/oempartscat.html
Good Luck!
TheHoneyBadger
New member
Pay? For an oil change? I'm afraid i don't understand the question...
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Mark_BC
Senior Member
There's an oil plug washer????? I just did mine today and there was no washer when I undid it so I didn't put no washer back in!! Doesn't seem to be leaking. More headaches...
It cost me like $30 for the oil and filter. I will get the shop to do it from now on but I've never done it on the 4runner so I wanted to go through the motions to be satisfied that I can do it with my tools if need be.
It cost me like $30 for the oil and filter. I will get the shop to do it from now on but I've never done it on the 4runner so I wanted to go through the motions to be satisfied that I can do it with my tools if need be.
T4R2014
Elite Member
Following the guidelines of this thread, I guess this DIY job failed...
You would've had a washer on there if you had paid a dear trusted professional to do it. It might crumble at the next change, but dammit there would be a washer there!
:eyebrows:
