Initial oil change/service

[T4R_Finally]

Okay, maybe I'm old school but I'm wondering if anyone did their first oil change earlier than recommended when they bought new? "Back in the day", it was common to do that because a new engine was prone to producing a lot more metal shavings in the engine as it was being broken in. I haven't bought a new vehicle in 7 years until this past weekend. They explained to me that they now use 0w-20 synthetic and I wouldn't be due for an oil change until I hit 10k. Should I wait for that or should I change it myself earlier and then take it in at the 10k mark for the regular service?

That brings up a couple of other questions:

I haven't crawled underneath the T4R yet, is the oil fairly easy to change at home, including accessing the filter? Or is it a pain?

Is the 10k a realistic interval or would it be better to change it more often? Or would changing it more often just be a waste of money and good oil?

I normally have the tires rotated every oil change. I use synthetic in my other vehicles but change it more often than 10k miles. Is 10k okay to do a rotation or should the tires be rotated more often than the oil is changed now?

 

[Jesse1983]

i had my first oil change @ 5,000 miles. From here on I'll do it every 10,000.

I would still rotate tires every 5,000

 

[zooom]

RE: oil change interval....

I would say that I'm also old school towards car servicing, but I waited until ~ 11 months & barely 9980 miles before my first oil change. I was very pleased with the appearance of both the drained oil & filter cartridge. No metallic residue & the oil looked like the new 0w-20 Toyo oil I replaced it with. I plan to continue with the 10K oil/filter change intervals like the book recommends..

Not to date myself but I have been building/racing/servicing vehicles for many years. However, this 2010 4 Runner "takes the cake" for non-user friendly oil changes: and the cartridge-type oil filter was abandoned by most auto manufacturers back in the 60's. Very sloppy job no matter how much care & absorbent is used. Methinx it's time for Toyota to re-enter the 21st century & get with the spin-on filter.

Ditto with "hiding" the drain plug/oil filter with multiple-fastener-attached skid plates. What is Toyota hiding?? How about just leaving them off.....?

Last thought: when it was time to loosen the oil pan plug, I noticed that it was not very tight, but also not leaking. Whether it "loosened" along the way of its 9980 mile journey from sympathetic vehicle vibration before I tried turning it, I'll never know. But I will check the torque regularly now along its next 10K trip....!

 

[T4R_Finally]

Wow, didn't realize all that had to be dealt with. No spin on oil filter? Seriously?

Oh well, glad I got the oil changes for life then.

 

[cmills]

I'm kind of the same way in thinking you should change it early for the first time. Is it actually necessary on the newer engines, maybe not, it might be wasteful, but to me it's worth the peace of mind because I'm paranoid about things like this. Either way I'd say these engines are going to last a long time, if at the least you follow Toyota's schedule or if you change oil more often.

 

[Sandpiper]

First Oil Change

I am from the old school but then whats really changed in building an engine. Its still basically the same process. I have pulled wrenches for most of my life and I should know. As for me and my two week old 4Runner, I changed the oil at 200 miles. The break in is pretty much already over by then. Its just a flush. The filter only catches everything over 10 micron and even at that the metal or sand can pass up to three or four times before its caught. I am more concerned with particles under 10 micron that are never caught. My next oil change will probably be around three thousand. That may seem extreme to many but there is only one time to do this and it when its new. BTW, I would never go 10,000 miles on my oil. Its not that it wears out but that it gets full of dirt. Its just not worth it to me. I normally sell my vehicles at 160,000 to 180,000 miles and they have never used a drop of oil. The oil does not even drop on the dip stick in 3000 miles. Good luck.

 

[Gstick]

I let my local dealer do the first oil/filter element change at 5000 miles, and just got my second one done yesterday at 14000 miles. (I would have waited till 15000, but my state inspection was due, so killed 2 birds...) I don't like the idea of going 10000 miles between changes, but I have a lifetime powertrain warranty (from the dealer where I bought it at) so I figure since its documented in my service manual by the dealer, 10000 miles between changes it is !

 

[iDRiVaT4R]

I changed my oil and filter shortly after the 5k mark. Quite a few steps, but it was actually pretty easy to do. I'm using Amsoil and probably will change the oil every time my dash maintenance light turns on, or at least within the following 1k miles of that. I'm using the Toyota OEM filter but will most likely try out the TRD filter next time around.

 

[Sandpiper]

oil Change

Keep in mind that a powertrain warranty only applys to internal moving parts of the engine and transmission. Its does not cover anything hanging on the outside of the engine like the water pump, alternator, belts or starter. They can't see internal engine wear. The average person trades every 4 to 6 years so internal engine wear becomes the next persons liability.

 

[Gstick]

Keep in mind that a powertrain warranty only applys to internal moving parts of the engine and transmission. Its does not cover anything hanging on the outside of the engine like the water pump, alternator, belts or starter. They can't see internal engine wear. The average person trades every 4 to 6 years so internal engine wear becomes the next persons liability.

I appreciate your response, and I am aware of the warranty coverage, but I keep my vehicles for at least 10 years. I also believe that I will get 300,000 miles out of my 2010 4R.

 

[chmura]

I'm very old school but relatively young at the age of 30.. I will be changing my oil at 3500-4000 miles with synthetic. Yes I know this is a bit early but makes me happy and that's the most important thing. Oh well gives me an excuse to wrench on the 4runner more frequently when it arrives.

 

[steelhead]

I changed mine just shy of 2000 miles and plan on doing another one at 5,000 and then regularly changes at 6,000 internal thereafter. As the others have posted the steps to DIY at home was a PITA and not easy at all. I only have a 2 inch spacer lift on front and it was hard to get under there. I ended up using mobil 1 5-20W synthetic for this first change but felt the engine was a little noisier with the 5-20W. I know they recommend 0-20W full synthetic but couldn't find 0-20W in bulk at Walmart. Anybody notice this and does bumping viscosity on the low end to 5W hurt in the long run??

 

[chmura]

I changed mine just shy of 2000 miles and plan on doing another one at 5,000 and then regularly changes at 6,000 internal thereafter. As the others have posted the steps to DIY at home was a PITA and not easy at all. I only have a 2 inch spacer lift on front and it was hard to get under there. I ended up using mobil 1 5-20W synthetic for this first change but felt the engine was a little noisier with the 5-20W. I know they recommend 0-20W full synthetic but couldn't find 0-20W in bulk at Walmart. Anybody notice this and does bumping viscosity on the low end to 5W hurt in the long run??

Would not hurt it one bit. 0-20W is more for fuel economy then anything else. Matter of fact someone posted on here that in Canada the oem spec for new 4runners is not 0-20w at all. I think it was 5w-30.. Have to check that post.

I will be using 5w-30 here in so cal. 0-20w is to thin of an oil for my taste.

 

[T4R_Finally]

I wouldn't do it unless okayed by dealer, at least until after engine warranty expires. No need to give them an out should you have an issue.

 

[Mark18]

I would kill these F designers of the Oil Filter position

Wow, didn't realize all that had to be dealt with. No spin on oil filter? Seriously?

Oh well, glad I got the oil changes for life then.

I use to have 2006 4Runner. To change oil on this engine (with top position of the oil filter) was elementary process. These idiots designers relocated oil filter down under skid plate and its became nightmare. If I would knew it earlier I wouldn't ever buy 4Runner. :gun4: I guess they did it so ordinary people wouldn't be able to do it on their own and they would be forced to go to a dealers. Bas****s.

 

[sandcrawler]

I use to have 2006 4Runner. To change oil on this engine (with top position of the oil filter) was elementary process. These idiots designers relocated oil filter down under skid plate and its became nightmare. If I would knew it earlier I wouldn't ever buy 4Runner. :gun4: I guess they did it so ordinary people wouldn't be able to do it on their own and they would be forced to go to a dealers. Bas****s.

come on, it's really not that hard to access/change.
of all the many considerations, you wouldn't purchase a vehicle due to its oil filter position? to each their own. :shrug: