Oil Change Before Roadtrip?

Bigmikelakers

Bigmikelakers

New member
I'm planning to go to Arizona this weekend and I'm at abt 1688XX miles on the odo. The next oil change is due at around 170k according to the sticker from the previous owner. The trip will probably be 900 to 1000 miles all together. Should I get an oil change before I leave or would it be ok to get it after I come back?
 
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You will be ok. People drive for 35,000 mi without one. But as a new owner I would want to know it was done.
 
What harm can you possibly cause by doing it before a long trip?:shrug: 'xcept maybe a few dollars off your pocket, you'll have better peace of mind in return.
 
If you haven't changed the oil since buying this truck, I'd do it before the trip for sure. It's one thing to take a chance when you know all the variables, it's another when it's based on assumptions and stories told by someone trying to sell a car.
 
I'd go ahead and change it. Might as well go with synthetic this time too. Better protection and a piece of mind.
 
IanB said:
If you haven't changed the oil since buying this truck, I'd do it before the trip for sure. It's one thing to take a chance when you know all the variables, it's another when it's based on assumptions and stories told by someone trying to sell a car.
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What he said.

When you plan a long trip in a hot climate I would change the oil if the you are near the change date anyway. Think of the heat and duration the motor will be running and you said AZ. I'd want fresh oil if it were my truck. Do you know if he used quality oil or even the right viscosity. The first thing I do after buying a new used vehicle if change the oil. It sets a baseline for all my maintenance going forward.

After buying 34+ cars in my life, I've never met a seller who wasn't lying about something on their car. It always amazes me how peope try to hide the obvious and most people wouldn't catch it until its to late. One guy had oil on both rear tires and when I mentioned it, he played dumb. Good grief. Like the brakes aren't acting up from the gear lube. The stories go on and on. Nope, I'd change it now. One less stress or strain on the engine. Consider the differential lube as well. Who knows if that's ever been changed.

Funny story. When I bought my truck last month from an Acura dealer, they handed me a reciept of ALL the work they did to the truck. Wow! I though, I won't have to do a thing to it for a long time. New diff oil front and rear, yada, yada. I changed the diff lube as soon as I got it home. The drain plug on the front diff was and still is seized. I siphoned as much of the lube out the fill hole and replaced it with Mobil1. The question is, how could they have changed it if I can't even open the drain plug? I stripped the hex on and there is no way to budge it. Oh and by the way, both rear axle seals were leaking as well. I got them to pay for that repair. Even when you really inspect a car, you can miss some things. Sellers LIE!.
 
My point is that if you do drive on the trip, 99.99999% you will be OK. Sometimes things are over analyzed, myself included. I agree with everyone above, but I wouldn't sweat it on this trip. Check and make sure there is enough oil on your dipstick, and move on your merry way. Let us sit here and scrutinize every little detail. :D
 
At the very least, pull the rear drums off or look through the ABS sensor hole and make sure the axles aren't leaking. That would put an end to a merry trip real quick.
 
Drcoffee said:
At the very least, pull the rear drums off or look through the ABS sensor hole and make sure the axles aren't leaking. That would put an end to a merry trip real quick.
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Look at the back of your tires. If you can't see oil, you are good, it isn't leaking that much.

I drove 2,000 mi with leaking axle seals. They are leaking now. You can drive thousands of miles before your diff dries. Once again, wouldn't recommend it.

Don't be freaked out. Take a trip!
 
I pretty much don't trust what any previous owner says unless I actually see the documentation saying what oil was used and when it was changed.

I would change it to 100% synthetic personally, peace of mind for a long trip is worth it.
 
Thanks guys for your input. I think I'm just gonna wait to do the roadtrip in a few more weeks after I get the oil change and have the fluids checked for added piece of mind.


Nunyabiz said:
I pretty much don't trust what any previous owner says unless I actually see the documentation saying what oil was used and when it was changed.

I would change it to 100% synthetic personally, peace of mind for a long trip is worth it.
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Theres a sticker on my upper windshield that said the oil used in the last oil change was "ROYALP" any idea what type of oil that is?
 
Yep Royal Purple Synthetic.

Decent, better than any petroleum oil but better off going with either Amsoil or Redline as far as Synthetics go.
 
tbst said:
Royal Purple.
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Mine has a Royal Purple Oil filter. I assume he used Royal Purple oil as well. He was not sure if he did not not. Is it fine to run synthetic in a 177,000 mile yota? I ran it in my Celica and had oil leaks after the fact. I don't have any on the 4 Runner and don't want any.
 
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