Toyota Camry: Oil Change at Dealership or Speed Lube

"Randy" <com> wrote in message
news:inMIb.708750$.. 
Dealership 
Oil 
You would often be better off taking it to a good oil change place rather
than the dealer. Dealers often use the wrong viscosity (because they don't
want to stock the full range of viscosities for both new and older cars).
You car should use 5W-30.

However, you should buy a Toyota filter (or other high quality brand that
costs $5.00 - $10.00 at a discount store) and take it with you to the oil
change place. Most will take $1.00 off if you supply the filter (their
crappy filters only cost them about $1.50).

Also, take care in selecting an oil change place. Jiffy Lube is out of the
question. Look for a small or regional chain that has individually owned
(instead of corporate owned) locations. In my area, Grease Monkey is a good
chain. Look for places that do not employ high school kids.

If you really want convenience, instead of changing every 3000 miles with
conventional oil, switch to 5W-30 Mobil 1 synthetic and change every 5000 -
6000 miles. You will not regret it.

"Mark A" <net> wrote in message 

So that means you will be bringing your own oil filter and your own
oil -- which is fine.

Before long, you find it's almost as easy to change your own oil. You
need an oil drain pan, some rags, a socket to fit the drain plug, a
ratchet handle, and the special wrench the Dealer sells to fit over
the top of the oil filter -- none of these items are expensive.
If you can, try letting it drain overnight to remove even more of the
old oil.

What I used to do, when going to the "Speedy Lube" was also bring my
own oil drain plug gasket, and insist they install a new one each
time.
Also, IMHO, watch them service the car. Check that they're doing it
correctly.
If they recommend a new air filter, go to the dealer to buy the
factory air filter and replace it yourself to get the better quality.

You probably want the convenience of having someone else do this, but
for me, I don't like to let anyone else touch the car - especially if
you plan to keep it for a long time.
Once asked the "Speedy Lube" type person to check the water in the
battery. For one, I never really know whether they're actually using
distilled water as required, but the fun part this time was that he
proceeded to fill the battery up to the tippy top -- so it was
guaranteed to overflow and spill battery acid during operation. I
forget how many cells he filled this way before I was able to stop
him. (if you didn't know, the level should be up to a "split ring"
inside the cell, observable as the surface tension of the water
changes).
When I had the clutch replaced in my Toyota pick up truck, it took the
shop owner 20 -30 minutes, with a grinder and an oxy acetylene torch
to remove the transmission fill plug that had been regularly checked
by "Speedy Lube" -- they had over tightened it that much.
With the Camry, 15,000 miles or more later, I finally discovered that
what appeared to be a "rubber plug" in the side of the air filter
housing, where I thought the intake air temperature sensor should go,
was actually an open hole -- allowing unfiltered outside air directly
into the engine. During prior servicing, someone had neglected to
replace it, and the missing sensor was hidden from view at the end of
a frame rail, under the brake booster near the firewall.
Perhaps, these are all reasons to take the car to the dealer. They
ought to be able to change the oil properly for you, and they should
be using factory approved parts, methods and fluids, since at least
they're working only on Toyotas all day long, plus can get factory
parts readily.
I have had a Toyota dealer strip the threads on a distributor hold
down bolt and then deny it, and once, long ago, had an authorized VW
dealer neglect to drain the transaxle fluid correctly, so you'll have
to make the final decision.
I feel it is always a good idea to check the oil level the next
morning, and have a general look under the hood just to see everything
looks right.
Changing the oil regularly is the single most important thing you can
do to extend engine life, so you've got the right idea.

On 1 Jan 2004 07:02:02 -0800, com (Daniel M.
Dreifus) wrote:
 


I just ordered a liquid oil extractor from griotsgarage.com. It is how
Mercedes (they use a Topsider) is changing the oil. You put a tube
down the dipstick tube and vaccuum the oil out into a recycleable
container.

Oil filter is still a pain, however.


-
--
Curtis Newton
akaMail.com
http://surf.to/cnewton
<delete remove-me. to respond to email>
ICQ: 4899169

you have got to be kidding me, oil changes are the single most easiest
maintainance you can perform on your vehicle.( first being gassing her up!)
C'mon guys, I've got a Dodge Ram and a Camry and can do both in about a 1/2
hour or so. Learn to do your own! it's that simple, trust no one!!!!!! A
friend of a friend worked at an "oil change" place. He knows nothing about
cars, they didn't care!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Easy yes - but very messy. I thought check air in tires was 2nd easiest
(but not often done!) Manf seem to hide the oil filter where you can't see
it, put it next to a hot manifold, and then turn filter upside down so it
dumps oil all over. Have a Yota 4x4 and have to remove the skid pan and
then it still dumps oil all over the transfer case! Then you have to
properly recycle the used oil! I do my own cuz I don't trust others - plus
don't want to schedule appt or waitr 2 hours.

"DrRamhammer" <com> wrote in message
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Do it yourself if you can. Nobody cares for your car as much as you do. You
can use disposable gloves if you don't like the dirty oil.
I use an engine cleaner in with the oil for 1/2 an hour with the engine
idling to really clean it out. Let it drain as long as you can, overnight is
good but not necessary

"DrRamhammer" <com> wrote in message
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