Do you change your own oil in your Tundra?

I have come to the realization that the smaller, independent auto shops that knew each of their customers well and took pride in their wk, is not what lg dealerships embody. They're paid bonuses if they can squeeze in extra jobs/hr. Oil change "tech's" are the newest and first rung on the skill chart and do so many, by the law of avg's alone they are going to screw up. You just don't want it to be your vehicle

When I changed my oil, I let both engine & filter drain for an hr+ while i did other things. I thoroughly cleaned the funnel/hose drain nipple. I covered the engine cover w a towel just incase i spilled any oil, but i did not, i also added exactly 7.7 qts & dip stick was rt on the money. I put a piece of cardboard under oil change area over night snd no drips. All bolts torqued to specs. Did the same thing 25 times every 5K w my F-150.. never an issue.

 

Exactly. You'll never get that level of detail at a dealership. An oil and filter change is a "get it in, get it out, go on to the next one" job for the rookie techs that may or may not give two shits about doing it right. Only fast.

 

So do you all still take your trucks in for a tire rotation and the other free inspection items? Or do you just go through the list yourselves and document?

 

i have a basic excel spreadsheet for the cars i maintain.
When i do my oil changes I snap a few pics of the job.
Want proof of me doing the oil change? No problem.

 

If they want proof of my oil changes, they can come to my ranch and see the old oil filters, used synthetic oil and cases of both new oil
& new oil filters i bought from them (the dealership)

i take the old oil filters and place them upside down on my larger (barbed-wire) end posts. This treats them from splitting & rotting over time. When the filter is empty, i fill it up again & repeat.

 

Yeah, I'm keeping my oil receipts along with my own spreadsheet including date and mileage.

I'm more curious about the other, inspection items.

 

No and yes. For the same reasons I do my own oil changes.
If I had a dealer close to home, and if I trusted said dealership's service department, I would consider it. Maybe.

My own service department is as close as my garage, has nights and weekend hours if convenient, and I never have to worry if it was done right.

 

I would like one too when you have the time.
TIA[/QUOTE]
Please send me the file. Thanks!

 

Me as well, thanks!

 

It’s all there and snug. Haven’t seen drips in the driveway.

 

I have twice added half a quart to my engine in 8500 miles. I changed it at 5000 and I'm not alarmed but in my experience with new vehicles this is unusual. Has any one else noticed this?

 

I don't have enough miles on mine to say.

My 5.7 tundra didn't use a drop.

That said, half a quart over an average of 4250 miles is low consumption. I suspect Toyota would consider it normal.

 

Have you seen any oil spots under your truck? Put a large piece of cardboard under your truck that covers both the oil-pan bolt and oil filter and see if it is leaking. Other than that, if youre not blowing a lot of smoke, I cannot see you using that much oil, unless your towing something 7x24...let us know?

 

What prompted you to add more? Were you watching the gauge, checking the dip stick? Neither is very precise for tracking oil level, much less consumption.

Edited: quoted wrong post

 

Gauge?

 

It's been noted here that the oil level is difficult to accurately determine. I let my truck sit on a level surface with the dipstick out for at least 15-20 minutes and then check it. If you leave the dipstick in, the residual oil in the dipstick tube can result in false readings.

Anyway. I am going to monitor it more closely going forward and hopefully it was just an anomaly or error on my part.

 

Not sure if it's exclusive to the full digital gauge cluster, but I have a oil level indicator

Edit: indicator is for oil pressure, not level

 

Someone please post a pic of this.

 

I agree and I may have slightly underfilled it when I changed the oil.

 

To the right of the ODO

 

99% sure that’s for oil pressure - not level.

 

If so, my bad!

Looks like you are correct. Added a note to my post

 

Yes, there's nothing that provides the exact oil level, only if your oil level becomes really low, then the light will indicate so.

 

Glad to know I am not the only one who has noticed that checking the oil in this truck is tricky. The oil really gets dragged up the dipstick tube. If you check the dipstick more than once, the readings are garbage.

 

I changed the oil at 1k & 5k with zero issues, and had the dealer do it at 10k (lifetime warranty on the engine if you have dealer do changes). Went to change it at 15k yesterday (I plan to do every other 5k) and couldn't get the filter off. They must have tightened it down with a wrench. Had to order a different filter wrench & hope it will remove it. I hate letting the dealer change the oil.

 

What?? I thought the engine was 5yrs unless you buy a Service Agreement?

 

Probably something his dealer does.

 

Regardless, I'll take the two freebies then document my DIY. I am keeping my oil receipts and the lid from the OEM oil filter box.

660 Miles - Complete
2,000 Miles
5,000 Miles
10,000 Miles - Dealer
15,000 Miles
20,000 Miles - Dealer
25,000 Miles

 

Just an FYI. An old chunk of garden hose works perfectly for the anti-spill pan under the oil filter.

 

Yep, it was from the dealer