Time for an oil change

It's time to change the oil in my 2012 4.6L. I want to stay with synthetic and I want some good oil. I'm leaning towards amsoil 0w20 but they have 3 versions and I need some input. Which one do I need? There is a xl, signature and I'm thinking it's "normal". Engine has 97k.

Also, I'm reading that regular oil is 5k change intervals and synthetic is 10k interval. Does the maintenance light on the dash know which one is in there?

 

Curious about the timing on service soon,too.

My 2017 that I bought 3 months ago just had the service light come on.

 

FFV's are 5k and non-FFV is 10k on the 3rd gens. Not sure about the 2nd's
I have been doing 7-8k on my FFV and the oil analysis has always been good. I can probably stretch them to past 10k.
Running 0W-20 Mobil 1 with TRD oil filter

 

So you've had good luck with the mobil1? Regular or one of the others? I honestly don't know what is in the truck now as it is whatever the dealership put in it. The sales guy said synthetic but you know sales guys......

With that said I am definitely doing full synthetic. Just have to narrow in on what brand and order some along with a case of filters from Toyota.

 

Can't say anything about amsoil, but I know I've been doing my oil changes with mobil1 synthetic oil and filter at a 5k(ish, let's be honest ) interval for as long as Ive been driving. Three vehicles from 0 to over 100k miles and no issues to report.

 

I use mobil 1 full synthetic in all my vehicles, and send a sample to be tested in a lab every oil change. Never had an issue with it, and always had plenty of life and very low wear. I run whatever I can get my hands on and is cheapest, be it the advanced fuel economy, high mileage, extended performance, regular, or whatever else is out there. Haven't seen a difference between them.

 

You're overthinking it. Get a name brand 0w20 oil, mobil1, pennzoil, rotella, Castrol...whatever is on sale. But get OEM Toyota oil filters from the dealer. Double check your manual but I believe synthetic is ok for 10k but if you're nervous do 7500. The computer doesn't know what you put in it so the light will come on at 5k as far as I know. It's a good reminder to rotate tires, which should be done at 5k.

 

i use mobil1 synthetic also. used it for years in my 80 series also. amsoil oil may be just fine, but i had a friend who religiously used amsoil oil and amsoil filters and after the second engine rebuild, amsoil paid for the engine, so i avoid their products like the plague now.

 

how often do you change the synthetic?

 

Curious as well. I just can't bring myself to wait 10k miles. Then again I don't even drive 10k a year so I pretty much change mine once a year but I think about it alot when I hit 5k miles

 

I too, drive about 5k or less a year and been doing 1 change a year.

 

I average around 8 to 9K per year. I use Mobil 1 synth and change it twice a year. Probably overkill but doesn't cost a lot maybe $120/$130 per year.

 

I've always just used Mobil1 every 5,000 miles and it's worked out fine. I drive off-road quite a bit and it's a convenient time to do a tire rotation and grease the u-joints.

 

You had to mention U-joints.....reminds me I need to crawl back under and do mine.....thanks..haha

 

What do you guys use to grease the u joint? How difficult is it to do?
I've never done it before.

 

You guys who drive less than 10k a year might want to try the Mobil one that is formulated for once a year oil changes. It is like $39.99 for five quarts. I agree with the oem oil filters. Peace. D

 

I may look into that for the next oil change. Living and working in a small town, we dont drive a whole lot.

 

I wonder if that "once a year" stuff is just a marketing gimmick or not. Would be very interesting to see the TBN after a year compared to the regular stuff after a year.

 

I only drive about 6 to 7000 miles a year. I change it every 5000. I do use extended performance because I go so long in between changes timewise.

 

Wow, you guys who barely drive any and I'm sitting here just finished a 2815.5 mile round trip....pulling my 20ft enclosed trailer the whole way too. That is something I am going to be doing yearly now plus at least one other big-ish trip each year. So I think I will stick with whatever name brand synthetic oil I can get and of course the oem filters. Thanks for the input yall.

 

WELLLL. advanced auto is doing a sale on oil right now until the 24th, I picked up 2 5 quarts of Mobil 1 Synthetic for Toyotas/Hondas and 2 Mobil1 filters for around $67. figured save the almost $20 on the filter alone, so at my next oil change (after the one I just did today) I just have to buy another 5 quarts (probably an addition 1 qrt) and will have saved some good cash

 

lol...i love those that barely drive their rigs. i bought my rig five years old with just over 20k on the odo. i put more than that on it in the first year i had it.

not interested in the filters, i'll stick with the $3 oe filters, but what was the price on the oil?

 

Thats the deal buddy. Seems like the prices are going lower compared to just a few months ago. I did the same deal and it was $70 a few months back.

On another note, city driving is considered ‘heavy service’ and your fluid intervals should be halved. No way I’d go 5k without an oil change ever. Even with synthetic.

5k city driving is like 10k highway. If you tow, its also considered ‘heavy service’. Oil changes are cheap insurance.

 

when the dash tells me to ive put 26k on it and changed the oil 3 times, iirc.

i use a grease gun. i find it's much easier that trying to squeeze the grease through the zerk currently using valvoline moly grease, but i haven't greased the tundra yet. just finished greasing one of my land cruisers tho. kind of surprised they aren't sealed joints. everything is going that way these days. if they do have zerks, the worst part is getting the grease fitting seated correctly on the zerk. from there just pump until you start hearing it squeeze out (crackling sound)

 

ok, so you have to get the filter. i'll get one for a friend if my normal hookup isn't cheaper. (i use all toyota filters on all my toyotas )

 

The oil filter combo was 33.99 regardless of whatever filter you use whatever it could be either mobil1 or fram or whichever er you use

 

Any grease that says "NGLI #2" on it; I've typically used Valvoline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH-fvddVt-g