Changing my own oil & interval service

See John's page for how to change your own oil:

http://john1701a.com

You can see the oil change document about midway down on the page. It also includes how to reset the "Service" light (it's *not* the "Check Engine" light, right? If that's on, I think that's bad).

I don't know if there's a way to get a definative answer from Toyota on this, but the general consensus (on this board, anyway) is it's OK to get your oil changed by anyone (including yourself). If you do it yourself, you should keep your reciepts for warranty purposes (and, I believe, someone suggested that you write the VIN of your car on those recipts).

 

Try this, do a search of this forum for "oil changes" there is a lot of good information available in other posts.

The answer is yes keep your receipts, Galaxee whose husband is a Prius Technician suggests writing the VIN on the receipts.

I don't know what Toyota says about it but it may not matter. Check out the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act which allows you to do your own maintenance or take it to whom ever you choose. You can do a Google search for information on Magmuson Moss, here's one site for example:

http://www.granatellimotorsports.com/magnusonmoss.htm#top

Directions for reseting the light are in the owners manual, I can't remember how but it's real easy.

I use Toyota oil filters and Mobile 1 5W-30 because I think they are the best.

 

From what I have been able to find out Mobile 1 may not be worth the money because to keep the warranty up we need to change it every 5K miles anyway. I have been using it and will continue to do so, after the warranty is up I may stretch the oil changes to 7.5K or so. I did not see an improvement in mileage when I switched to Mobile 1 synthetic, but that was in the summer.

Toyota filters cost $5.00 at my local dealer; I read here that some have gotten them on line at $4.50 including shipping. A Fram Tough Guard at Wal Mart is about $4.50. A regular Fram is a little cheaper but definately not as good. I actually cut one of each apart to see and the tough guard is better than the regular Fram. But the Toyota filter or (from what I have read) any filter made to the car manufacturers specifications is best for your car.

 

Avoide Fram filters at all costs. The regular Fram filters are awful. Their top of the line filter isn't bad, but nothing to write home about. Gosh, I had to have to dig up the link again to various sites which have actualy disected filters and have examined their internal construction.

If you are going to buy a parts store filter, stick with the higher end filters, like Mobil1 filters, K&N and pretty much anything from Purolator. Toyota filters are just fine. Some dealer parts counters run ads or coupon deals on filters and such, but in quantity at that time. Also, there are Toyota parts dealers online, you can buy toyota filters in bulk from them at a decent discount.