Topic: Oil....which one?!

[rrocket]

5W30 will be fine for your needs.  That's what you need.

We're just talking about other options and BSing...as car nuts often do.

[erinb86]

5W30 will be fine for your needs.  That's what you need.

We're just talking about other options and BSing...as car nuts often do.

Ok, thanks. I'm sorry for such silly newbie questions, but it seems like I get so many different answers from my friends and family sometimes too. I guess I'm just trying to make sure I learn as much as possible, but it can be a little daunting since I barely know anything about cars. I really do appreciate everyone's help/input though!

[Sir Osis of Liver]

For once rrocket makes sense.  

Quaker State 5w30 every 5000km or twice a year, and you'll have no issues.

For really cold weather starting you should use the block heater if it has one, or get one installed. Much quicker warm up times and less engine wear on start up.

[articsteve]

5W30 will be fine for your needs.  That's what you need.

We're just talking about other options and BSing...as car nuts often do.

If you were changing the oil yourself then a Group 4 oil (true syn oil) would be something to think.  And I second what RR says about then going to a 0W30 weight oil.

But since you're not, you'll will get burned on the Mobil 1 on a retail level and the vehicle is 10 years old after all.  Don't focus on the 5000 km or what have you.  Short runs, kills oil.  Cahnge every 6 months.

Personally, I'd take your car to get the oil changed at a Toyota dealer.  You don't need to agree to any up selling no matter how good the service adviser is at up selling.  What you could do is ask them to check for any recalls, TSBs, or silent recalls.  There is no charge for that.  Jan/Feb is slow so the service department may be looking for warranty work and Toyota is the best company for shelling out.  Of course it depends on what kind of Toyota dealers are in Edmonton.  One will be better than others.

[mmret]

I thought certain grades of Mobil 1 were PAO group 4.

erinb86: We are being fairly anal about oil here. For your purposes it sounds like almost anything mainstream will be fine as long as you change it regularly.

The Echo engine + transmission should be nearly bulletproof if given regular maintenance. Its also very unlikely to develop high temperatures that would require some heavier weight oil. Also sounds like you don't do too much driving, so changes every 6 months will be borderline overkill. How many km do you do in a year? Change the filter too.

Since you just got it, I would change the oil immediately if you haven't already done so.

Also given that it is winter, you might want to get a battery test. If the battery is 5-6 years old it might be time for a new one and that will help you start on the bitterest of cold days. Something simple from Canadian Tire or Costco (do they sell batteries?) will be fine.

The beauty of a car like the Echo is that its not at all picky and costs nearly nothing to run.

EDIT: Steve's idea about going to the Toyota place (at least this time ) to have them check for recalls and whatnot is a good idea. Don't accept anything other than oil + filter.

Random addendum: Actually I've never found Mr. Lube to be all that bad. They might not get all of the old oil out due to insufficient drain time though but the convenience factor is just too much to ignore, plus I use synthetic in the TSX so a few hundred mL of used oil mixed with 4L of fresh isn't so bad IMHO.

[articsteve]

I thought certain grades of Mobil 1 were PAO group 4.

Not the 5W30.  The "0" tend to be.

Also sounds like you don't do too much driving, so changes every 6 months will be borderline overkill.

Could not disagree more.  Short use in cold climate like found in Edmonton is horrible on dino oil.  Change spring and then in fall regardless of mileage.  But on this occasion, it might be OK to make an exception and change now and then in the fall because you really don't know what's in there as mentioned.

I'd also dump the transmission fuild asap.  Go to Toyota dealer for this. 

[airbalancer]

As is an oil change at Toyota dealer like $35, I think with syn in the prius it is $55

I find the local dealer to be pretty good, they do not wash your car like a BMW does but it is a lot cheaper

[airbalancer]

$40 http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WWW.woa/36/wo/Home.Owners-TiFfORlgjCjlUXZJbNrVB0/7.7?o130000e%2ehtml

[mmret]

Could not disagree more.  Short use in cold climate like found in Edmonton is horrible on dino oil.  Change spring and then in fall regardless of mileage.  But on this occasion, it might be OK to make an exception and change now and then in the fall because you really don't know what's in there as mentioned.

Apologies. I have not used dino in some time.

[articsteve]

As is an oil change at Toyota dealer like $35, I think with syn in the prius it is $55

I find the local dealer to be pretty good, they do not wash your car like a BMW does but it is a lot cheaper

I duuno the exact costs.  Depends on model, but ya I suppose $35.00 is an average.

The $40. is the Express Lube which is a different service which we don't do.

The advantage for going to the Toyota dealer even with a vehicle out of warranty is that if there is a screw up such as a stripped oil pan drain plug, no oil, too much oil, lift damage, Toyota Canada will make the dealer eat it if the dealer tries to weasel out.  They are very strict on this because screw-ups are a statistical reality.

However, "new arrivals" that have zero history in the Toyota system are closely examined for striped drain plugs, over torqued plugs and filters.  Many ppl get burned by places like Mr. Lube et al and then try and lay the repair on the dealer.

Lets start a Quickie Lube type thread. That should be a good one. 

[erinb86]

Holy moly. You guys weren't kidding about oil being a serious topic here!

Honestly, I will probably still get it done at the Tire Warehouse place I talked about, simply because they have been awesome to my sister and have never tried selling her things that she didn't need or do a half a** job when she goes to have her oil changed. They aren't a Mr Lube kind of place. She does book appointments and leaves her car there for the day.

And I ended up picking up the 5W 30 just as an extra to have, and in terms of what to have in there I'm gathering that I shouldn't need to do much else if I'm getting regular oil changes twice a year? I definitely won't be doing it myself though. I don't have enough room where I am to change a cars oil. lol

Also, am I allowed to tell the mechanic before an oil change which specific oil I want? I'm probably going to take it within the next couple weeks for an oil change like mentioned, but it should be ok after that until the fall?

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Holy moly. You guys weren't kidding about oil being a serious topic here!

Honestly, I will probably still get it done at the Tire Warehouse place I talked about, simply because they have been awesome to my sister and have never tried selling her things that she didn't need or do a half a** job when she goes to have her oil changed. They aren't a Mr Lube kind of place. She does book appointments and leaves her car there for the day.

And I ended up picking up the 5W 30 just as an extra to have, and in terms of what to have in there I'm gathering that I should need to do much else if I'm getting regular oil changes twice a year? I definitely won't be doing it myself though. I don't have enough room where I am to change a cars oil. lol

Also, am I allowed to tell the mechanic before an oil change which specific oil I want? I'm probably going to take it within the next couple weeks for an oil change like mentioned, but it should be ok after that until the fall?

They probably have a bulk tank of oil of the right grade. You could pick up your preferred oil and drop it off with the car, if they don't stock it.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Lets start a Quickie Lube type thread. That should be a good one. 

While I was away on a project, I had Lady Osis take the car to "Oil Can Harry's" quicky lube in Fredericton. They put an oil filter for a 1.9 on my 1.8L Escort GT. It leaked so they torqued it on really tight. When I got back home, it was due for another oil change, which I did myself. That was a f**king pain to fix.

[mmret]

Ah, but oil is serious business.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

[richink]

Yes there are a lot of opinions out there but let's back it up for a little clarity - your owner's manual specifies an oil type and change frequency for their engineering reasons.

They don't specify a different type for winter because it's not required.

They don't call for synthetic because it's not required.

60,000,000 (not sure how many really) have followed their owner's manual since the beginning of time resulting in the rock solid reliability history that Toyota's have.

In other words, it's not broken so don't fix it. Name brand 5w30 oil, an OE Toyota oil filter (DO NOT use aftermarket oil filters) and change them both every 6 mos or 5000km, whichever comes first.

Anything else is just 

[rrocket]

Yes there are a lot of opinions out there but let's back it up for a little clarity - your owner's manual specifies an oil type and change frequency for their engineering reasons.

They do it to make more money...they will sell more oil, filters and have more people come in for oil change services.  That's why.  Some oil companies used to say the same thing...the got on board the 5,000km oil change because (shocker) they could sell more oil that way.  Modern engine tolerances using modern synthetics can easily go triple.