Oil change at chain outlets

[paprius4030]

Tell them to make sure:
1. Use the right filter
2. Use 5w-30 Oil
3. Add ONLY 3.5 qts. then check the dipstick after it sits for 5 mins.
4. Air Pressure in the tires should be 42 front, 40 rear
5. Be prepared to show them how to start the car LOL

Anybody else got any thing to add?????

[Ray Moore]

3 quarts is all I ever need to put it in the middle of the range.

[jayman]

As Frank Hudon suggested, the biggest problem appears to be how quickly you pour the fresh oil in. So tell the qwik-lube place to SLOWLY add the oil and it should be fine.

Most of the major qwik-lube places are very good about stocking a wide variety of their own filters and also major brands.

[richard schumacher]

I seem to remember someone posting that the proper thing to do is something like 'pour in three bottles of oil, wait 30 minutes then pour in an additional 1/2 bottle of oil'.

Use three quarts and you're done. There's no need to fiddle with fractional quarts or standing around waiting for a half hour (yeah, like the Quicky Loob is gonna do that anyway). One can deduce this from the owner's manual, and then prove it at the next oil change.

[pepa]

Gentlemen,

thank you for all the advice, especially Frank Hudon for the info on the filter.

As per the oil chain as compared to Toyota dealership, I really see it as two risks to compare:

Chain outlet: what oil change guys can mess up is either add to little or to much oil (I'll bring my own 3 quarts of synthetic, thanks for the advice), wrong filter (I'll bring my own, thanks Frank) or wrong gasket (will find out soon enough). And I'll be standing there looking at the guys as they do it.

Toyota dealership: Repeatedly I have heard and read stories where folks took their Prius to dealership for scheduled maintenance and, among other problems, their MPG shot down to hell afterwards - only to be told by dealership that there is "nothing wrong with the car".

And so to me the choice is pretty simple.

[paprius4030]

After 27,000 mi. my local Toyota dealer has never screwed up an oil change ( guess I'm lucky I have a good dealer). Hope i didn't jinx myself LOL

[Ron Dupuy]

My "maintenance needed" light blinked tonight. I imagine it is for an oil change since I have 4500 miles on my seaside. My question is do I need Toyota to reset it or will it reset itself like the odometer? Somebody please let me know because a service is obviously imminent, but toyota's $69 oil change is a little much.

[john1701a]

My question is do I need Toyota to reset it or will it reset itself like the odometer?

Neither. You have to do it yourself. It's just a matter of toggling & holding the ODO button.

Download the "Changing Oil" document from my website. The instructions are there, along with lots of illustrations that will inform you want is actually done when oil is changed.

[daniel]

I trust the dealership more than an oil-change chain. I'd rather have a trained Toyota mechanic changing my oil than a kid some chain hired off the street yesterday for minimum wage. (Though my dealership does not wash the car for me.)