Maintenance Question

Took my 4Runner in for its 5k mile oil change/tire rotation back in November, at which point I was told by the service guy that the service wasn't due until 10K miles. Told him that didn't sit well with me and to do the service as requested. Was charged $100+ or so. I'm now coming due for my 10K oil change and tire rotation - isn't this one supposed to be free? When booking the appointment it said cost would be $102. WTF happened to free service up through 25K miles? Definitely NOT abiding oil changes every 10K. Saw where that schedule got my neighbors with their 2016 VW Golf.

 

Yeah if you bought a toyota new, its supposed to come with complimentary 25,000 mile oil changes.
There is a flyer i get in the mail all the time about our 2023.

 

Pretty standard. They do 10K mile changes, not 5K. This is the recommended interval in the manual. If you want 5K changes then you have to pay for them.

 

Yes, 2024 Toyota models come with ToyotaCare, a no-cost maintenance plan that includes free oil changes. This plan covers scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. ToyotaCare also includes tire rotations, fluid level adjustments, and multi-point vehicle inspections.

ToyotaCare
No cost maintenance plan and Roadside Assistance.
Every new Toyota comes with ToyotaCare *, a maintenance plan that covers normal factory scheduled maintenance with the purchase or lease of every new Toyota. ToyotaCare coverage is for 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, for all models except the Mirai, which has ToyotaCare for 3 years or 35,000 miles, whichever comes first. Roadside Assistance is included for 2 years/unlimited mileage for all models except the Mirai, the bZ4X, the Prius and the Prius Prime, which have Roadside Assistance for 3 years/unlimited mileage.

Standard on all new vehicles

https://www.toyota.com/maintenance-plans/toyota-care

 

Then how do they do the oil change at 25,000 if they are actually changing it every 10,000 ?

 

You simply don't get another change after 20K miles and they follow what the manual says which is 10K miles. People have been posting about this for years now.

 

^^^ Correct. Mine did my first oil change at 12 months as I wasn't due yet to mileage, but you get two free in 2 years so they do them at every 12 months if nothing else.

 

10K is probably in their best interest, not ours. I'll stick with intervals of 5K and pay my local mechanic to do those for me rather than Toyota.

 

Wish I could drive for 12 months before needing an oil change...

 

Many owners go 10K without issues but I change it every 5K. Besides, the lube techs are bottom of the barrel. They do stuff like break the filter housing drain tool in the housing so I get chocolate rain when I go to change it. I have since gone back to the OEM plastic cap since this photo.

 

I'm full time WFH, and due to a couple of minor surgeries last year didn't do many trips. I wanted it changed anyway, so once it hit 12 months they didn't complain. Hopefully going forward my truck will get more miles on it but for long term longevity not complaining about the lack of miles.

 

There’s nothing ”free” in that maintenance plan . You paid for it .

 

I don’t even bother with the drain tool . Loosen the housing till it starts to drain . Wait one minute and then take it off the rest of the way .

 

I got two free ones through Toyota Care as mentioned above and an additional two free changes from Southeast Toyota. The dealership I use (Dothan, AL) will use the free ones from Southeast Toyota at any mileage interval but Toyota/Toyota Care would only let them do it for the 10k mileage according to them. Did the 10k intervals for the first two but now I'm changing it at 5k so I'm paying for every other one (at 30k miles now, got 1 free change left).

 

I have the Motivix tool now. Just makes things cleaner.

 

The 10k oil change from the dealer should be no cost. The only thing I can think of is they are going off the last time the oil was changed at 5k, and not the 10k since the 4R was bought new. I'd sure contest that $102 charge. I've read several instances where owners requested and paid for a 5k oil change, then got the 10k at no cost.

We seem to see more and more instances of Toyota promising the world and delivering nothing.

 

Jenny, I’m glad to see you have a local mechanic you trust. I do too and that’s who gets my business. If an oil change is $100 or so, the two I would get from the stealership would save me about $200 over the life of the truck. If it comes down to $200, I’m not gonna make it.

 

The charge was fine for the 5K oil change, but they're going to hear it if they think I'm paying for the 10K service.

 

There are good ones out there. Unfortunately, we just don't get to hear about them often enough. Once I get to 15K and have Karl handle it, I'll tune you in on how that experience goes. He's done right by us over the years.

 

Pretty standard. One way you can still utilize them is do your own at 5k. Then the dealership's at 10k. Rinse and repeat until your out of "free services"

This is what I did. I was never charged. Although they did overtighten my oil filter housing and strip out a threaded hole for the OE skid plate. I stopped going to the dealership for services after that. Nothing's free.

 

my new 2022 had the same thing, but I never took it in for anything. I dont trust them to not F something up

 

Same here with my 2024 ORP.

 

I would think 5k you pay. 10K is free. 15K you pay. 20K is free. Find a good service guy and explain what you want.

 

@Jennyjo14 ^ ^ ^ This is how it is supposed to work!
Tell the service writer you paid for the 5K oil change and you're in for your 10K one on ToyotaCare.

 

DIY maybe? You have more advantages that many of us here...

 

???

 

On it! I also realized I booked the appointment for Friday the 13th in June. I can't be held responsible for my actions when that time comes.

 

Yep. Have one of those. Figured I would take my 4R to him for the in-between oil changes and let him become familiar with the vehicle so that, 200K miles from now, he'll probably be retired but his other worker will know my rig as well.

 

I did my first oil change myself at 1800 miles and got the free one at 12 months by the dealer. (actual mileage was around 5200). I will get the 2yr free oil change in Sept or 10,000 miles whichever comes first.- (currently has 6850 miles). I remove the skid plate before taking it in so it does not get damaged/stripped.

 

I have a friend who was a caretaker for his ailing father. He had purchased a new 2014 Subaru Forester back in the day and, here we are 11 years later and he barely has 30K on the car. I think he takes his in for oil changes every 6 months whether needed or not.