I'm at 3,200 miles, had the car since Aug 2. I remember reading the manual and from other people, that i should get an oil change every 5000 miles or every 6 months. I drive both highway and city.. basically 50/5 .. should i get an oil change already or just wait ? ... i also heard there is a light that comes up if i need an oil change .. is this true ?

 

the light is just a mileage interval. Toyota suggest 5000mls. thats ok. after your free oil changes do what ever you wan't. im planning tp put in some synthetic Castrol and changing my oil every 10,000

the oil change intervals are your responsibility to take to the dealer. if the engine is damaged still with the oil change intervals that Toyota gives you you may have a coutt case out of it

 

I would do it now just to get rid of the break in oil and use synthetic, and then afterwards do it every 5k miles.

 

I believe I read in a tC manual somewhere NOT to use synthetic... and if you go 10,000 miles without changing your oil I'm going to point and laugh at you

because that would be very funny - then I'd cry for your poor tC

somebody confirm the no synthetic please, I think it was in the FAQ on this site, maybe in a manual I downloaded online, or on the scion site..... still waiting on my tC so I dunno first hand

 

there is nothin wrong with synthetic, and dont beleve "if you change your oil with synthetic you have to stay with synthetic"

Not True

my Automotive teacher was a Oil Technician with Texaco. synthetic oil will not break down as fast as regular oil.

do tC's get the three free oil changes like the xA and xB?

 

the Ford taurus and the Jag X-type 3.0 use the same motor (ford) the taurus interval is every 5000 miles with regular oil and the Jag wants the oil changed 7500. its all to scare you.

yes there are some cars you can't run too far with oil. with synthetic you can run a lot longer.

just think your BMW 3-series, 34,000 automobiles first oil change 15,000 using BMW/Castrol Synthetic

let the motor break in with the oil already in it. it will be fine. as long as you take the responseability to do the first change ON TIME i can't stress that enough
then throw your own oil and filter in it. but make sure its a toyota filter. because if your motor blows and the cause is the aftermarket oil filter, you basically better get another credit card because they won't warranty that.

 

are you sure about the toyota filter thing? i thought i read that if the parts were equivalent to toyota's then it would still be warrantied. question is, which after market parts are equivilant? i think the toyota filter is like 8 bucks, but that's gotta be dealer markup. i wouldn't say a fram would be equivilant, but then again it could be. i've always liked deutsch filters.

 

i'm a fram guy myself never had a problem. i've heard of dealerships blaiming aftermarket oil filters on damiging motors. i would like to get a TRD filter but they want some weird price of something like i think 13 dollars. i need to change my oil

 

I changed oil after 1,000 - Free oil change 1

I'll change it again at 5,000 - Free oil change 2 (nearing 4,000 now)

Then again at 8,000 - Free oil change 3

Then I'll do my own every 3,000 miles with synthetic (Mobile 1) and toyota filters (bought on the internet).

I'll keep my records so Toyota can't say I'm out of warranty.

Maybe not the best way, just my way of doing it.
That myth of switching between synthetic and regular oil is just that.
Look at Mobile 1's web site.

 

I have always used Castrol because it seems to hold up the best. Also all my mechanics and friends that are mechanics recommend it. Have seen the inside of the engines that use that and cheaper stuff after about 60K the cheaper stuff gums up awful.

Fram filters are my choice as well. Seem to do good though I don't think that is as important as the oil itself.

As far as the milage in between, the manual states 5K but if you are driving it even a little hard, I would suggest every 4K. Unless you are real gentle with it, the sooner the better. If real tough, go with 3K still.

 

i've used fram in the past myself and have never had a problem either. i don't think it would be right to be required to use just toyota parts. best think to do is call the service dept. and ask if they would consider a fram filter equivalent. please keep us posted if that's the route you go.

 

I have heard of dealerships trying to claim the engine blew because of teh filter but they can't prove it. Most dealerships and Toyota will waranty it simply because it is to had to prove otherwise. Now if you use the wrong filter then it is your fault. Make sure to get the proper aftermarket filter. Service/parts can recommend a good one for your car as well as one that will fit properly.

 

Synthetics are ok...scion.com FAQ says so.
http://server.iad.liveperson.net/hc/...vcmd=topsearch

The FAQ does say:

 

PLEASE tell me you didn't go 3,200 miles on the original oil. That is a BIG NONO. The amount of crap (metal shavings) in the oil after the first 1,000 miles warrants the first oil change that early. After that the motor is broken-in and it would be wise to change over to synthetics after that for long engine life

 

What about K&N filters? Do they make them for the tC yet, and if so are they any better then FRAM?

 

It's actually a matter of opinion. Millions of cars are running well after an initial oil change at 3000 miles. (Of course, 95% of them never even came close to redline during that 3000 miles.)

Also, I've heard that the tC uses break-in oil off the lot, but I haven't seen this confirmed. That would make a difference on the timing of the first oil change.

 

Wow, just change your oil every 3k, its just better that way, and who ever said that 10k crap, i'll wave when I see your poor tC on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck. When you take it in to get your oil changed at the dealer, ask them what they use, and why, it will make more sense to you then if I tried to explain it. As far as after market filters, it's probabley worth paying the extra few bucks for an OEM Toyota filter. I drive a 1993 Honda Accord, and it has 443k miles on it... I use the honda OEM filter, and I use the oil they told me to use "Castrol Synthetic" and I change it every 3k miles.

 

Please. The manual says 5000 miles for the first oil change. You think Toyota is going to let you drive around and potentially damage your under-warranty engine by lying about the first oil change interval?

 

yes, change the oil at 3k

 

3000 miles or 3 months. I just ordered my 2005 xB Camo today. Have a 1994 Ford Escort(American car) changed the oil every 3000 miles have 204,000 on the vehicle and it is still running strong