Looking through the service manual today and Scion recommends rotating every 5k. Not once do they mention balancing tires. I don't want to wait until my xB is riding like $hit, but then I don't want to blow money either.

Maybe you guys with the higher mileage can give some input on this?

The car sees 80% highway with granny driving so my oil changes will be 7,000 intervals with Mobil 1 (5w-30) and oem filter and I will also rotate the tires at this time.

I'm thinking maybe every other oil change which would be about once a year for tire balance.

Also, are you guys taking them into the dealer or a local shop? I may just take the wheels / tires into the dealer with my father's truck. I hate letting the dealership (or anyone besides myself) touch my car because I know they are shot on with an impact gun and just don't care!

Thanks for any input!

 

Pretty much you should do an alignment once a year, so I would get the tires balanced probably once a year as well. Unless your hitting curbs or major potholes its not neccessary. Also if you replace tires you should have them balanced. The one thing I wouldn't recommend is 7k between oil changes. Thats way to long. 5k is pushing it.

 

I don't think an alignment is necessary every year / 12-15k miles, unless you are having the steering wheel pull.

7k is what a lot of car manufactures recommend for oil change. I'm switching to synthetic tommorrow and also take into consideration that I drive mainly highway and also hardly ever take it over 3k.

Now with my 93 Civic (GSR motor) I used Mobil 1 and changed it out every 5k, because I drove that biatch hard at times. Oil would show no signs of breakdown or useage

 

I recommend a balance every 15k miles just for preventative maintenance. That or when the car shakes on the highway like hell.

 

i don't know were you guys go but everytime i got my tires rotated they were balance, its usally a packaged deal at tire places.

 

Man 7000 miles is way too much to let your car go without changing the oil. It costs what maybe 25-30 at most to change why not to do it every 3000 (or 5000 if you want to push it.) It is worth the extra money.

 

IF I drove my Box hard or in harsh conditions such as (dusty roads, city driving, short trips, etc..) & used regular conventional oil then I would change the oil every 3k.

Synthetic has been proven to hold up longer against breaking down and protecting the internals better. I drive 80% highway, only get up past 3,000 rpm if I have to (can count these on one hand in the 2,000 miles I've put on my xB) and never any short trips. I would be pi$$ing my money away to change the Mobil 1 every 3k or 5k.

It's actually going to be every 7,000 miles or 6 months.

Again when I had my GSR powered civic the oil was changed every 5k. Again using Mobil 1 and the oil never smelt burnt. This is coming from a motor that saw 8,000 rpm's at least 3-4 times a week

 

I'd have to agree with you on that . I have been changing out my oil at 7k using Mobil 1 because after reading the manual. I don't see why i needed to change it sooner.

 

the manual suggests changing your oil every 5k miles, and whats suggested is usually best, so thats what im gonna do

 

>> the manual suggests changing your oil every 5k miles, and whats suggested is usually best, so thats what im gonna do

No way - The manual says 5000 miles if you drive under certain extreme conditions and 7500 miles under other conditions. 7500 miles is fine for most people - esp. if you use synthetic oil. Nothing wrong with being safe and doing it more often (except you're probably pouring money down the drain), but the manual does say 7500 mile intervals are okay unless you drive in one or more of the 3 conditions noted in the manual (what was it ? cargo carrier, dusty conditions and extended periods of idling ?)