Saturday, last week (the same day I was later rear ended in other thread) I had my second oil change and had them use synthetic (using synthetic to avoid sludge, among other reasons).

Before the change, I was consistantly getting 24MPG compared to the 28-30 I was getting before. I figured it was just me driving a little harder and using the AC more. However, the last two tanks of gas have been very consistant since then, I am getting 30.4 MPG city driving again.

Anyone else see an improvement after the switch, or is it just coincidence?

BTW, small dealer notes. The first oil change, they spilled oil all over my engine, and LEFT IT THERE! I didn't notice it untill later when I could smell it inside, and the dealer was closed for Sunday, so I cleaned it off myself. I like to keep the engine spotless. On my second oil change, I mentioned this and they cleaned my engine again anyways.

I am a tad concerned about having them handle my oil changes, this is something I prefer to do. Are we required to have them change our oil to maintain warranty, or is there a way we can do it on our own without voiding warranty?

 

havent switched to synthetic yet, i still havent even got my first oil change yet - 2154 miles to be exact.

i plan on switching, but im not gonna do it until i have more miles. i have read quite a bit about it, but i havent really heard that it also increases ___ mileage... more highway drivin maybe?

 

Keep a record of all oil changes/maitenance along with reciepts and you should be covered. 've kept them all and had no problems (knock on wood) yet.

 

I have a tC so can't help you with MPG persay, I know I got somewhat slightly better gas mileage although I practically floor everywhere I go. On the second note, you do not have to take it to the dealer to have them change it to keep the warranty. All you have to do is keep the reciepts for all the oil, filter, and additional things that you buy for each oil change and put the date that you actually changed it and the exact mileage it was done at. This will keep your warranty and you from having to pay them to do it. I believe there was a thread on this somewhere, not sure though, its been a long time since I read it. Hope that helps ya.

Jeremy

(P.S) I'm going to change mine next weekend and when I do I'm going to write the info on the original reciepts and then photocopy them all, and staple the originals to them since most reciepts will fade over time, this protects you in the long run ;)

 

Oh good, I hate waiting at the dealer for a simple oil change that I am convinced they will manage to screw up anyways. I really like handling my own oil changes, almost a bonding moment, lol.

 

Go synthetic - a lot of guys don't know it but it comes from the factory with very good synthetic for the breakin oil. If you have a manual tranny then I would recommend changing it also with a good synthetic and you may notice an immediate increase in mileage.

 

You really shouldn't notice better MPG when switching to synthetic. Do you know what oil and grade they used? Original spec for the xB was 5w-30. Toyota now specs 5w-20 for almost everything. I noticed 1 MPG better (according to my ScanGauge) when I changed from 5w-30 to 5w-20. Without it though, I couldn't tell any change at the pump since traffic varies too much.

 

WOW I thought they only specified 5w20 for the tC not the xB also! I am running 5w50 . . . only it is not oil.

 

well in my case i have been using mobil1 syntetic for almost two years
and i did feel a little increase in respond and a little better mpg
but it also depends how you drive and weather condition.

 

its a partial synthetic and available at all toyota dealers. DO NOT USE ANYTHING OTHER THEN THE RECOMENDED WEIGHT OIL!

 

I often wondered about that, I've heard it safe to go a tad thinnner, just not thicker. But I won't do that unless Toyota recommended it for this engine.

I am not completely convinced it's the oil, it just shocked me because I note the MPG on every tank since I bought it. The entire time it's been on it's 2nd batch of oil (default oil from dealership oil change) it's MPG has been consistantly down to 24 MPG. Then suddenly back to 30 MPG afterwards on two tanks. I just had to ask if this was a pattern that others experienced.

I'm in Florida, so I assume we don't have winter gas. The temp here has also warmed up a bit, but I thought cooler weather was better for mileage.

I use an automatic, I have very little experience with a manual. I just know I'd end up grinding a gear or ruining a clutch if I got a manual. Need to find a practice car, heheh.

I notice alot of people changing their transmission fluid at 30k regularly. I plan on doing the same. I'll research fluids before I do that too and see if there is anything better than the default fluid.

 

It is possible to get better MPG with synthetics, though I would doubt in such a small motor it would amount to much. I know of one study that was done with a corvette, testing both sythetic motor and gear oil, but the end result was an increase in 1.5hp (in a car already producing more than 300).

Now this was in a controlled test. In daily driving there are too many variables for us to test this ourselves. I would question any results that weren't controlled.

As far as oil weights go, stick to manf guidelines. Exceptions would be for very high mileage cars and those driven in very hot climates. Given the 100F + summers here, I will go slightly thicker in the summer as I do with all of my automobiles.

-justin

 

That's probably it. Gas mileage is much worse until the engine reaches normal operating temperature. May be the gasoline if you filled up with a different brand that tank or something.

 

I can believe that, we don't have those cold mornings anymore.

As for the gas, Chevron 87 is what I always use, and from stations that just had new tanks and pumps installed too. For some reason, all the Chevron stations here recently changed out their tanks and pumps.

 

Tomas is kind enough to post Scion TSBs. The one with the oil weight change to 5w-20 is this... http://tijil.org/Scion_TSBs/eg01806.pdf

Once the engine warms up, it should operate at 180 - 200 degrees regardless of the outside temperature? So either 5w-20 or 5w-30 should be good year round.

 

180-200F is only the water temp. Not the oil temp.

 

i use and love Amsoil High Performance 10w-30 synthetic.

 

A "very good" or synthetic oil is not good for break-in, to the extent that it protects against wear better.
I doubt that Toyota puts synthetic oil in new motors, as Toyota does not then specifically recommend synthetic oil for the rest of the life of the motor when it really matters.

 

I will have to second that statement.

Iwas told directly from Scion that the initial is standard dino juice.

 

Told the same. Just wondering now, did mine have 5w20 or 5w30? I am going to ask the dealer what they are using during my oil change. I bought mine in late Sept. 06.