new car oil change

allanpdx · 07-05-07, 12:03

Hi all, we got a 2007 camry LE 3 months ago and had our first oil change done by the dealer. Not sure what oil they used but Im thinking about the next oil change.

I want to do it myself but not sure, should I? What is a good reccommended oil and should I go synthetic? Is it ok to go synthetic now if the current oil is not? Thank you.

kyotousa · 07-05-07, 12:26

it's ok to go synthetic at anytime
but you should go for synthetic only after 10k miles......

Kn0x · 07-05-07, 03:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyotousa

but you should go for synthetic only after 10k miles......

I don't agree with that.

You are fine going synthetic right away. Why use sub-par oil for 10,000 miles, it makes no sense. I mean, if you have something to back that up, by all means post it. But I don't see the logic in that.

Anyways, you can't go wrong with Amsoil Synthetic. It's all I run in my car and it performs flawlessly and actually raised my MPG when I switched.

Setec Astronomy · 07-05-07, 05:29

The argument against using synthetic initially is that engine won't break in because of the extreme antiwear properties of the synthetic...this of course isn't true, many engines are now coming from the factory with Mobil 1. Besides which, "antiwear" isn't the big feature of synthetics, it's their oxidation resistance and viscosity stability, etc.

CHAOS · 07-05-07, 05:35

^agreed...

ssmokn · 07-05-07, 06:58

Discussing oil is like religion or politics.

I'm old school in that I would recommend running any regular (dino) oil for the first 10K and then switching to synthetic. I have no hard proof to say this is the way to go but it is what I do.

Then at 10K if you want synthetic switch to whatever brand you prefer in the weight recommended by Toyota.

Oil has become so good now that any Dino or Synthetic will be fine unless. Often times used oil analysis will show that synthetic has no benefit over dino in real world application. If you want to talk oil check out www.bobistheoilguy.com. Then you will be buying every oil under the sun just like this site gets you to try every detailing product under the sun.

Enjoy your Camry. They are very nice cars!

BigJimZ28 · 07-05-07, 07:54

with out adding my personal prefferance about what to use
so I don't start anything!
here are the answers to your questions

I want to do it myself but not sure, should I? : YES
What is a good reccommended oil? : Any quality name brand oil will me fine
should I go synthetic? that is up to you!
Is it ok to go synthetic now if the current oil is not? YES

allanpdx · 07-05-07, 10:11

Thank you all. Getting a new car sure is alot of things to learn. I always have changed my own oil with all my cars, but since getting a new car things do change quite a bit. I have to think more about long term, what oil, when to do what, and not to mention all the stuff about car detailing to learn. Sure is alot of stuff and things do look alot different.

I just found out my oil filter is way way under the car and I don't have all the lifting tools so looks like I might have to use the dealer for sometime until I get me some tools to lift the front. I wonder why they put the filter so so low at the bottom.

I see that alot of talks about M1 oil so I will look into that. Thanks again everyone.

kyotousa · 07-05-07, 10:38

the initial oil came from factory has additional molybdenum
watever believe what you want...either way it won't hurt your car
you save couple of bucks by not going synthetic at first 10k anyway...

3puttjay · 07-05-07, 10:53

If your car is not garaged, then I would recommend synthetic in a cold climate, heck its good in any climate. I would check out bobistheoilguy website, lots of information. If you go more than 3000 miles between oil changes, then definately get the synthetic. I personally prefer Pennzoil Platinum synthetic, its cheap and readily available in walmart. Mobil 1 is used to be the bomb before they changed the formula from fully synthetic to synthetic blend. Hope this helps.

94BlkStang · 07-05-07, 11:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3puttjay

If your car is not garaged, then I would recommend synthetic in a cold climate, heck its good in any climate. I would check out bobistheoilguy website, lots of information. If you go more than 3000 miles between oil changes, then definately get the synthetic. I personally prefer Pennzoil Platinum synthetic, its cheap and readily available in walmart. Mobil 1 is used to be the bomb before they changed the formula from fully synthetic to synthetic blend. Hope this helps.

Any quality dino oil will easily go 4500 to 5000 miles under normal driving conditions. The 3000 mile change interval has been concocted by the oil change industry.

truzoom · 07-05-07, 11:16

That's interesting. So you already had your first oil change on a brand new car? Did you do it at 5k miles?

The reason I ask is that even when my low-technology F150 was brand new, I was told to go until about 7500 miles before an oil change so that the engine would break in better. I believe that from the factory, my truck has had synthetic-blend 5W20, so I wonder why your Camry wouldn't come off the assembly line with a quality synthetic or synthetic blend.