I'm now convinced...

that I must learn how to do my own oil changes. I went to the dealer this morning and decided to get my first oil change, get the TSB done and have the Airbag light looked at.

He goes to give me the paper to sign and the oil change is listed for 63.00!!! :thumbsdow i was like :wtf: ?! I thought it was :bullshit2 at first. Then he said that the Camry (not all of them) take synthetic oil. Then another service advisor told him to check under the hood because not all the 07's take the same oil. so he went to look and sure enough on the oil cap it said what type of oil it took. I told him scrape the oil change and I'll get it done at 5k.

Now its my mission to find a DIY to get the oil changed cause I refuse to pay 63.00 for an oil change..lol.

DIY:

1. jack up the car or drive it on ramps.
2. 14mm wrench removes the oil plug
3. you can get a oil filter wrench for the oil filter. they're plastic and slide onto the end of the oil filter.
4. remove the oil filter (catch all the dirty oil lol
5. once the oil is drained out, replace the filter and plug, making sure that they are both free of dirt.
6. replace oil in the engine
7. set the car back on the ground and start it up. let it run for a bit, then shut it down and check your oil level.


there ya go! 15 mins no problem :)

sounds easy...i never actually took the time to do my own oil but now is a good start. thanks for the DIY.

btw..where do you dump the oil once its drained? any specific place I should drop it off at?

If you do wind up having to do full synthetic your OCI (oil change interval) can be 10k. I use Mobil 1 EP 15k full syn with a Mobil 1 filter and change it every 10k. I change dino oil every 5k on my other cars. Jon.

sounds easy...i never actually took the time to do my own oil but now is a good start. thanks for the DIY.

btw..where do you dump the oil once its drained? any specific place I should drop it off at?

you coul drop it at Autozone, and STS , maybe Advance auto

you clould go to http://www.earth911.org/master.asp and find out

Thanks for the link!!! I found a few spots that I can take it to! Including Jiffy Lube and some local gas stations!

Thats the same bullshit they told me Explicit at my first oil change. They told me I had to get sythetic oil and I didn't have a choice. The 2nd time I got and oil change (after I had heard on TV that you can in fact switch between sythetic oil and regular oil) I asked the serviceman could I get regular oil and he said it was no problem. When I mentioned that I was originally told I couldn't make the switch he gave me this face :rolleyes: indicating whoever told me that was full of bullshit and just tryna charge me for the higher oil. But I am with you...I actually couldn't get to sleep the other night because I was thinking how much oil changes were costing me so I might very well start going to Jiffy Lube or something comparable. You'd think after buying an expensive ass car the least Toyota could do is throw in some free oil changes like I know a lot of other TN members got.

Thats why I love the fact that when i go to the dealer and get my service done. If they try selling me something that I dont need, I pull out my ASE "Master Automotive Technician" Certification card, then they stop talking... :lol: The look on their faces just drop. Especially knowing the fact im more qualified than 75% of the mechanics in the dealers shop.

Don't go to Jiffy Lube. Better to go to Merchant's Tire and Auto, etc.

Thats why I love the fact that when i go to the dealer and get my service done. If they try selling me something that I dont need, I pull out my ASE "Master Automotive Technician" Certification card, then they stop talking... :lol: The look on their faces just drop. Especially knowing the fact im more qualified than 75% of the mechanics in the dealers shop.

So whats your take on it. If the oil cap says synthetic, would it be harmful to put regular oil in it?

If the cap says to use synthetic, Use synthetic. If it does not state synthetic, then regular oil is fine. If something happens internally in the engine, they will need invoices showing that the proper synthetic oil was used in order to warranty any problems.

Walmart changes oil fairly cheap. I would change my own, but too lazy to clean up afterwards...so messy

with the 07 camrys they come out with a oil filter where they only give you the paper filter inside and not the housing

with the 07 camrys they come out with a oil filter where they only give you the paper filter inside and not the housing

Only the V6.

with the 07 camrys they come out with a oil filter where they only give you the paper filter inside and not the housing

V6 models, 4-Cylinders have a conventional filter

V6 models, 4-Cylinders have a conventional filter

Beat ya by seconds!;) :)

Beat ya by seconds!;) :)

:nutkick:

:nutkick:


:lol:

Jiffy Lube isn't bad, they usually have an early bird deal for $20 in my area. Anytime I have ANYONE else change my oil though I always double check the cap and plug and check the oil level a couple of times to make sure it's all there and full. I never let them sell me anything else.

I almost always to my own oil changes though

It's like reading a horror story.

We are part of a Chevy, Toyota (2), Acura, Hyundai, Nissan, Mazda, Susuki group. For all new vehicles sold at any of these stores oil and filters and state ( VA ) inspections are free for life no questions asked.

The very real problem is getting an appointment since everybody uses the free service.

When I took my V6 into the dealer for an oil change, they initially said it was synthetic, then back off that statement saying only the I-4 comes from the factory with synthetic.

LunarMist... just to let you know... I don't trust either Jiffy Lubes on Rockville Pike. TWO... not one... but TWO of my friends went in for an oil change and they ended up breaking something. They tried to blame it on my friends... but that didn't work. My friends threatened a law suit and they ended up having to buy parts across the street from Advance Autos and fixed whatever they broke at their shop. The cashier lady was shaking her head and said that this wasn't the first time this had happened. Since then, I never go to a Jiffy Lube. So... beware if you go to Jiffy. If they don't know what they're doing... they'll play around and try to figure out what they need to do until something breaks!!!! Better just change it on your own. Good luck!

Even if Jiffy Lube had free oil changes I wouldn't go there :thumbdown:ugh3::disappoin

Even if Jiffy Lube had free oil changes I wouldn't go there :thumbdown:ugh3::disappoin

me neither.......They are Crooks

LunarMist... just to let you know... I don't trust either Jiffy Lubes on Rockville Pike. TWO... not one... but TWO of my friends went in for an oil change and they ended up breaking something. They tried to blame it on my friends... but that didn't work. My friends threatened a law suit and they ended up having to buy parts across the street from Advance Autos and fixed whatever they broke at their shop. The cashier lady was shaking her head and said that this wasn't the first time this had happened. Since then, I never go to a Jiffy Lube. So... beware if you go to Jiffy. If they don't know what they're doing... they'll play around and try to figure out what they need to do until something breaks!!!! Better just change it on your own. Good luck!

Thanks man. I am nowhere near Rockville though. I am in P.G. County. I went to a Jiffy Lube near the University of Maryland one time with my 02 Camry. They did a pretty good job but they are crooks because they tried to sell me a whole bunch of other shit. I did get them to replace my a/c filter though cuz it was filthy. But yes, I will try something like merchants.

Thanks man. I am nowhere near Rockville though. I am in P.G. County. I went to a Jiffy Lube near the University of Maryland one time with my 02 Camry. They did a pretty good job but they are crooks because they tried to sell me a whole bunch of other shit. I did get them to replace my a/c filter though cuz it was filthy. But yes, I will try something like merchants.

In your neck of the woods, try Lube Center. The chain is owned by a friend of a friend. I can't vouch for particular employees at specific locations, but he is a stand up guy (mechanic) and I know his intentions and management are for honesty and integrity coupled with quality work.

sounds easy...i never actually took the time to do my own oil but now is a good start. thanks for the DIY.

btw..where do you dump the oil once its drained? any specific place I should drop it off at?


in your neighbor's flower garden.