LexusFan2

Hi,

Some general questions regarding oil changes on a 2007 ES350 w/ 30k miles I hope some of you will be able to answer.

1. The local Lexus dealer charges $175 for oil changes. Is this similar to what others are seeing as well?

2. Is Mobil 1 synthetic required or just recommended?

3. Does the car determine the oil change interval based only on mileage or does it actually monitor the condition of the oil?

4. Does Lexus require oil changes be done at a Lexus dealer for the warranty to be honored? My local mechanic can do the same oil change for $75 but I don't want to run into any warranty issues if these oil changes aren't in the Lexus records.

Thanks.

codex57

Your dealer is ripping you off. Synthetic oil changes cost more, but that's still a ripoff. By a good amount too. it should be from $70-125 for a synthetic oil change at a dealer. Perhaps they're including other stuff to jack up the price, such as rotating your tires or a useless "visual" inspection.

You don't need synthetic. I'm not even sure it's recommended.

The car determines oil changes by time/mileage. I wish it were sophisticated enough to do on the fly analytical testing of oil quality.

You can get oil changes at your local mechanic. If you're paranoid about warranty, just keep a log and the receipts for the change. No car company can require you to do service only at the dealer in order to keep the factory warranty. That's against the law. Synthetic should only run you $60-90 at a local mechanic, even with some "extras" thrown in to pad the bill.

YotaCarFan

$175 for an oil change??!! That's outrageous - your dealer has no shame. The dealers in the MD/VA area charge between $55 - $75 for the oil change - also a rip-off. I usually go to the local Toyota dealer - $31 for the same thing.

Although your dealer might try to justify their lofty price by saying they do other services such as "20 point inspection" or "top off fluids", my experience is that these services are often not done at all even though I get billed for them. And, most are trivial to do yourself. So, I never have them done anymore. Rest assured that even if you don't buy the "20 point inspection", if the dealer sees anything that appears remotely in need of repair or adjustment, they will bring it to your attention and eagerly encourage you to pay to get it fixed. Ask the dealer what the cost of just the oil/filter change is, not the 5k mile service, which is probably what they're selling you, considering the price.

I concur with the other poster: Synthetic oil is unnecessary. As long as you change the oil every 5k miles, dino oil will be fine.

Re your local mechanic: Unless he is someone you like and trust who does excellent work, there's no point in paying $75 for an oil change that the Toyota dealer will do for about $30.

Dave Mac

I just had my oil changed last week at the dealers where even with their $120/hr. labor rate the cost was only $51 and that included the free wash (which I declined), quick brake and tire exam, coffee, donuts, water, etc. ect. Your dealer is out of line.

Dave Mac

dreyfus

Dude, do it yourself and save a bundle. $4 for the filter and then whatever your cost is for oil. It's easy to do, even for the non-mechanically-inclined.

I use Mobil 1 which is neither needed, recommended, nor required. Dino oil is fine.

jagtoes

I feel for a lot of folks who need to go to a dealer for a simple oil change. Whether it is due to a lack of time or your abilities or the lack of a place to do it traps you into paying the high cost to get it done. Granted that the dealer needs to make a profit but they usually get you when serious problems happen. Also after 1985 when OBDI started in cars most people stopped working on them. I still do my own work and with a lift in my garage it is quite easy to do oil changes. The ES350 is a simple car to do this on and with a $5 filter and 7 qts of dino oil at $3 a qtr. it's about a $25-30 job. This doesn't include your labor but it takes me 1/2 hr to do the job. Then it takes me another 1/2 hr to take my used oil to my local junck yard who has a used oil furnace for his shop. I also use drain oil for my chain saw bar oil. So pick your poison and good luck.

garsarno

Here is the info on my last oil change: Seven quarts of Mobil 1 @ $60.13 / fuel inj cleaner @ $3.89 / oil filter cartridge @ $10.95 / Labor $6.95 / rotate tires @ $17.95 = $105.86 at local gas station.

SmokeyES35

Holy crap, you paid almost 9 dollars a quart for oil?? I thought oil was around 3 bucks a quart

SmokeyES35

doh..ray.. mi

mad1stgen

$22 oil change at my local toyota dealer. Filter cartridge, 7 qts. and a light reset.

$38 at the lexus dealer for the same thing, with a complimentary car wash, which is leaving the car full of small scratches.

Pick your poison. I would do it myself, but for $22 it's tough to beat.

LexTund

I started using Mobil 1 on my 2000 Solara after it was diagnosed with severe oil gelling. I examined the engine after the valve cover was removed and never have I seen an engine with such a buildup of sludge. Fortunately, Toyota picked up the repair costs. The dealer service people recommended I use Mobil 1 in the future and make sure I change it out every 5K miles. Since the Lexus shares the Solara 6 cylinder, I felt it prudent to use Mobil 1. I also use it in my 2003 V8 Tundra. And, by the way, I was changing my oil every
5K miles on the Solara using Castrol oil. I had a record of all work done on the car, but no receipts. The dealer accepted that as proof that I was properly maintaining the car.

codex57

Whoah! I agree. $9 for a quart is awfully steep. Is it fully synthetic? Cuz if it is, even with the rising gas prices, that's quite a jump. I've only had my car for about half a year, and I changed the oil on my BMW right before I sold it and synthetic oil back then was only about $4. $5 max.

jagtoes

Just a point of view here but engine sludge has nothing to do with the type of oil you use. I believe the major causes are from : short trips , start and stop driving , high humidity areas and most of all extended oil changes. If you drive freeway speeds for most of your driving then with either syn or dino oil you can get 10,000 miles between changes. This is based on the advanced development of oils and additives. If you are a city driver then 5,000 miles between changes is OK. I use to be of the old school of 3,000 miles between changes and as the oil technology got better I have gone to 5,000 between changes. All you need to do is look at the oil and you can tell by the color as it startes to get contaminated. The engine produces condensation and exhaust gases along with other burned off contaminates. That's the sludge. I've got a 31 year old Ferrari and do an oil change once a year (about 3000 miles) and the oil is clean enough to use in my lawn tractor and mowers. So dino oil at $3 a quart fits my bill. By the way I just changed the oil on my ES at 2,500 miles and after I get the dealer 5,000 mile change I'll go to the 5,000 between. Also my dealer said that they only use dino oil for all of the Lexus oil changes. Maybe they just don't want to take the $ hit for syn oil. Just my 2 cents.

garsarno

Garages frown on bringing in your own oil for an oil change, hence the $9 per quart for Mobil One Synthetic 5W30.

codex57

That garage is ripping you off as badly as the OP's dealer.