Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

FYI- check your owners manual. It -never- calls for the rear diff fluid to be changed, let alone at 30k.

Many dealers will add things that aren't even called for in the scheduled maintenance to jack your bill up even further.

Sodeti

Is it okay to go from synthetic to regular oil...considering the 'manufacture doesnt require synthetic oil'?

Zeus69

iTrader: (1)

Just did my 10K service today, which amounted to oil, filter, gasket change and fluid top-off. Grand total: $37.00 . Oh, and a free loaner for the morning . Amazing what kind of rip-off artistry is occurring out there...

DRivera250

iTrader: (6)

no once you go synthetic there is no turning back. you need to stick to synthetic.

josephdoc

You can take it to Autobac (in Socal) for oil change and request that list of services, with the most expensive oil (Eneos 0w50??)... that will be about $150.

Or DIY at home with Mobile-1 from Costco and a $14 Kragen filter, do your rotation and 360-points of your own inspection for less than $40.

I say the outcome will be "about" the same.

IS250_6Spd

Well I took my car to Longo 2 days ago for my 10k service and paid 150 with synthetic oil. I also had them fix a dash rattle and my A-Pillar as well. Got back my car in 2 days and all is well. Plus I got to roll around in a Fully loaded 09 IS250.

I know its a lot for a oil change but it's mainly for the peace of mind.

GiantsFan

iTrader: (9)

I didn't know there is a "cheap" oil change... im gonna ask them about it next time.

llamaboiz

'peace of mind'... that is an interesting phrase you just used when talking about a dealership... i change my own oil because it gives me 'peace of mind'... how many lexus service techs here on CL trust their peers to service their cars? Not one that i know of, ISBU wont let anyone touch his car cept him, VIS250P wont let anyone touch his car cept him... all because of 'peace of mind'.

Sodeti

How often do you guys change your oil, is it based on elapsed time or kms?

I know this question can be interpreted differently, considering not everyone will drive 5000 miles in 3 months...

xs2kdriver

The 3 months thing is B.S. that the oil companies came up with to get you to change your oil more often!

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

Totally false- not only can you switch both ways you can mix em together- that's what synthetic blends are. However if you mix you lose most of the benefit of using synthetic in the first place. But there's no problem at all doing a full change from syn to normal or from normal to syn, and back again the next time.


Dealers don't usually use synthetic because they want to encourage you to pay them to change it more often, and synthetics can run longer between changes.

For the 2IS with normal oil you can safely go 6 months or 7500 miles with no problems whatsoever, at the very least, under normal driving conditions.

With a good synthetic you can at least double both time and miles safely under normal driving conditions. (and some like Amsoil are good to 25-35k miles, though still 1 year for time)

The dealer would still rather you overpay him every 5k miles though.

player1

i finally got somewhere with lexus and i want to thank you all for your help. This is why I'm grateful for CL. Anyhow, after them telling me that they would charge $150, I created this thread. After some advice, I got to business. I first called Toyota and asked them how much an oil change would cost: they said 45 and 25 if I brought my own oil, filter, and gasket. So I then went to Lexus and told him that I thought $150 was absurd and that Toyota would do it cheaper. I also mentioned that you can't rotate tires on the 350 and that "checking fluid levels" is done at every oil change if you request it. I was offered the "regular" oil change at a price of $57. I bought my own Mobile1 Synethic Oil and it'll be $40 now which is still high but much better than $150.

Damn......this just shows you the nature of stealerships. Imagine how many people are paying $150 for oil changes just because that's what Lexus "told" them the price would be.

Anyhow, mission accomplished. THanks again.

tcho82

iTrader: (1)

$150 is ridiculous. Just do what I do. First go buy yourself a fumoto oil drain valve. That way no grease monkey can over tighten your oil drain bolt.

Then buy your motor oil at costco or walmart. I prefer mobil 1. Buy a bunch of oil filters from sewell. This cuts down on shipping per oil filter.

Then just find any local lube shop that will only charge labor.

Some can be found as low as $10. But the one by me charges $20.

$20 is worth it for me. I don't have a garage, and its a hassle to clean up spills and stuff. Jack up the car, or even with ramps. $20 is fine by me to not deal with the extra hassle.

After everything is said and done. $30 for oil (car usually takes 6-7 qts). $20 for labor. $6-7 for the filter.

You're looking at 55-60 for a synthetic oil change.

suicidesam

i didn't know that kragen carries the oil filter for the isx50 engine then again why pay $14 when you can go to the dealer and pay $10 for two oil filters. idk about you but how do you rotate a staggered set-up?

you sir got pwnd i'm sorry but $150 for a synthetic oil change?!?! honestly ask yourself why would you need a 10K service for? your car is still new!

$5.00 for genuine toyota oil filters ($10.00 for two at time of purchase)
$0.00 for the washer
$35.00 case of 5/30 Mobil 1
$15.00 for labor at independent shop
----------------------------------
$55.00 total for oil change


just my $0.02

15951

Let's all be thankful for "peace of mind" maintenance owners. If it weren't for these people, the rest of us cheap bastards wouldn't be getting free loaners, food, etc. when we go to the dealer.

Think of it in terms of the new socialist economy we seem to be working towards, where the "haves" will be bled for their success.