I just went in to get an oil change done for me at the local SpeeDee Tune-up shop and they told me they use Chevron Supreme motor oil. I know Chevron makes top notch gasoline, but what about their motor oil? I haven't heard about it until today. Any thoughts guys? Thanks.

 

lex400sc - Maybe Mean Gene will answer, or one of the other petro guys, but I suspect you will find that for a hydrocarbon oil, the Chevron will be as good as anybody's. My problem with the quicky places came from years ago when our company vehicles developed startup "ticking". We traced it to the filters used at the quickee lube place not having a bypass. Since then, when I have to use one of the quickee lube places, I ask about the oil, like you did, and take my own filter in. They are generally cutting corners somewhere. They get the oil in bulk but usually have a pretty good brand. But, like I said, I have seen them use really cheap filters and I don't think you are doing your Lexus much of a favor. The majority of the wear you are going to get is on start up and you want as much flow as you can get as quick as you can get it. The guys in our neck of the woods don't have any problem using a filter that we bring with the vehicle.

 

Has anyone ever seen a gas station or quickie oil change place actually use a quality filter? I haven't. Their oil changes are a set price. The less they spend on the parts, the more they make. Given that the average consumer doesn't know much about motor oil, and even less about oil filters, that's how a lot of these places can get away with using cheapie oil filters and even recycled motor oil.

Any *name brand* conventional oil will do just fine. Castrol, Valvoline, Chevron, Mobil, etc. Which isn't to say there aren't differences in their composition, but the main difference between them is in how much they're marketed. Just make sure you're getting the right grade. My sister once went to a gas station for an oil change. She requested 5W-30. The little oil change sticker they put on her windshield had 10W-40 written on it. She inquired, and they said "Ignore that, we put in what you want." Yah, sure...like they really care. That's how it's going to be at these quick lube places. You never really know what you're getting, especially when it's bulk oil.

 

I know this is a highly debated topic, but what is a good oil filter to bring to them? Usually I take my car to the Lexus dealership, but I'm low on money right now and would rather not pay an unnecessary $20 extra. In fact if it wasn't so damn hot outside, I'd change my own oil. Are those Toyota filters any good?

 

Toyota/Lexus part no. 90915-20004
Made in Japan by Denso. The best you can get for your Lexus, and the same kind that came with your car when shipped from Japan.

Perhaps get the oil filter AND the motor oil, and just pay labor. Name-brand motor oil is on sale all the time at Kragen and other auto stores for as low as 59 cents/qt. Last week, it was either Pennzoil or Quaker State (AFAIK, they're the same company now). This week, I think it's Quaker State.

 

The Mobil One filters seem to rate pretty high. Mean Gene likes them. I have also had good results with the Premium Purolator filter, forget what they call the premium version. And finally, I have gotten the K&N oil filter and it appears to be a quality piece as well.

 

i pay this tech guy $10 labor, stand next to my car..give him my desired oil and filter......20-30 min later i am out of there

 

The way to do it.

 

Check out www.bobistheoilguy.com For a dino oil, the general consensus is this is one of the best. Get ready cause there are some real oil heads on this site (me included!)

 

Chevron has improved their formulation over the years, but not surprising given they are the wizards of Techron.

I have noticed many Lexus dealers either using Castrol or Quaker State. However, I would never, ever use non-synthetic branded oil in my 99 RX. I have always used Mobil 1.

 

The ones I've been to use Valvoline and Mobil. I guess each individual dealer just gets whatever is cheapest in bulk for them.

 

So what sup with the topic, you guys gone off with it?