08' Corolla Factory Fill Duration

[Saturn_Fan]

Just got an 08' Corolla 1.8 and was wondering what is the prevailing view these days on how long to leave the initial fill oil in. Some say leave it in for 2-3K miles to help things seat and bed correctly, while others advise dumping factory fill at 1000 miles, and go with dino for 2-3K, then I would be safe to make the switch to synthetic flavor of my choice.

The reason I ask is that I work remotely. This car remains home with the wife and I can't always get home to change it myself and I have NEVER had anyone change the oil in my vehicles, dealer or otherwise.

Wonder if changing factory fill after only 500 miles or so (timed with my next trip home) would royally screw anything up.

While I am at it, thinking of changing the initial fill ATF sooner than what the manual says.

Any thoughts guys?

 

[Dyoel182]

What does the manual say to do? Normally it will say at least 3000 miles.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Regardless of what the manual says, I cannot guarantee i can get home for quite some time after March 6th, so just wondering if anyone has dumped factory fill very early on.

Basically, I might not be home until the car has 4 or 5 thousand if I don't change it next week. And I don't trust anyone but me to change my oil. Have had multiple family members either have their oil overfilled, under filled, etc. at Quick lube places and even the Nissan dealer in their case.

 

[Bill in Utah]

I changed out my factory fill @ 1k.

Here is the UOA-> 1k Factory fill UOA

I then changed it out @ 3k then went straight for 5k OCIs. I've always had excellent use of all of my engines through out the years doing the oil change @ 1k and 3k then follow the manual.

Changing it early is not going to hurt anything, just waste a little oil. If your going to run syn, I'd recommend waiting till you have at least 5k miles on it.

My corolla has not been back to the dealership or anywhere else since I've bought it.

104k now on it... Last tank was right @ 43mpg...

Take care, bill

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Hi Bill,

02Zxr said you are a great guy to listen to on Corollas. I read the 2004 thread you linked to, and it answered my questions. I am going to change it out at 1K like you did, go with conventional oil until 5K, then make the switch to Penn Platinum.

Bill, on a side note, my Corolla didn't come with a block heater and the dealer didn't recommend one because it affects what the computer thinks when it starts up and warms up. Sounded like double talk to me. Anyway, looking at the engine, does that look like something a guy could install himself? I want one in before next winter as I faced -20F to -25F temps WITHOUT the wind chill this winter where I live.

Much appreciate the guidance Bill.

By the way, family and friends think i am insane for not taking advantage of the free oil changes from the dealer, but I just don't trust em'.

 

[Bill in Utah]

If you want the block heater you are correct that the computer is NOT going to have any issues with it. The block heater maybe will get the coolant to 100 degrees if your lucky. (I'd bet in 20 below, you will be around 60 degrees)

The engine does not feel wind chill so don't worry about those numbers.

I've never seen one as far as if you can install it yourself. BUT, I'd buy one and give it a try. (I'd think it prob replaces a freeze plug) Worst thing is you have to have someone install it.

I AGREE with you about "free" oil changes from the dealership. I don't need the pressure of the upsales they will be dishing out everytime you are there and MORE important, they screw up the drain plug threads, over/under fill, having the filter fall off, them damaging the car in the yard, ETc.

Anything I can do for you, please let me know!

Take care and enjoy the new ride. Love mine.

Bill

 

[Andrew]

On 2006 Corolla did engine run-in procedure up to approx 50 KM

- changed oil/filter at 1000 KM with Toyota 10w30
- changed oil/filter at 6000 KM with Toyota 10w30
- changed oil/filter at 6 months/10000 KM (first scheduled service) with Mobil 1 10w30
- follow 6 months/10000 KM after that

 

[The Critic]

There's no need to change the oil until 5k.

BTW...I thought you bought an 07?

 

[Steve S]

How long are you planning to keep the car?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
How long are you planning to keep the car?

I doubt that it has any effect on the engine life. Many high mileage cars that I know of never had any early first oil change.

 

[02zx9r]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
There's no need to change the oil until 5k.

BTW...I thought you bought an 07?


He told me in a message that he went to sign the papers and they had an '08 for the same price so he went with that.

 

[Andrew]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
There's no need to change the oil until 5k.

BTW...I thought you bought an 07?


It's a Dec 2006 build and I purchased it in Feb 2007 .....

 

[milwaukee]

5K on the factory fill would be fine. You don't seem like the type to do this so change it early and don't worry about it. Either way you are not helping or hurting anything. If you change it early it is for personal reasons.

 

[tsmay51]

I changed the oil at 2500 miles on our camry. Probably didn't help anything but I felt better getting the factory fill outta there. Now I am running 5k mile intervals on castrol gtx.

 

[02zx9r]

I changed out my FF at 300 miles, changed again at 500 miles, 1600 miles then started my 5K intervals.

Just wanted too....

 

[tigrpal]

A solution nobody has thought of - teach your wife to change the oil.

 

[Durango]

Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
Regardless of what the manual says, I cannot guarantee i can get home for quite some time after March 6th, so just wondering if anyone has dumped factory fill very early on.

Basically, I might not be home until the car has 4 or 5 thousand if I don't change it next week. And I don't trust anyone but me to change my oil. Have had multiple family members either have their oil overfilled, under filled, etc. at Quick lube places and even the Nissan dealer in their case.



Saturn Fan,

Since your Corolla is new I'd not deviate fron the dealerships OCI until after about a year. My place/Toyota delaership doesn't necessarily go by miles driven or what the factory manual says. They're factory standard is every 5000 miles before any oil is changed.

Also in the future you might ask if they use/offer a good synthetic like my dealership. They use Mobil 1 5w30 as an overall standard in addition to the Toyota brand of oils.

Durango

 

[Dyoel182]

Originally Posted By: milwaukee
5K on the factory fill would be fine. You don't seem like the type to do this so change it early and don't worry about it. Either way you are not helping or hurting anything. If you change it early it is for personal reasons.


I'd go 5000 only to have the odo at an even oci number for further reference.

 

[virginoil]

Hi

I asked the Toyota Dealer same question after I purchased my new 1.5L Toyota Echo. I was prepared to outlay a fresh oil and filter change (including labour) in advance of their program.

The Service Manager was strong in defending Toyota special initial fill program and run in and insisted that it would be perfectly safe to let the oil do its job.

Strangely they were not interested in making money in doing an extra oil change. I got the feeling if the Dealer went along with they compromise the service recommendations by Toyota.

I had the oil + filter changed after 6 months at about 4900km on the oil. Based on today's quality oils I have read about on BITOG I was NOT fussed.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Excellent points in this thread. Thanks for the input. I did arrange by phone to get an 07' with low miles. When the wife went to pick it up, she told me they had an 08' that was 14,125 after a 1K rebate, so that one was a no brainer. The 07' was white, the 08' is black, and despite my dislike for black cars, it is for her after all.

I rhink I am going to go with 1000K drain on FF, then go 4K on Pennzoil conventional (my favorite conventional oil), and then onward toward Pennzoil Platinum 5w30/Napa Gold or Mobil 1 filters for the life of the car. Why go so early on draining out the FF? Mainly because I can't get it out of my head that I want any debris, shavings, etc. from the manufacturing process drained out as early as possible.

Looking to get a lot of miles out of this Corolla.