Maintenance on my 2011 Corolla

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smc733

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Nov 14, 2011
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Massachusetts
Hi everyone,

This forum was immensely helpful when I purchased my new 2011 Corolla LE back in December. I have been putting a ton of miles on the vehicle, and I'm coming up on 12,000 miles. So far, I have been following the "severe" maintenance schedule for the car (5k oil changes) at the dealership, because of the free ToyotaCare.

However, once ToyotaCare ends, I'm not sure I want to keep spending dealership prices for service. I was wondering if I should go to a good local mechanic I can trust? If I do, should I keep using Toyota oil, or let them use the bulk Mobil 1 0W-20 they have for my car?

Thanks,
smc733
 
If he lives in Boston it might be a problem (living in apartment, no garage, etc). Also, I know I fear the day of going back to canister oil filters, and crawling under a car to do an oil change (it's great doing topside oil changes!). Not having to store car ramps, a dirty oil change pan etc might be worth the extra cost.

OP, have you checked to see what the dealer charges? Been a while since I checked, but maybe it's not too bad. You might be able to find out what oil they use, and you might be able to request synthetic. Once out of the warrenty you could then run the oil as long as you want.

Speaking of which, for our '11 Camry it runs 10k OCI's as per Toyota, with whatever synthetic Toyota uses. Does your car also call for 10k changes?

Also: where do you plan on having other maintance done? IIRC Corolla uses timing chain, so it's just transmission fluid and maybe engine coolant, and plugs at some interval.
 
As far as preventative maintenance on my 2008 xB, which should have roughly similiar maintenance traits... I am at 70K miles on my xB and really have not done much at all to be honest. Just replace the cabin filter every spring (they get dirty fast and super easy to do yourself, takes two minutes at most), the air filter every 30K or whatever the manual states... Other than that, I just did brakes last week.

One thing you want to make sure to do being up where we get salt/snow, is every spring check your caliper slide pins and relube them with sil-glyde. My rear caliper pins were completely seized due to rust and the fact all the factory lube dried up after a few years. The pins were actually corroded heavily and ruined, I had to replace the pins and dust boots. Front calipers were OK, but I still had to clean/relube. I know that should be done anyway with normal brake maintenance, but make sure you keep on it so you don't run into the same problems.


I use Toyota 0W20, Pennzoil Platinum 0W20 or Pennzoil Ultra 5W20 depending on what I find at the time I need it. I have been running 6-8K oil change intervals and my blackstone lab oil analysis reports are excellent across the board for wear and everything.
 
I'm always uncomfortable when someone says we use such & such an oil and I find out it is from a bulk tank. Now if Mobil ships in their oil in a bulk tank, sealed and it is stamped Mobil 1 0w20 on the side of the tank-OK. If it is an old tank that can be refilled with whatever, then I have a problem. Just me but, been around for a long while and have seen a lot of bad stuff. I probably would take my own oil to my mechanic and WATCH them put it in. Ed
 
You're lucky. When I took mine in they just took my keys and said its ready in 30minutes. Didn't get a chance to talk to them about being in the severe service category.
 
So yes, I live in Boston, and I really don't have the resources or desire to take on this work myself. The dealership, as I've seen on the receipt, charge ~$80 for an oil change. I do the 5k even though it is the Toyota synthetic, as I've heard the 10k is a little too much (and I do a lot of city driving/stop&start, etc...).

The only reason I hear to stick to the Toyota over Mobil 1 is that the Toyota IS M1, just with more Moly, and I'm not sure whether or not that additional Moly is really a necessity.
 
Ooh, $80, yeah I'd not go there either. Do you know of a good mechanic? [I drive a VW, so I think it's normal to have a mechanic on speed-dial.] I'd ask around, there's gotta be a good one who won't charge too much, and will be able to do work as you request on it.
 
Another thought: On my VW I do top side oil changes--I have a pump and pull the oil out of the dipstick. Pour back into the container, and take to the transfer station. IIRC Toyota and others used to recommend doing the oil filter every-other change. Maybe you could similar? Let someone else crank that filter off every 10k; but on the 5k's you do an oil change and put fresh oil in.

Just a thought.
 
Look online for nearby Toyota dealers that may have an oil change special - print it out and ask for a price match. Dealer loyalty can be beneficial during warranty period.
My g/f got a 3 for $49 oil change offer from her Acura dealer b/c we simply looked for service specials online.

$80 for 5k miles is too much - you could use any 'ol 0/5w20 and never wear that engine out.
 
My wife also has a 2011 Corolla.

We had issues with 2 different Toyota dealers. (one didn't put oil cap back on in GA and another used an impact wrench to put the drain plug on in TX) so we decided to forego using ToyotaCare any longer.

What we did was looked for the T Ten certified mechanic in our area. T Ten certified technicians will keep your warranty coverage in effect even if they don't work at the dealer. (I'm sure most ASE certified mechanics will...but it's hard for Toyota to argue with a Toyota trained mechanic when it comes to a Toyota product IMO)

I also run the 5k OCI on our Corolla.

Regarding oil in the Corolla. I'd suggest doing research, buying the oil and then taking it to your mechanic to have them put it in. Mine does it for $20 if I have them put it in, which even if I put a super expensive premium synthetic in is still cheaper than $80 at the stealership. I hate to do it instead of changing it myself, but while this Corolla is under warranty, I'm doing it just in case. Plus, I don't trust any oil in a bulk tank. I'm sure it's fine, but I don't get a warm and fuzzy so I don't use it.

edit: also make sure you do purchase a Toyota spec'd oil.

Regarding oil selection in Corolla. The Toyota oils are outstanding. I just can't get the Toyota oil anymore for a decent price since I don't go through my dealer anymore. I do have M1 in ours right now, and within the next month or so will start doing some research on what oils meet Toyota's spec and what's showing up on good used oil analysis.


Good luck

Joe
 
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I find that the dealership prices are often the same or less than those iffy lube places + they use a quality OEM filter.

Another + is that there is a record of service if there are problems.
 
Hey how about finding someone who along with your other business will change your oil /filter you supply?? Just labor. You have to give the other business too but it will beat $80. 10k in Boston traffic I90, I95, I84 at 4 pm not such a good idea. Many who live in farm rual areas can do 10k easy but you well... Also a used oil analysis will give you maybe another insight on what the oci can be. Would not suggest just looking down oil fill hole only.
 
Originally Posted By: ottotheclown
Hey how about finding someone who along with your other business will change your oil /filter you supply?? Just labor. You have to give the other business too but it will beat $80. 10k in Boston traffic I90, I95, I84 at 4 pm not such a good idea. Many who live in farm rual areas can do 10k easy but you well... Also a used oil analysis will give you maybe another insight on what the oci can be. Would not suggest just looking down oil fill hole only.


Exactly... I sit on I-90 regularly in the morning on my way to work, and I-95/I-93 regularly on evenings as well... That's why I feel the every 5k for oil/filter and every 15k for air filter just makes sense.

What I will do when the warranty is out is I will see what the local mechanic (not a chain) would charge to do just the labor if I bought and brought genuine Toyota OEM oil/filter. If the savings are not substantial, I guess I'll stick with the Toyota dealer I've been going to (Lexington Toyota), which uses genuine Toyota for everything, its a smaller/more honest dealership than Boch where I bought the car (but got an unbelievably great deal for trade-in on my RSX).
 
Originally Posted By: surfstar
Currently $25 + more for certain oils
http://www.lexingtontoyota.com/specials/service.htm

or
http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/dealers/service-offers


Looks good, at that price, I might as well stick to the dealer.

Also, what is everyone's thought of running Techron every 15k miles? I always use Top Tier, and I think only once or twice when I haven't found a Mobil and Shell, I use Sunoco, which is almost just as good.

Does it make sense to still use Techron, even with using only high quality fuels?
 
Originally Posted By: smc733
Originally Posted By: surfstar
Currently $25 + more for certain oils
http://www.lexingtontoyota.com/specials/service.htm

or
http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/dealers/service-offers


Looks good, at that price, I might as well stick to the dealer.

Also, what is everyone's thought of running Techron every 15k miles? I always use Top Tier, and I think only once or twice when I haven't found a Mobil and Shell, I use Sunoco, which is almost just as good.

Does it make sense to still use Techron, even with using only high quality fuels?


Yes, its a very good idea. Its better to prevent a problem from happening rather than treating it after it does. Around here the sweet spot for OCI's is 7500. Its best to use techron at the end of an OC, so the tail end of every other OC would work perfect.

Are you new to the area? Not sure what town your in, but there are several mechanics in the area that will charge a small fee to change oil with your supplies.
 
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