GR86 First oil change (poll)

[KobayashiMaru86]

Any GL4 75w for the MT and GL5 75w-85 or 75w-90 for the diff will do. Just make sure you choose the right API GL spec and don't forget to replace crush washers as well. Cou can play with the viscosity based on your use case...

I changed mine at 3k miles, I used Liqui Moly Top Tec MTF 5100 75W for the MT. The shift feel improved, both during cold and during normal operating temps. For the diff I used MOTUL GEAR 300 LS 75W-90. No subjective change in the behaviour of the diff. Here's my original post about the change.

Just a friendly reminder to check the technical spec sheet of oils before you buy them and then double check if the actual product you bought is related to the spec sheet by the product number. I initially wanted Ravenol for the MT, but realised I falled for the marketing wording of the product description... it claimed something like "meets API GL4" specification. However there was no mention of GL4 on the bottle itself when it arrived, so I checked the spec sheet on the Ravenol's website and surely, there wasn't any approved specification...

Good to know. Is it easy enough to do? I've never changed gearbox or diff oil before. How do you fill them back up? I found the gearbox takes 2.2l and the diff is 1.15l. Sound about right?

 

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

I use a small fluid hand pump form Amazon. The Hilux has three of the buggers

Must get around to doing the GR.

 

[Itcaptainslow]

Good to know. Is it easy enough to do? I've never changed gearbox or diff oil before. How do you fill them back up? I found the gearbox takes 2.2l and the diff is 1.15l. Sound about right?

That sounds right for capacity. You can either use a long gravity feed tube or buy a hand pump/syringe. Something like the Draper tool linked below is the cheapest, although it takes a while and due to RSI you certainly wouldn’t be “relaxing in a gentlemanly way” that evening

Draper anti enjoyment tool

 

[Conscript]

Good to know. Is it easy enough to do? I've never changed gearbox or diff oil before. How do you fill them back up? I found the gearbox takes 2.2l and the diff is 1.15l. Sound about right?

If you're lucky, sometimes the bottle that the oil comes in will have a extendable, flexible spout under the cap. If it does, you can usually jam that into the fill hole and then twist the bottle up to squeeze the oil in.

 

[unrealpatrik]

Good to know. Is it easy enough to do? I've never changed gearbox or diff oil before. How do you fill them back up? I found the gearbox takes 2.2l and the diff is 1.15l. Sound about right?

yup, that's correct. It was my first time doing such job as well. It is easy, just be sure the car is level. There are two plugs, one for the fill from the side, one for the drain in the bottom. Make sure to always loosen the fill plug first so you don't end up stuck mid job with an empty MT or Diff with a stuck or stripped fill plug.

The only tricky part that took most of the time is finding the right space for the bottle of oil to let the oil and gravity make its way to the MT or Diff. Some kind of pump would definitely make this part a lot easier. And you just fill up to the point when the oil starts to drip out of the fill plug. That's why it's important that the car is level.

 

[MorrisM]

Given Toyota say no need to change oil until 1st service, I was surprised to see this message today at 950 miles and 9 months since first registered. I'm planning to change it after 1,000 miles but looks like the headunit was set from new to give this advice.

 

[GRMatt74]

Given Toyota say no need to change oil until 1st service, I was surprised to see this message today at 950 miles and 9 months since first registered. I'm planning to change it after 1,000 miles but looks like the headunit was set from new to give this advice.

I’ve done 1700 miles in mine and no warning like this has come up on my unit. Looks like this has no connection to mileage.
If your car is 7 months old then likelihood is that the car was manufactured 3 months before that. This is when the 1 year schedule would have been set.
As I’ve said before, break in oil is important for the engine so I’ll be leaving the factory oil in until first service. Probably be at around 2500 miles by then.

 

[unrealpatrik]

I’ve done 1700 miles in mine and no warning like this has come up on my unit. Looks like this has no connection to mileage.
If your car is 7 months old then likelihood is that the car was manufactured 3 months before that. This is when the 1 year schedule would have been set.
As I’ve said before, break in oil is important for the engine so I’ll be leaving the factory oil in until first service. Probably be at around 2500 miles by then.

there's no such thing as break-in oil in this car from what we saw in results of oil analyses. It's only "good" for the break-in in the sense, that it accelarates the wear, so you want to dump that oil ASAP. It is a very low quality 0W-20 (more like a 0W-16, after couple thousands miles probably even closer to a 0W-8) that doesn't protect the engine well.

 

[GRMatt74]

there's no such thing as break-in oil in this car from what we saw in results of oil analyses. It's only "good" for the break-in in the sense, that it accelarates the wear, so you want to dump that oil ASAP. It is a very low quality 0W-20 (more like a 0W-16, after couple thousands miles probably even closer to a 0W-8) that doesn't protect the engine well.

Exactly so it’s allowing the engine to break in.
I’m going with my own gut on this one. As one of the engines that has gone pop recently had an oil change at 1k then I’m prepared to leave it a little longer. If it does go bang because I haven’t done the unofficial oil change then I’ll let Toyota deal with it. Certainly not going to lose sleep over it and get over protective.
I’m not abusing the engine so up to 2500 miles is fine with me.

 

[Noel McC]

4250 miles on the car now and it drives far nicer both engine and suspension wise too. Big 5w/30 fan.

 

[KobayashiMaru86]

No, as it wasn't listed as meeting API SP and GF-6A

This one is though

It is possible the one you listed exceeds those requirements, but there is nothing about it on the manufacturer's website, and I was running out of time so stuck with the EE.

I must be missing it but where does it say it meets our spec? I'll be ordering soon as I may get it in early while I can book leave, etc.

 

[sim86]

Spent a bit of time musing on oil before picking up a bottle of Millers 0W20 - I've only got about 4000 miles until the next dealer service but wanting to do a DIY change. The hard driving of summer is over and will be back to a lighter use winter car.

I must be missing it but where does it say it meets our spec? I'll be ordering soon as I may get it in early while I can book leave, etc.

I was under the impression 0W30 of any type isn't in spec (officially). Millers is a bit sporadic in their datasheet information too.

 

[MorrisM]

I've only got about 4000 miles until the next dealer service but wanting to do a DIY change.

I’m in a dilemma - was going to do first oil change now that I’m at 1,800 miles, but 1st service is due mid-December and although I’ll do c. 3,000 miles between now and then (used daily but no motorway runs), I’m wondering whether I should just wait or do one now…

 

[GRMatt74]

I’m in a dilemma - was going to do first oil change now that I’m at 1,800 miles, but 1st service is due mid-December and although I’ll do c. 3,000 miles between now and then (used daily but no motorway runs), I’m wondering whether I should just wait or do one now…

Seriously I wouldn’t worry. Your car isn’t going to self destruct in that time.
It’s very easy to be alarmed on forums reading people’s personal thoughts.
The main thing to make sure is that you warm the car fully before driving hard. Toyota would have done a lot of R&D on this car to test out what you have. They wouldn’t be offering a 10 year warranty on it if they hadn’t.
1 car on here that had the oil changed at 1K and engine failed so make of that what you will.

 

[sim86]

I’m in a dilemma - was going to do first oil change now that I’m at 1,800 miles, but 1st service is due mid-December and although I’ll do c. 3,000 miles between now and then (used daily but no motorway runs), I’m wondering whether I should just wait or do one now…

Ultimately Toyota UK don't require a run-in service to maintain the warranty so its peace of personal mind only, this peace of mind is why I'm doing this one at 16k. An oil and filter only change isn't too much money in the scheme of things, but if the engine goes bang its still under warranty. It's also why I'm not too bothered about maintaining 0W20 for the meantime. I've just driven the car quite hard over the past month and want to flush it.

 

[GRistopher]

Seriously I wouldn’t worry. Your car isn’t going to self destruct in that time.
It’s very easy to be alarmed on forums reading people’s personal thoughts.
The main thing to make sure is that you warm the car fully before driving hard. Toyota would have done a lot of R&D on this car to test out what you have. They wouldn’t be offering a 10 year warranty on it if they hadn’t.
1 car on here that had the oil changed at 1K and engine failed so make of that what you will.

This is true, although I did do an oil change at 1200 miles. Ironically I've only done 2.5k now and it's due its 1st service soon.

So long as you make sure you check the oil regularly and top it up the the service intervals should be OK. I, and many on here just want to go with optimum oil changes rather than good enough.

 

[rotweilerc67]

After the service at Toyota the oil level is only halfway up the dipstick. I've got a 1L bottle of the 0w-20 Miller's, do you think there'll be any issues adding it to Toyota's 0w-20?

 

[Itcaptainslow]

Check the Millers meets API SP and GF-6A, but from memory it's one of the oils that does. If so, no issue adding it.

It seems the listed sump capacity in the manual is on the low side; they seem to take around half a litre over!

 

[Noel McC]

After the service at Toyota the oil level is only halfway up the dipstick. I've got a 1L bottle of the 0w-20 Miller's, do you think there'll be any issues adding it to Toyota's 0w-20?

Yes, no issues.

 

[TR1]

Yes, no issues.

Ditto