Hey all,
I've started doing my own oil changes on my '09 GS350AWD (just performed the 25k change, using Mobil 1 full synth and genuine Toyota filter). Here go the questions:
1. I usually drive at least ~500 miles per week, almost all highway (50 miles r/t each day to work, at least 200 miles on the weekend). Now that the engine is nice and broken in(25k) and now that I'm using M1 oil, can I push oil changes past the 5k intervals? I've been hearing many people stating 7.5k mile oil change intervals is adequate. I don't want to void the existing factory warranty. However, I also don't want to waste perfectly good motor oil. Can anyone advise?
2. I've been looking at the maintenance schedule in the owner's manuals, and most of the items included in the 20k, 25k, 30k, maintenance intervals seem like a bunch of bullsh!t: inspecting brakes, coolant, brake lines, lubing chassis points, blah blah blah.... Can anyone tell me if there's anything real to this stuff? Can I just lube these chassis points myself? Where are they located? Are there any services (aside from the oil/filter changes) that scream out for attention?
Don't get me wrong; I have no problem paying for quality services; I'm not gonna buy an expensive car and then get cheap with repairs. At the same time, I'm not going to pay someone $300, $400+ to simply LOOK at things on my car when I can do that myself for free.
3 .Anyone have problems with the DRL's and foglights blowing prematurely?
Any advice is appreciated.
Chris