The most common service procedure in any service center in Romania is undoubtedly the inspection or engine oil and filter change. If you’ve come across this article, it means you’re about to change the oil in your Toyota GT86, and you want to know what type of oil to use, how much an oil change should cost, why oil needs to be changed, and how long the whole process takes.
To find out what type of oil your Toyota GT86 needs, consult the car’s manual. Depending on the number of kilometers your car has traveled, it’s possible that a car with 150,000 km might require a different type of oil than one with 10,000 km.
Using your car’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), any service can identify exactly what oil your car needs. We recommend not ordering the oil yourself but buying it from the service center and asking for only the original oil recommended by the manufacturer.
What role does engine oil play?
Engine oil is the lifeblood of your car’s engine. It’s used to lubricate all moving parts and prevent components from overheating. The oil circulates throughout the engine block and beyond, passing through all engine systems and internals to reduce friction between parts through lubrication. It also collects metallic residues and more.
Engine oil cannot regenerate itself, and it cannot always be kept clean through filtration. This means that eventually, the oil will lose its properties and need to be changed. Failing to change it on time can seriously damage the engine. In this article, we will tell you exactly when you need to change the engine oil in your Toyota GT86.
Furthermore, what we are about to tell you confirms the rule mentioned above, which is to choose only original oil recommended by the manufacturer. Engine oils have different viscosities, which is why they have different names like 0W30, 5W40, 30W40, etc. To understand how different these viscosities are from each other, imagine the difference between honey and vinegar and how they flow, as mentioned earlier.
Honey is viscous and thick, flowing slowly, while vinegar is thin and very liquid, flowing quickly. You should choose the oil designed by the manufacturer because it will circulate through the engine the fastest and provide the greatest protection to the internals. Some engines need thick oil, while others run much better with thin oil.
What types of engine oil are available for the Toyota GT86?
As mentioned earlier in the article, there are dozens of different brands and types of oil on the auto market, with various viscosities and additives. Nowadays, you can find oil for high-performance engines, new engines, high-mileage cars, off-road vehicles, and even oils for each season. So, reading the article up to this point, choosing the right oil for your car becomes a challenging task.
What are the most common types of oil?
Standard or premium conventional oil.
Synthetic oil specially designed for high-revolution or high-performance engines. When it comes to sports cars, the oil needs to flow well at low temperatures and provide maximum lubrication and cooling at very high temperatures.
Synthetic oil for off-road vehicles and trucks.
Oil for high-mileage engines: this type of oil is designed for engines with over 150,000 km.
When should the engine oil be changed in the Toyota GT86?
Changing the engine oil should happen at specific intervals. The oil change intervals vary, but it’s best to change the oil every 8,000 to 15,000 kilometers.
Many manufacturers recommend changing the oil at 30,000 kilometers, and many dealerships support this operation. The 30,000-kilometer change is done under certain circumstances and is not recommended, especially if the car is driven daily in a congested city where wear and tear are more pronounced compared to daily highway driving without traffic.
If we think about it logically, performing preventive oil changes at 10,000 kilometers will not harm the car in any way, but doing this at 30,000 kilometers increases the chances of problems occurring in the meantime, correct?
How much does an oil change cost for the Toyota GT86?
The price can vary greatly depending on the service center where you want to perform the operation. At the dealership, you will pay over 500-700 euros, at a specialized workshop for your brand, somewhere between 300-400 euros, at a local service center 200 euros, and if you want to change the oil yourself, it can cost you 100 euros or even less.
If you want to change the oil yourself at home, make sure you check the car’s manual for the exact type of oil to use and the precise quantity required. After completing the entire operation, check the oil level on the dipstick; it should be at the MAX (maximum) line. If it’s between the minimum and maximum, top it up until it reaches the top.
You should know that most cars have a service interval counter that notifies you when you need to change the oil. After each change, ask the mechanic to reset the service interval; this way, the car will notify you when it’s time for the next oil change for your Toyota GT86. If you change the oil yourself at home, make sure to use an OBD2 tester to reset the interval.
If your car doesn’t have any built-in system, you can find many apps on Google or Apple Play that can remind you when to schedule your next service, when your insurance expires, etc.
Don’t forget to change all the filters when you perform a service on your Toyota GT86.
