Does ToyotaCare Cover Oil Changes? (Read This First)
The Toyota brand is reputable and consistently offers incredible services like free maintenance.
New owners of Toyota vehicles have the privilege to enjoy ToyotaCare, a free program that includes factory scheduled maintenance and roadside assistance.
However, there has been an argument about whether ToyotaCare covers oil changes in recent times. So let’s dive in and get the facts right.
ToyotaCare care is a no-cost maintenance plan that includes oil change, vehicle inspection, tire rotation, and many other services. Most importantly, it doesn’t cover car parts repair but only focuses on maintenance.
Is Oil Change Included in ToyotaCare?
Out of all the car brands in the market, only one-third offer free maintenance services. Toyota makes that list with ToyotaCare.
ToyotaCare is a free maintenance plan that accompanies the purchase and lease of all new Toyota vehicles.
It covers tire rotation, vehicle inspections, adjustment of fluid level, and, yes, oil change.
The ToyotaCare program includes daily roadside assistance and factory scheduled maintenance for unlimited miles and two years.
Sadly, ToyotaCare focuses on maintenance rather than repairs.
However, signing up to factory Toyota auto warranty will cover repair and maintenance of your vehicle for 36,000 miles or three years even though extended vehicle warranties don’t include some maintenance routine like filter replacement, oil change, and more.
Furthermore, to qualify for a ToyotaCare plan, your car should be within 37 months of usage and have less than 31,000 miles. The ToyotaCare roadside assistance runs for four years and covers unlimited miles.
The services it covers are:
- Fuel delivery
- Towing
- Battery jump-start
- Change of flat tire
- Winching; and
- Lockout service
Even though the ToyotaCare plan provides for maintenance and inspection of your vehicle, it doesn’t include repair or purchase of windshield wipers, new brake pads, and frequent service visits.
Your Toyota car dealer is responsible for delivering timely reminders to you and keeping records of all the services done.
But what is involved with ToyotaCare? Below is a breakdown of what the ToyotaCare plan covers:
#1. Eligibility
ToyotaCare covers all newly-bought Toyota cars. However, for your vehicle to be eligible, it must not exceed two years of usage and still have a guaranteed mileage.
If you’re confused as to whether or not your car is eligible for ToyotaCare, you can check Toyota’s website.
#2. Transferability
ToyotaCare can transfer to a private buyer if the coverage period hasn’t expired.
For instance, a fuel cell car with hydrogen-like Toyota Mirai has a coverage period of 35,000 miles and three years.
More so, it has 24-hour roadside assistance and some exciting trip interruption benefits.
#3. Coverage Period
The factory scheduled maintenance included in ToyotaCare will last for just 25,000 miles or two years, while the ToyotaCare roadside assistance is for two years and unlimited miles.
#4. Roadside assistance
The daily ToyotaCare roadside assistance covers spare tire installation, lockout protection, emergency fuel delivery, towing, and more. Additionally, roadside assistance is only acceptable in the United States and Alaska.
#5. Cost Maintenance
Interestingly, there’s no ToyotaCare cost maintenance. All the services offered are for free.
#6. Scheduled Maintenance
ToyotaCare scheduled maintenance runs at six months intervals or 5000 miles, allowing the car to get up to 4 free maintenance services during the plan.
The zero ToyotaCare cost maintenance includes oil change, tire rotation, and fluid adjustment carried out by expert Toyota technicians.
How Many Oil Changes With ToyotaCare?
Conventionally, an oil change with ToyotaCare is for five times (that is after every 5,000 miles for the first 25,000 miles.
Therefore, ensuring that your Toyota is always in good working condition requires frequent oil changes and regular maintenance.
Additionally, the materials used for performing any maintenance in ToyotaCare are original Toyota fluids and parts.
For example, the most used oil is Genuine Toyota Motor Oil for an oil change, while the recommended up filter is a Genuine Toyota oil filter.
They are manufactured specifically for improving the running of your Toyota for excellent performance.
Moreso, if your Toyota is due for an oil change and you’re finding it difficult to refill the oil tank, you can reach out to a professional Toyota technician or book an appointment with a reliable Toyota Service Center.
Read our post to know if Toyota VS Lexus Oil changed?
Toyota Care Oil Change Interval?
The ToyotaCare oil change interval varies depending on the type of oil the car needs. Usually, Toyota models use synthetic oils.
The engine explicitly used these oils to hold down its compounds and prevent them from breaking down. As a result, they last longer than conventional oils.
The recommendation from Toyota is that the oil change interval is after every 10,000 miles.
However, you can still resort to the 5,000-mile service interval where you don’t only change oil, but inspect the vehicle, rotate tires, and top-off fluid.
Plus, you can request emergency fuel delivery which is part of the ToyotaCare roadside assistance.
Oils are lubricants that help the moving parts in a car engine to function correctly without causing excessive friction.
Furthermore, if you’re still finding it difficult to know your car’s oil change interval, some of the signs you should watch out for include:
#1. Knocking Sounds and Loud Engine Performance
Once your car oil gets dirty or becomes low, your engine will produce knocking sounds, thereby causing more noise than usual.
These sounds result from poor lubrication of the moving components of the vehicle.
#2. Oil Change/Engine light
If you try turning on this light and it pops up, the sensor has found low oil in the car engine.
Whenever this happens, don’t continue driving, instead park your car, turn off the engine, open the car hood and refill your oil tank.
#3. Dark Oil Color
Use a dipstick to check the depth and color of your car oil. If it looks gritty and dark, pour the oil and refill the tank with new oil.
#4. The Smell of Oil
The only reason why you’ll smell oil inside the cabin is if it’s leaking. You’ll have to fix the leakage by contacting a professional Toyota technician.
Also, you may likely need to buy another oil to replace the leaked quantity.
Conclusion
A frequent oil change helps cool down the engine and keep it clean by removing the dirt particles stuck around the engine.
Toyota offers ToyotaCare to new car owners to cover for free maintenance of all the car parts, including oil change and emergency fuel delivery.
It would be great to consider getting yourself a brand new Toyota to be part of this amazing service plan.
