Changing your own engine oil

[YuDanJa]

I plan on changing my own oil. However, I've never had experience with an oil filter like the one in our CT's. Is it...like how it looks? Unscrew the filter casing(?), get rid of the filter inside and replace it with a new one, screw the case back on?

[dkid]

I think you are right. That is the way it was on my RX.

[YuDanJa]

Yah, I checked out a few DIY engine oil changes in the Club Lexus forums, and I'm guessing the CT is the same way.
Our cars are too new right now...I guess it'd be a while before someone posts something up again about this.

[YuDanJa]

oh, by the way...

Is the oil filter same in a CT200h as the Prius/Corolla/Matrix?
Toyota Genuine Part: 04152-YZZA6

[william]

I would like to do the same as well. We use 0w-20 oil right?

[YuDanJa]

Yes... SAE-0W-20, but the manual did mention something about an alternative if this one isn't available. I should've wrote it down. What confused me a little is why the manual says "4.4 quarts with oil filter" and ___ quarts with no filter. Wish I had the manual with me...but, gosh, that thing is huge!

[2hunny]

I haven't done my oil change yet, but I believe these have the canister filters, not the usual type of filter I have been accustomed to. I have been told to be careful when reinstalling the filter, the threads are fairly fine.

[william]

I'm going to pick up some Mobil 1 0w-20. I think I've seen this oil at Walmart before. It's the one with the green caps.

Anyways, our manual also states that we need to change our engine oil every 10k miles. I think I will change it every 5k since oil is not that expensive. What do you think?

[YuDanJa]

My guess is if the manual says every 10K miles, then it's perfectly fine.
I used Mobil1 on my previous vehicle (Jeep), and there was a time I went over a year with 15K miles without a change. I was expecting sludgy syrup to pour out, but surprisingly, it was still golden...and ran perfectly fine for the next 4 yrs. (until I sold it for the CT )
Plus, owner's manuals usually stay in the safe range. For example, on our older cars we've always been recommended 3,000 miles, but able to go much more. I'm thinking if it says 10K, we can probably make it up to 15K or more without any problems. I'm thought of making oil changes an annual thing, but...we'll see (I may change my mind).

[Matt_RN]

10k is our oil change interval. Our gas engines aren't running all the time as they would in a normal gas powered car.

If the Prius engine oil change involves a canister filter refill, then the CT will too, since they have the same drivetrain. My RX had a canister. It's supposed to be more eco friendly. BMW and Mercedes have been doing that for a while. Instead of replacing the whole screw-on filter, only the inner element gets changed out, reducing a lot of waste. Supposedly.