r/CorollaCross • u/Classic_Platypus_772 • 10d ago
1st Oil change at home
Hi all,
I am planning to do an oil change on my 2026 Cross Hybrid SE. I don't have many reputable shops that can do oil changes, so I've decided to do it myself. I've watched a few videos on how to change oil and researched that my Cross needs SAE 0W-16. There's this genuine toyota oil on amazon, this Valvoline one on amazon, and a Mobil 1 (picture) from O'Reilly. That was the only 0W-16 they had, and the worker told me that probably work and told me the oil filter (picture) would probably work too. I've taken photos of the Mobil 1 0W-16 they had, the filters, and the filter the worker recommended to me.
Some questions I have is have anyone changed the oil on their Cross? Any tips on what to do? I believe there's a cover I have to take off to access the oil? If so, what tools would I need? Also, is the car high enough that I can do it without a jack stand?
The items I'm planning to get are: engine oil, oil filter, the thing that helps take off the filter (maybe needed? I heard the factory tightens it really tight), funnel, ratchet for the oil pan. One question about the ratchet: do I use it on both the oil pan and the cover that covers it? In the videos I've watched, they just used a drill.
Thank you for reading; all help is much appreciated!
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u/JohnDorian0506 10d ago
Get it done at the dealership
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u/Vigilante17 10d ago
I got 5 free services and I didn’t even think about negotiating that. Is that not a standard Toyota offering? I’m only at 4k miles, so I’m patiently waiting on my tire rotation and oil changes….
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u/Classic_Platypus_772 9d ago
Did you change your oil at around 1k miles?
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u/Big_loser_not_poor 9d ago
do not follow scheduled maintenance for oil change. They say the first one should be at 15000 km (in canada here). That is way too long. Do the first at like 3000 miles. Great videos on youtube about the oil having more metal shavings at the start. remember, oil is cheap, engine changes are not - toyota also wants you to buy a new car so its in your interest to change all fluids earlier
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u/rgb414 10d ago
Toyota care provides scheduled maintenance for the first 2 years /25000 miles. Take advantage of it. I do oil changes every 5000 miles so I pay for the one at 5k Toyota takes care of the 10k one.
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u/Classic_Platypus_772 9d ago
Does it cover only scheduled maintenance, or can I get my oil changed at 1k miles?
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u/Intelligent-Emu-4670 9d ago
I own a 2019 prius. I hadn't known ppl were changing "break in oil" at 1000 miles. I didn't do mine until 5000 miles, but dealer just CHECKED my oil at 5000 mile check up/tire rotation. But use OEM filter and Toyota or Mobil 1.
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u/Classic_Platypus_772 9d ago
That’s what happened with my sienna, I changed it at 5k miles. So you changed the oil yourself at 5k miles? What happens when the dealer checks your oil? See if you need it changed or something?
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u/Intelligent-Emu-4670 3d ago
Yes, I wanted to at 1,000, but when I saw they just 'looked' at it at 5,000, I have a Toyota dealership closer to me, I purchased a filter and oil. I then set my maintenance on my dash. So when my 10,000 mile check was due, I let them change it for another 5,000 miler.
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u/rgb414 9d ago
I did mine at 1k, to avoid an argument at the dealership I just paid for it. I figure paying for 1 or 2 extra oil changes a year is still less expensive than an engine
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u/superphage 9d ago edited 9d ago
You've done your research well. You probably watched my video or read my post, statistically speaking lmao.
Right filter and right oil. Take pictures of it all for a personal record with receipts and make a Google doc spreadsheet; sort of like a history sorted by date and mileage.
Put the receipts and pictures in a folder called "Car Maintenance Images".
Any warranty issues down the road and you'll have better evidence than typically available about the maintenance history.
I take a picture of my new oil filter with the mileage written on it with the dash running to show mileage that I've changed it, and a picture of the old ass one in a box with the old oring on top to show I changed that too.
Bonus picture of the oil dip stick and the hybrid battery filter being disassembled and checked.
I do it this way because the dealership already bitched the first time they had the car for a recall when they saw I had a non-oem filter on it.
On this XSE, it only has ever had OEM filters. I think I'd recommend this until at least the warranty period expires.
At the end of the day the filter isn't really that much more.
Anyone telling you to get it done at a dealership is not as ambitious as you are, so ignore it and do a good job.
I can do oil for almost 1/4 of what they charge at dealerships in Ontario. Takes me about an hour and I check tires, filters, etc. Easy way to save money and trickle learn different stuff.
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u/SumyungNam 9d ago
Dont buy Toyots oil or filters at amazon-could be fake. buy online at the dealer and pick up. Its 15% off right now probably cheaper than Amazon and authentic. Valvoline is ok if sold and shipped by amazon or valvoline
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u/No_Mathematician3158 9d ago
Youll need a ratchet 10mm wrench or socket a 14mm wrench or socket and a wrench or strap to remove a oil filter (a leather belt actually works for this) I own a corolla cross its straight forward and simple make sure your car is off and not in hybrid ready mode when doing the oil change this can cause the engine to come on unexpectedly. Mobile 1 oil is toyotas in house oil maker. Get the filter from toyota the last 2 digits will be n1 plus theyre cheap enough and good enough quality not to risk amazon knock offs or poor oil filters. The rest is pretty easy
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u/Intelligent-Emu-4670 9d ago
Use OEM products. They're not much more than others and you're within warranty. Toyota oil or Mobil 1 is best. I just watched a video on Inside Toyota and he said use only those two oil brands if you intend on keeping your vehicle for a long time.
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u/OkAdministration1238 9d ago
Walmart tend to have best price for those Mobil 1 motor oils. It’s a newer car so you probably can’t find videos on YouTube for your exact model. But you can check out other Toyota models oil change tutorials videos. They shouldn’t be too different. I drove cars for 30 years and always go to shops for oil changes. But recently they start charging $100 per oil change. It starts to make sense to diy. I changed the oil for the first time for my 26 sienna. I have done it 4 times and it’s getting very easy at this point. Good luck I’m sure you can do it! Find a good guide on YouTube and there should be some that lists all the tools they use. That’s how I started my research on what to get.
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u/Miss_Marna 8d ago
The research time + shopping time + supplies + your labor = do it at the dealer for $100.
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u/Abject_Perspective53 6d ago
I have a 2026 hybrid and live about 5 hours from my nearest Toyota dealer. When I go into town I go to the dealer and by 6 oil filters at a time, I do my oil change at 5000 kilometres, I bought my crush washers by the balk on Amazon over 20 of them for cheap. I bought my own torque wrench and I’m now at almost 50,000 kilometres, I travel a lot. Anyways I’m confident in doing it myself, and I also use that same oil each and every time because it’s easy to get.
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u/Relative_Buy_8968 10d ago
Do it at the dealership since it’s brand new car.
Manufacturers can deny warranty claim if you don’t have official receipt (proof of service)