Great write-up and pictures Antman!

For all those that endlessly complain about where the oil filter is now instead of appreciating the time and effort this epic DIY entailed....

Would you trade the 21hp increase, better fuel mileage and use of regular gas instead of premium that would have had to have been used on a 10.4: 1 compression engine,roller rockers and the engine improvement list goes on and on because they HAD TO put the exhaust variable timing gear next to the exhaust valves where the old oil filter was on the dated single vvt-i engine.......for an easy change oil filter on top.

Didn't think so.They don't design an engine around an oil filter!It is where it is because of the updated design of the engine and whining won't change it. Do you really think it's hard? Maybe time consuming comparatively, but hard? Tampons are on aisle 3!

They changed to paper canister filters because of environmental concerns and laws as this dual vvt-i v6 engine is used worldwide and that is where modern engine designs are headed.

Here are the engine improvements over the last Gens V6(FJ's have and have had the same V6 engine).....https://docs.google.com/open?id=1VJY...JM6fxIHLu18VuE
or here.....http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...A81Jxdjf9nsemA

Where the oil filter used to be and now has the exhaust variable timing gear:

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Thanks harper7, that was very informative, I learned a lot about my new engine from reading through that info.

I never said the oil change was hard to do, in fact I posted a thread after doing my first change a few weeks ago saying that it was NOT hard for people that were lurking the forum doing research into buying a new 4Runner.

Because that was one of my biggest reasons that I put off buying one myself. That and the fact that I was afraid it would be too gutless with only a V6 instead of the V8 I had in the Jeep.

I DOES take longer than normal to do an oil change, but it is NOT hard.

The 4Runner is not quite as fast as a 2004 Grand Cherokee with the 4.7HO V8 but the 4Runner is NOT what I would call gutless. It also does not need the premium fuel either.

I once owned a 1988 Chevy S10 4x4 pick up with a 4.3 V6 and the oil filter was mounted remote in engine bay by the radiator, it was connected to the block via high pressure hoses, it also had an oil cooler in the radiator so there was another set of high pressure hoses coming out of the filter going into the radiator.

It made changing the spin on filter easy, but I did always worry about blowing one of the hoses (never did) I just wonder if something like that could be engineered for the 4Runner.

I wasn't singling you out vicpic58! I just read thru this whole thread and many,many people complained. I'm kind of surprised one of our engineers hadn't chimed in by now on it.

Somebody probably will come up with a remote filter like this guy...AMSOIL.com - By-Pass Oil Filter: 2003 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 3.4l V6

More then I want to take on as I actually get a priceless feeling of satisfaction changing my own oil and knowing it's done right . A Fumoto valve cuts down on the mess considerably too.

I hear ya, I worry more about having someone else work on my vehicles than how hard it is to do myself.

Unfortunately there are some things I just can't do anymore, but I can still do brakes, shocks and fluid changes. So I will.

Sorry Harper, I'm not gonna get involved in this thread! I will say "Great Job Antman" for laying out a clear, concise step by step method for changing the oil in a 4Runner.

EEK! Whats with the return line screwed into the plastic fill cap??? They make oil filter bypass adapters for a reason....

Yeah,..sorry. I'm sure that's a reason they would give to legitimize the design but I don't buy it.

There's nothing to "buy" here. It's not a conspiracy. Cartridge oil filters were around long before spin-ons. The spin-ons became popular because they weren't as messy to change. It's also a lot easier to recover the oil trapped in the filter medium, when you don't have to cut open the can.

Just noticed a mistake in the original post.... The Horror!

**** The correct size extension to remove the filter drain plug is 3/8", NOT 1/2".

I updated the post with the corrections.
A/M

Just did mine for the first time , joy joy , must be a few differences with my CDN model ,I had two less bolts to take out for the plastic air dam and my drain plug was 14 mm , I reinstalled a magnetic drain plug , I jumped the gun and thought the filter had almost fully drained through that stupid little plastic spout as it was just kinda dripping but I was wrong and as I took the filter off oil whent everywhere need more patience next time.

Antman

Let me add my "Thank You" to all the others. I was about to change my oil and wanted to see what posts were out there to pick up some tips.

You answered ALL my questions.

Thanks again.

Anyone else find the Mobil 1 impossible to read on the dip stick ,not because of its clear color but because it won't stick to the dip stick , it is all "spotty" for a lack of beter terms.
Also doesn't matter how slow I go with the dip stick it gets smeared a couple of inches above the full mark as I pull it out and is driving me nuts

The Toyota 0W-20 is the same way.

My origional oil when new and the first oil change done at the dealer done at 5000 KM I did not have this problem reading the dip stick like the Mobil 1, who knows what type of oil was in there , if it actually was toyota 0W-20 it it not cause this problem for me . Strange stuff going on here .

a quick clean of the dipstick with a bit of sandpaper keeps it working for the life of the motor