Dealer changes oil filter from the top on V8

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Kanab

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I couldn't believe it either. Stood there and watched, and then asked why they didn't do it like the book shows from the bottom. The answer?? If they take down the shield everytime they do oil/filter change it will eventually rattle and then customers would complain. I was wondering why they spilled so much oil on the shield? Now I know. I still don't see how they can do it, must just hire guys with long skinny arms :) Also asked them to grease the drive shaft and all 3 guys that were working on my truck (2 workers and a supervisor) kept saying that their was only 2 zerts to grease on my driveline :bash: that is even after they wiped all the joints down. :bash: I didn't fight with them will lube the others later. Figure that since I do the OCI every 3750 miles that just from luck all of the zerts get lubed once every 10K miles. :awais: If I had to pay for oil changes I would do them myself, but I get most of them free, by complaining and also they have a 29 minute or get the next one free and they never get it done in 29 minutes. Plus I like the fact that if any problems its under warranty and they did all of the work on it since new so no blaming someone elses work for a problem.
 
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Its interesting what they said about the skid plate rattling...i posted recently about a rattle I had and couldnt figure out for the life of me what it was, finally removed that skid plate and its all gone. I have been driving with it off for a couple days and it hasnt come back. I want to put it back on so nothing gets damaged up there but I have to figure out how to make it stop rattling. I just wonder why over time it would cause it to rattle by taking it on and off. It fits just as tight as it always has but for some reason i was getting a metal clanking noise over sharp bumps.
 
live4swell said:
Its interesting what they said about the skid plate rattling...i posted recently about a rattle I had and couldnt figure out for the life of me what it was, finally removed that skid plate and its all gone. I have been driving with it off for a couple days and it hasnt come back. I want to put it back on so nothing gets damaged up there but I have to figure out how to make it stop rattling. I just wonder why over time it would cause it to rattle by taking it on and off. It fits just as tight as it always has but for some reason i was getting a metal clanking noise over sharp bumps.
Click to expand...

That is what the supervisor was saying happened and he said they got tire of the complaints. My dealership is a combo Lexus/Toyota and this guy was wearing the Lexus shirt and seemed like a sharp guy. He said that when they took it on and off to do the OCI no matter how tight they got it the rattling would make the customers complain. I can tell you that I would have to change it from the bottom. I lift weights and weigh 210lbs and there is no way I can get my arm down to the filter from the top. So if I ever start doing it myself and I start getting the rattle I will know what is causing it. I would think that something could be done to cushion the skid plate and eliminate the rattle?
 
Same here, there is no way in hell I could possibly get down there from the top, I have always and will always go from the bottom. This weekend I am gonna try to make some type of padding that will fit under each contact point and see if that relieves the rattle. I will let you know if it works just in case it starts happening to you.
 
I had my 2003 V-8 in for an oil change and noticed it making a rattling noise when I got back home. I looked underneath and my skid plate was loose. Then I noticed they broke a bolt off and didn't even replace it. I was mad to say the least. I would check and make sure all your bolts are there.
 
The rattles don't concern me. But I had one stripped bolt/nut I had to tap and die. I may trim my skid plate to access the filter from the wheel well.

Hopefully an aftermarket skid will be available soon.
 
I just added a little bit of thread lock on each bolt and even after the last oil change not adding anymore the rattle has not come back.
 
they take the filter off from the top cause it saves a load of time
not for any other reason believe me.
i do the same im not a tech but my pops was and i guess i have it in the blood
 
I used my free oil change for 36K exactly once. After I fixed the stripped out bolts in the skid plate and drain plug there was no way I would ever trust the dealership to do anything that I couldn't do myself.

In my opinion they are no better than a quick lube franchise.
 
I still find this very difficult to believe. There appears to be no room to wiggle one hand down from the top of the engine to the filter; without dislocating your elbow and wrist joints! I will have to give it a try
 
Being skinny, I can easily stick my arm down there and reach the oil filter. :D

However, I'm not sure I'd want to change it that way - seems like you'd spill oil all over creation trying to bring the filter out the top. Plus, if the filter is on extra tight, good luck getting enough leverage to torque it loose from the top, with your arm at full extension and using only finger strength.

As for the skid plate, I put Never-Seize on the bolts. It seems like the skid plate bolts on my old Tacoma were always seizing up or breaking.

I bought an oil filter relocation kit from Perma Cool, but sent it back when I realized that it was going to cost me big bucks to actually do it right (not using the lame hoses and clamps Perma Cool supplies). The very expensive scAmsoil remote filter actually seems very reasonable now that I've looked into the options.

If anyone comes up with a simple and elegant method of modifying the skid plate to allow removal of the filter, please post it!
 
im a chunky guy but i manage to get my hand down there fine
ive been doing it for years working on side jobs with my pain in da ass pops teaches u tricks like this
 
I have never even given it a thought; removing that filter from above, because I figured that is was not possible. You would definitely have to lie across the engine, I would imagine?

I do not like anti-seize on things that get removed so often and do not require much torque. It seems that I end up smearing it on myself, no matter how careful I am! A little bit of anti-seize goes a long long way. I dip my skid plate bolts in my used motor oil, before re-installing them. I also do not put them on very tight.

I guess if one placed a few rags underneath the oil filter and then remove the filter from above it may not be too bad?
 
loner said:


If anyone comes up with a simple and elegant method of modifying the skid plate to allow removal of the filter, please post it!
Click to expand...

Look in the front driver side wheel well. You can see the skid plate and oil filter. The only problem is the gap is this = big. You could trim enough from the side of the skid plate to get your hand in there, and the filter out. You'll want to sand any sharp edges.
 
Bluto said:
Look in the front driver side wheel well. You can see the skid plate and oil filter. The only problem is the gap is this = big. You could trim enough from the side of the skid plate to get your hand in there, and the filter out. You'll want to sand any sharp edges.
Click to expand...

I'll take a look. Thanks for the idea. :cheers:
 
Why is it so remote in the 1st place

I have never been able to figure out, that after decades of car manufacturing, oil filters aren't placed in a readily available location for replacing. That's the dumbest thing....

Anything that needs to be regularly replaced, should be front and center. But, for a few extra bucks profit.... it will never happen.
 
Just changed my oil from the top for the first time. If the filter is on hand tight and you take a good mental picture of the location and angle for installation (by feel) of the new one, it goes pretty easy. Since my truck sees a lot of dirt, I've always felt the necessity to lube the drive train at the same time I do oil changes. This time I needed an oil change but was stalling on doing the whole project in the extreme heat. Glad I tried it. I guess on the next full oil change, lube, I'll have an oily skid plate to clean though.
 


I guess that is another reason why I should be happy that I got the V6 in my 4Runner instead of the V8.
:awais:

 
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