Oil filter re-located
 

I have a 2004 SR5 4.0 with the oil filter located in a very accessible position on top, why did they relocate below the motor and now the skid plate has to be removed?

They didn't want you to get bored! There's a discussion about it somewhere on here, it was necessary because of some changes that had to be made that wouldn't allow it to remain where it is on yours.

I looked but could not find any info, yes it was very nice.

Does anyone know why?

Because engineers are a$holes?

Because they wanted you to experience what it was like to change the oil on a 4th Gen V8...without actually having a V8...

Here’s one explanation of why the oil filter location was moved:

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3258223-post82.html

And another:
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3259807-post89.html

Thanks, now that makes sense.

The new RAV4 has a canister filter and dual VVT, doesn't it?

How relieved am I that I have a single VVTI 2007 V6 - I don't think I would have got this filter off if it wasn't accessible on the top!! :ohwell:

It took over an hour and I tried every trick in the book...I kept going thinking it was utterly futile and eventually it moved. I had to use the strap for a whole turn before I could do it by hand

https://i.ibb.co/znMQNRt/6019579975004435740-121.jpg

Most oil changes at dealership[s and private garages are done by the least experienced mechanics because it's not all that hard to do, I have seen many times a beginner mechanic use the oil filter wrench to tighten the oil filter instead of tightening it by hand as you're suppose to do, the reason to do it by hand is because over time and heat cycles the oil filter will become tighter because the rubber gasket tends to swell and it will be difficult to remove as you discovered.

I have also seen most beginner DYIers do the same thing as well when tightening the filter.

So there's a good reason most oil filters come with instructions to tighten the filter by hand until the gasket comes in contact and then tighten it another 1/4 turn and then check for leaks and then again after driving it a bit, if there's any leakage then you can tighten a bit more.

When I was still doing work professionally as a mechanic there were many filters I had to totally destroyed to get them off.

Yes mate, I have struggled with occasional tight filter on new (To me) vehicles I have bought but this was another level!

I was still feeling a sense of relief hours later, as I could not afford to destroy the filter as one way or another I needed to start the engine to move the vehicle back onto the driveway (On a hill)

You can see how close I got!

Did you not have a new replacement filter, I'm confused, why were you removing the old filter???

Yes but if I broke the old filter and could not remove it, I then had no way of starting the engine (Without spraying oil everywhere) to get it back onto my driveway :)

Once all the sheet metal of the filter is gone and only the threaded mounting flange left it is a much stronger/solid material/steel and also the holes in it makes it much easier to remove.