1st Oil Change
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Jeff Kleb
New member
Oil Change
As the owner of a 2005 SR5 4x4 with a V-6, I felt I should chime in. Aside from the first oil change I got gratis from the stealership, I have done the rest of them myself -- and I use Mobil-1 5w30 synthetic.
I don't recall the size of the drain plug, but it is metric. Don't use an 'American' socket on it! I believe it is 15mm, but am not sure. Before you access it, you have to pull off the little oval-shaped plastic panel at the base of the skid plate (if you have one on your 4Runner, which you should). You can easily do it with a flat-head screwdriver. It will have about six little tabs that "give" when you pry it off. Once you do that, you will easily be able to see the drain plug looking down at you.
It should hold 5.5 quarts (I think) if you include changing the filter. The filter is very easy (on top of the engine), but make sure that you have some type of little plastic bottle to catch the four or five ounces of 'residual oil' that will be left in the area around the filter when you remove it. There's a little rubber hose that you'll need to take off when you put your bottle underneath to catch it.
I buy the six-quart case of Mobil-1 at Costco, so I have a half-quart left over that I can add between changes if the dipstick level happens to go down a bit. Fortunately, my 4Runner has not used any oil (only 10k on it now), but I always end up 'topping off' the oil in my older Nissan Sentra -- since I use Mobil-1 in it as well and it is pushing 75,000 miles now.
When you replace the drain plug, you should have some of those brass 'crush washers' on hand. You may not always need one at every oil change, but they'll sometimes leak a little bit if you use the same one too many times. Hey, they only cost like sixty cents for a bag of three (NAPA, AutoZone, etc.).....so it ain't gonna set you back if you use one every time.
:awais:
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR 4RUNNER!!
As the owner of a 2005 SR5 4x4 with a V-6, I felt I should chime in. Aside from the first oil change I got gratis from the stealership, I have done the rest of them myself -- and I use Mobil-1 5w30 synthetic.
I don't recall the size of the drain plug, but it is metric. Don't use an 'American' socket on it! I believe it is 15mm, but am not sure. Before you access it, you have to pull off the little oval-shaped plastic panel at the base of the skid plate (if you have one on your 4Runner, which you should). You can easily do it with a flat-head screwdriver. It will have about six little tabs that "give" when you pry it off. Once you do that, you will easily be able to see the drain plug looking down at you.
It should hold 5.5 quarts (I think) if you include changing the filter. The filter is very easy (on top of the engine), but make sure that you have some type of little plastic bottle to catch the four or five ounces of 'residual oil' that will be left in the area around the filter when you remove it. There's a little rubber hose that you'll need to take off when you put your bottle underneath to catch it.
I buy the six-quart case of Mobil-1 at Costco, so I have a half-quart left over that I can add between changes if the dipstick level happens to go down a bit. Fortunately, my 4Runner has not used any oil (only 10k on it now), but I always end up 'topping off' the oil in my older Nissan Sentra -- since I use Mobil-1 in it as well and it is pushing 75,000 miles now.
When you replace the drain plug, you should have some of those brass 'crush washers' on hand. You may not always need one at every oil change, but they'll sometimes leak a little bit if you use the same one too many times. Hey, they only cost like sixty cents for a bag of three (NAPA, AutoZone, etc.).....so it ain't gonna set you back if you use one every time.
:awais:
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR 4RUNNER!!
Jeff Kleb
New member
Note of Advice
Oh, I forgot to tell you.....
Be sure not to accidentally drain the transmission oil by mistake. Someone on this forum did that when they thought they drained the motor oil. Remember, motor oil is not pink!
:bash:
The transmission bolt is to the rear of where your oil pan is, and would not be a hard error to make for a novice or first-timer. We have all done silly things like that, so learn from the mistakes of others - okay?
:awais:
I remember one time when I did an oil and filter change on another car I had and forgot to screw on the new filter. Doh! Be careful, okay?
Oh, I forgot to tell you.....
Be sure not to accidentally drain the transmission oil by mistake. Someone on this forum did that when they thought they drained the motor oil. Remember, motor oil is not pink!
:bash:
The transmission bolt is to the rear of where your oil pan is, and would not be a hard error to make for a novice or first-timer. We have all done silly things like that, so learn from the mistakes of others - okay?
:awais:
I remember one time when I did an oil and filter change on another car I had and forgot to screw on the new filter. Doh! Be careful, okay?
sjm1027
New member
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for all the great information you gave me. I got under the 4Runner this morning and saw the skid plate. I was pissed that I didn't figure out how to get to the plug. It was cold, overcast and I said oh well I will just get it done at Toyota. So 80 dollars later the oil is changed and the tires rotated... What a scam! Trust me, I'll never go there for an oil change again. I also have a Camry and that is a breeze to do. The skid plate screwed me up!
I love this vehicle and can't wait to take it on the beach in the spring. I am looking for a shop manual for it also.
Thanks again,
Steve
Thanks for all the great information you gave me. I got under the 4Runner this morning and saw the skid plate. I was pissed that I didn't figure out how to get to the plug. It was cold, overcast and I said oh well I will just get it done at Toyota. So 80 dollars later the oil is changed and the tires rotated... What a scam! Trust me, I'll never go there for an oil change again. I also have a Camry and that is a breeze to do. The skid plate screwed me up!
I love this vehicle and can't wait to take it on the beach in the spring. I am looking for a shop manual for it also.
Thanks again,
Steve
Jeff Kleb
New member
Eighty bucks for a tire rotation and oil change? Dude.......you got hosed! Methinks there is a boat involved. Your dealer must own a 50-foot yacht and needed your help with making his payment this month.
:bash:
Well, at least you now now about the skid plate and not to mess with the transmission oil drain plug.
:awais:
Jeff Kleb
New member
When you look at the position of your oil filter - on the V6 anyway, it will be on the left-hand side (driver's side) of the engine compartment. See photo below:
Okay, this closer shot of the filter shows where you can see the little 'drain hole' where a few ounces of oil will accumulate when you unscrew the old filter.
There is a short rubber hose with a sealed end that attaches to the other side of that little hole. Be sure it (the little hose) is there before you unscrew the old filter - or you'll have oil leaking all over the side of the engine block.
After you have changed the filter, put a little bottle under the rubber hose & then pull it off. Then the 3 or 4 ounces of oil will drain into your plastic container instead of all over your engine.
Wipe up the rest of the oil with a rag and be sure the area is clean. Then re-attach the dummy hose to the hole by the filter and you'll be good to go for next time. (Of course, do not forget to coat the filter gasket with a little bit of oil to ensure a good seal.)
I hope this helps anyone who plans to change their own oil. If I get time tomorrow, I'll shoot some pictures of the underside & the skid plate piece that must be removed to access the V6's drain plug.
2005 SR-5 4x4 -- photo taken in January of 2006
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sjm1027
New member
I love your 4Runner, exactly like mine.
STOCK!!!
I installed an XM Satellite Radio!
Still didn't finish the wires, maybe tomorrow morning!
https://home.comcast.net/~sjm00/4runner/
Check it out, are there only 4 screws holding this glove box in? I can't seem to loosen it
STOCK!!!
I installed an XM Satellite Radio!
Still didn't finish the wires, maybe tomorrow morning!
https://home.comcast.net/~sjm00/4runner/
Check it out, are there only 4 screws holding this glove box in? I can't seem to loosen it
Baba Booey
New member
I changed my oil for the first time today on the new 4Runner with 929 miles on it. Everything was going great until I realized that there was no crush washer on the drain plug when I removed it.
Because I could reach the drain plug fairly easy, I didn't bother to put the vehicle up on ramps. That was a mistake because I really could've used the extra space to crawl under the vehicle to look for the crush washer.
Anyway, I drained my catch pan through a funnel with a small hole into a container, hoping that I would find the washer in the bottom of the catch pan. I didn't.
Then I felt around the oil pan, and I realized that the old crush washer was still "stuck" to the oil pan. I had no room to work, and the skid plates don't let you see anything around the oil pan area. I couldn't get that bugger off for the life of me. The Toyota crush washers have some sort of felt-like coating on them, and I think it "baked" itself onto the oil pan.
I thought about just leaving it there until the next oil change, but that would've bugged me for months. Eventually, I was able to pry the old crush washer off of the oil pan and then properly replace it with a new one.
The moral of the story here is that it might be a good idea to use ramps or jackstands even if you probably won't need them. If something doesn't go as planned, it would be nice to have the extra room to work.
Because I could reach the drain plug fairly easy, I didn't bother to put the vehicle up on ramps. That was a mistake because I really could've used the extra space to crawl under the vehicle to look for the crush washer.
Anyway, I drained my catch pan through a funnel with a small hole into a container, hoping that I would find the washer in the bottom of the catch pan. I didn't.
Then I felt around the oil pan, and I realized that the old crush washer was still "stuck" to the oil pan. I had no room to work, and the skid plates don't let you see anything around the oil pan area. I couldn't get that bugger off for the life of me. The Toyota crush washers have some sort of felt-like coating on them, and I think it "baked" itself onto the oil pan.
I thought about just leaving it there until the next oil change, but that would've bugged me for months. Eventually, I was able to pry the old crush washer off of the oil pan and then properly replace it with a new one.
The moral of the story here is that it might be a good idea to use ramps or jackstands even if you probably won't need them. If something doesn't go as planned, it would be nice to have the extra room to work.
Baba Booey
New member
If that crush washer hadn't stuck to the oil pan, it would've been one of the easiest oil changes I have ever done. Really, you don't need to raise the vehicle at all. However, by not raising it, I was only able to get to the oil pan area with one hand. That, along with the fact that you can't see the oil pan area very good because of the skid plates, is what caused the problem.
I have often thought about using a Fumoto valve on my other vehicles. The valve replaces the drain plug, so all you need to do to drain the oil pan is open the valve. The reason I never went for it, though, is because I always need to crawl under the vehicle and get oil all over my (gloved) hands anyway in order to remove the filter. Might as well open the drain plug as well at that point.
However, because the V6 4Runner's filter is sooooo accessible, a Fumoto valve would finally make real sense. With a Fumoto valve and the top-mounted filter, an oil change could be done in ten minutes or less.
Anyone use these on a 4Runner? The skid plate should keep it protected for everything except serious offroading.
Here is a link:
Fumoto Valve
I have often thought about using a Fumoto valve on my other vehicles. The valve replaces the drain plug, so all you need to do to drain the oil pan is open the valve. The reason I never went for it, though, is because I always need to crawl under the vehicle and get oil all over my (gloved) hands anyway in order to remove the filter. Might as well open the drain plug as well at that point.
However, because the V6 4Runner's filter is sooooo accessible, a Fumoto valve would finally make real sense. With a Fumoto valve and the top-mounted filter, an oil change could be done in ten minutes or less.
Anyone use these on a 4Runner? The skid plate should keep it protected for everything except serious offroading.
Here is a link:
Fumoto Valve
Baba Booey
New member
After searching here and at BITOG for opinions on Fumoto valves, I decided to order one from Fumoto's website.
I received a 10% discount by using discount code "YM4" that I found in a BITOG post.
In the for sale section at BITOG, someone is selling a new F103 valve (correct size for T4R) for $15 shipped. I was tempted, but I opted to order from the manufacturer.
I received a 10% discount by using discount code "YM4" that I found in a BITOG post.
In the for sale section at BITOG, someone is selling a new F103 valve (correct size for T4R) for $15 shipped. I was tempted, but I opted to order from the manufacturer.
Jeff Kleb
New member
sjm1027 said:
Well, I don't want to mess with anything. I leased it for 3 years and I'll get hosed for anything that has to be repaired or replaced. Besides, the vehicle is virtually 'perfect' for me as it is.
:awais:
I have added a Radio Shack CB radio, but I did not have to drill any holes. I fabricated a hanging bracket to let it sit sideways on the passenger side of the console (to the right of the gear shift area). It has a magnetic antenna and it is powered by the cigar lighter plug (another urban engineering project by yours truly), so that I did not have to alter my 4Runner in any way.
These trucks are way overbuilt, and should last a good long time if properly maintained. Although I leased it for three years ( 23 months left ), I do have the option to buy it at the end of the term; and want it to be A-1 whether I keep it or not.
2005 4Runner -- bone stock with no mods; SR5, V-6, Titanium Metallic
peter78
Super Moderator
Re: Oil Change
I was reading with interest to see what the size of drain plug is. I have changed oil in about 8 Hondas and they all had the same size plug, I think 17mm. I now have 2 Toyotas, 91 Previa and 2001 4Runner and they take a 14mm. So I was just wondering, is it 15 mm or is it like other Toyota models and have a 14 mm? No one ever said. Inquiring minds want to know.Jeff Kleb said:
Baba Booey
New member
14 mm.
Bluto
New member
Baba Booey said:
I have the n-type, F103N. There is 2-3" between it and the skid plate. You'd have to crush a lot to hit it. Plus, I think there is a big cross member near it. I would not worry.
With the n-type, I attach a hose and drain directly into recycle containers (clean 100oz. laundry deterget jugs).
Jeff Kleb
New member
dingo said:Jeff,
Doesn't that 4Runner of yours ever get dirty?! It's always looking too nice.
(like I should talk!)
Thanks for the kind words, but it does get dirty. The trick is that I don't let it stay dirty. My 4Runner is my 'weekend' car and I have a Nissan Sentra that I use for my beater/commuter vehicle. The Sentra bears the brunt of the road grime. Since I leased it for 36 months/36k miles, I have to keep my 'average' miles of driving below a thousand each a month. Having another vehicle is the only way I can do that, since I drive over 20k a year total.
I don't have a garage (unfortunately) to keep it covered, but I still do my best for it. There is an awesome "touchless" car wash here that does a great job for $3 to $5. Last Saturday, I actually polished it and really got it to shine. (Of course, that is certain to bring rain.)
As I type this, the clouds are already moving in.
:bash:
You California folks don't see much rain or snow, but I suppose forest fires, earthquakes and sky-high taxes make up for it!
:arrow:
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MicaBlue03
Member
"crush washer"
My vehicle came with a very thin fiber washer between the drain plug and the oil pan. About as thin as thick writing paper.
Since then I've used the rather thick (maybe 1/16") fiber washers that Toyota sells for the purpose. Either way, no leaks and no problems.
As for the cup underneath the filter bracket with the drain hole, I used a bit of wire to make a hanger for a plastic cup that dangles beneath the filter bracket when I remove the filter. Sometimes a significant amount of oil drains into the cup, sometimes not. Just remember to replace the hose/cover on the pipe nipple and remove the cup before driving!
My vehicle came with a very thin fiber washer between the drain plug and the oil pan. About as thin as thick writing paper.
Since then I've used the rather thick (maybe 1/16") fiber washers that Toyota sells for the purpose. Either way, no leaks and no problems.
As for the cup underneath the filter bracket with the drain hole, I used a bit of wire to make a hanger for a plastic cup that dangles beneath the filter bracket when I remove the filter. Sometimes a significant amount of oil drains into the cup, sometimes not. Just remember to replace the hose/cover on the pipe nipple and remove the cup before driving!
