Yes I know that this paraticular subject has already been discussed here on the forum :deadhorse: but still I just want to give my $0.02 on it.
Yesterday I did the oil change on my wife's 2016 4Runner. She's had it since Dec. 30, 2015 and well now it was showing the MAINTENANCE REQUIRED on the small screen and I knew that it was time for its first oil change.
After reviewing at what exactly is involved and such I quickly realized and it is appearent as to why Toyota decided to design the process to do so on this.
First reason, it is obvious why there are two skid plates (lets not forget the smaller plate cover for the oil drain plug too!) that need to be removed from under the engine bay. Yes Toyota may claim that it is for "arrow dynamic" purposes's, better mileage and performance, less drag, etc., etc., etc. yea right but the real reason is because of the hard plastic oil filter housing that it has. Also to add on to this, the process of having to drain the oil filter itself.
Heck think of it, hauling ass down the highway (or just a plain road even) going anywhere from 50-75 MPH, something kicks up from underneath and hits that plastic oil filter housing just perfect and well you'll quickly end up with a cracked housing and oil leakage. This would force the consumer to have to purchase another plastic oil filter housing. My wife said to just take it to the dealership and let them deal with it since we have a year of free oil changes but I for one don't trust the dealership to peform a task such as changing the oil. I've heard of too many bad horrible stories, like not actually changing the oil, not putting in the correct oil type (weight) not actually replacing the oil filter, not putting on the oil drain plug back on securely, leaking oil, etc., etc.
Second reason, in my opinion Toyota deliberately (as well as other manufacturer's) tends to purposely design specific's on vehicles, such in this case the 4Runner's (and Tacoma's) oil change "to make the process as tedious" as possible. To discourage the customer from performing the task and just take it to the dealership to have it done.
Well those are just my opinions on this matter but still this does not discourage me from peforming this task. I still did it, took a bit of time though no problem.
Two things that I did do though, one is I replaced the plastic oil filter housing with one that is metal ( Toyota Lexus Scion Special Oil Filter Wrench Large Tool Filter Cap 15620 31060 | eBay)
and the other, I also replaced the oil drain plug with a magnetic one (TOYOTA/LEXUS NISSAN/ INFINITI).
Yes some just may consider that over kill or what not but that doesn't matter to me.
Anyway that's my $0.02 on all this.
Yesterday I did the oil change on my wife's 2016 4Runner. She's had it since Dec. 30, 2015 and well now it was showing the MAINTENANCE REQUIRED on the small screen and I knew that it was time for its first oil change.
After reviewing at what exactly is involved and such I quickly realized and it is appearent as to why Toyota decided to design the process to do so on this.
First reason, it is obvious why there are two skid plates (lets not forget the smaller plate cover for the oil drain plug too!) that need to be removed from under the engine bay. Yes Toyota may claim that it is for "arrow dynamic" purposes's, better mileage and performance, less drag, etc., etc., etc. yea right but the real reason is because of the hard plastic oil filter housing that it has. Also to add on to this, the process of having to drain the oil filter itself.
Heck think of it, hauling ass down the highway (or just a plain road even) going anywhere from 50-75 MPH, something kicks up from underneath and hits that plastic oil filter housing just perfect and well you'll quickly end up with a cracked housing and oil leakage. This would force the consumer to have to purchase another plastic oil filter housing. My wife said to just take it to the dealership and let them deal with it since we have a year of free oil changes but I for one don't trust the dealership to peform a task such as changing the oil. I've heard of too many bad horrible stories, like not actually changing the oil, not putting in the correct oil type (weight) not actually replacing the oil filter, not putting on the oil drain plug back on securely, leaking oil, etc., etc.
Second reason, in my opinion Toyota deliberately (as well as other manufacturer's) tends to purposely design specific's on vehicles, such in this case the 4Runner's (and Tacoma's) oil change "to make the process as tedious" as possible. To discourage the customer from performing the task and just take it to the dealership to have it done.
Well those are just my opinions on this matter but still this does not discourage me from peforming this task. I still did it, took a bit of time though no problem.
Two things that I did do though, one is I replaced the plastic oil filter housing with one that is metal ( Toyota Lexus Scion Special Oil Filter Wrench Large Tool Filter Cap 15620 31060 | eBay)
and the other, I also replaced the oil drain plug with a magnetic one (TOYOTA/LEXUS NISSAN/ INFINITI).
Yes some just may consider that over kill or what not but that doesn't matter to me.
Anyway that's my $0.02 on all this.
