Going to change my oil

[okccj]

I want to change the oil myself for the first time on my 95 4runner 3.0, and I want to be 100% sure which under my vehicle is the oil pan. Is it the rectangle shaped compartment farther toward the rear of the vehicle or the compartment more toward the front of the vehicle? Thanks, and sorry for the dumb questions.

 

[KidVermicious]

I want to change the oil myself for the first time on my 95 4runner 3.0, and I want to be 100% sure which under my vehicle is the oil pan. Is it the rectangle shaped compartment farther toward the rear of the vehicle or the compartment more toward the front of the vehicle? Thanks, and sorry for the dumb questions.

Everybody starts learning about their truck some time. That said, the oil pan is directly under the engine, up front.

 

[BucknutBob]

Make sure the oil is warm before changing, to help run out as much as possible. Taking the fill cap off while draining helps speed that up a bit--it's like opening the air plug on older gas cans. Be sure to put a film of oil on the filter gasket before installing. And whatever you do, watch out for this all-too-common newbie goof--make sure both the plug and filter are in place before adding new oil! (been there, done that--LOL!)

 

[mytyeerinpie]

also a tip I just learned from a good friends is to run some automatic transmission fluid through it before tou change it to break up all the crud in your engine. Put it in where the oil goes, I am sure you can find that, then drive around the block maybe a mile or two just to get it hot and cycle the ATF through the whole thing. Then change your oil

 

[OCMike]

Make sure the old gasket comes off with the oil oil filter also. Had a friend that took his car to an oil change business and they installed the new filter over the old gasket. Something went wrong and all the oil drained. He got a new engine.

 

[OCMike]

also a tip I just learned from a good friends is to run some automatic transmission fluid through it before tou change it to break up all the crud in your engine. Put it in where the oil goes, I am sure you can find that, then drive around the block maybe a mile or two just to get it hot and cycle the ATF through the whole thing. Then change your oil

Never heard that one before. But I don't change my own oil much.

 

[BucknutBob]

Make sure the old gasket comes off with the oil oil filter also. Had a friend that took his car to an oil change business and they installed the new filter over the old gasket. Something went wrong and all the oil drained. He got a new engine.

That's how I got a couple great cars for killer deals before--the previous owners blew their engines, and both times I found evidence of recent oil changes where the shop messed up, and the owner didn't know enough to fight for their rights. A couple simple engine swaps, and I had great cars that I bought for peanuts!

 

[Clone of the Mean]

Good info guys. Another heads up, be sure and check or change the seal/washer and the drain plug. Or at least make sure it's on there. I did my tranny fluid last week. Put the drain plug in, filled the tranny, looked down and saw the copper washer laying on the ground. (dripdripdrip)

 

[thatoneguy]

Don't worry about asking about an oil change. Better you asked than possibly ruin an engine over $20 of maintenance.

I'm no master mechanic. I'm about to adjust the valves on my 22re. Never done that before.