Leak while changing oil filer

[4RunnerFan]

I just performed my first DIY oil change on '08 4Runner V6. Previous oil changes were done at auto repair place nearby. Everything went well, but when I loosened the oil filter to let it drain, some oil spilled out from in front of the oil pan onto the deck. Wasn't much, but I' curious. The filter sits almost vertically pointed downwards on top of the engine, and there's a catch basin to collect oil that might drip when lifting the filter out, so wouldn't the oil from the filter itself flow back into the engine and out the oil pan drain?

Everything is fine since new oil and filter installed and all buttoned up. Just a little baffled about that leak during the filter change. Thanks.

 

[Nuke]

...but when I loosened the oil filter to let it drain, some oil spilled out from in front of the oil pan onto the deck... The filter sits almost vertically pointed downwards on top of the engine, and there's a catch basin to collect oil that might drip when lifting the filter out, so wouldn't the oil from the filter itself flow back into the engine and out the oil pan drain? ...QUOTE]

I'm not sure I understand the "in front of the oil pan onto the deck" part. Do you mean oil spilled from the unit that the filter spins into?

Not all filters will drain back into the engine (nor do you always want them to) although it seems that the OE Toyota filter doesn't "release" much if any oil if it's left to sit awhile before removing it while others seem to dump a large volume of oil when you remove them. There's a drain cap below that little "catch basin" that pops off and some here simply place a container underneath to catch the 1/8 - 1/2 cup that might drain out. Other's attach a tube and run it to the drain pan.

Either way AND if that's what you're talking about, then you'll eventually get the hang of it. I've been doing my own oil changes for over 33 years including 21 years on T4R's and over 2 years on my '08 V6. The '08 V6 has been one of the easiest to do an oil change on of the 14+ vehicles I've owned and/or maintained.

 

[4RunnerFan]

Thanks, Nuke. Yes, I was talking about oil dripping past the part the filter spins onto and finding its way down onto the garage floor (deck).

Thanks so much for your reply. I think my problem is that all the filter changes I've ever done were on vehicles where the filter was on the bottom of the engine and the filters were either pointing up or sideways. I'd always spin the filter off and manage to get some oil on my hand as I navigated it over the oil drain pan to pour it out of the filter.

On my 4Runner, though, I figured when I twisted the filter loose a tad of oil would be released back into the intake tube to the motor and then eventually down into the drain pan under the truck since the drain plug was still removed. Didn't know there was another hole in the form of a cap under the catch basin.

I'll check out that cap and see if next time I can install a tube there when the weather is a bit warmer (-25F this morning). Oh, and BTW I did put on a filter with an anti-flowback valve (or whatever it's called).

Thanks again for taking the time, Nuke. Very much appreciated.