My first oil change

[2000t4r4wd]

All I can say is thanks to the board for information on where everyhting is and how to get it off. I have never in life seen an oil filter in a worse spot. I mean I thought my prelude SH filter was in a bad spot. Well anyways after about 30 min of trying and a few cuss words I got the oil filter off and it looked like this:

Well I hope to find an easy way for next time.

2000t4r4wd

 

[peter78]

All I can say is thanks to the board for information on where everyhting is and how to get it off. I have never in life seen an oil filter in a worse spot. I mean I thought my prelude SH filter was in a bad spot. Well anyways after about 30 min of trying and a few cuss words I got the oil filter off.

Well I hope to find an easy way for next time.

2000t4r4wd

Yes it is one of the worst cars for changing the oil. My brother in law once came to me and said he couldn't get off a Chevy Citation oil filter and I got that off, but it was hard. The 4Runner comes in a close second.

First off you will need a oil filter type "B" cap wrench. The cap wrench goes on a 3/8 socket wrench. On the side of the oil filter is a plastic cover covering a hole. I slide my hand through the side and I use that hand to get the oil filter off with the help of the socket wrench and cap wrench. I do not take off the skid plate and the oil from the filter will drop on the skid plate. You will need paper towels to clean the inside of the skid plate. Unforuntately I have found by doing this quite a few times, it does not get easier with practice. It still is a pain in the ass.

I have seen some 3rd generation owners change the location of the filter to make things easier.

 

[NoliWan]

This picture may help you greatly the next time you change your oil filter... much easier than what you are doing now... just pull open the the flap on the front driver side wheel well and you will be able to access the filter here much better-- I use a long extension on my rachet... You can use the cap type wrench like peter78 but I found the universal wrench from Sears works much better... only takes me less that a minute to remove the filter...

Here's a pic of the universal wrench that I use-- snaps on to my 3/8" extension the same way the cap wrench does...

 

[peter78]

That is a great picture from the side. In the picture the flap is gone, much easier to work without the flap. What I have been doing is squeezing my hand through the side of the flap.

What not be evident in the picture is you cannot put an universal oil wrench that goes around the sides. It simply won't fit, not enough space. You need an end cap wrench like NoliWan's or like mine.

By the way, the first filter I got off looked a lot worse than yours. I had to use screw drivers to punch through the filter to get it off.

 

[Renegades]

....By the way, the first filter I got off looked a lot worse than yours. I had to use screw drivers to punch through the filter to get it off.

I've had to use that method too when removing certain oil filters. Long flat head skrewdrivers work best, all it takes is a good hole in the top of the filter, some turning and out comes the filter.

 

[ljshein]

I just did my first change too on my 99...

I am soooo stupid! I didn't realize the flap in the wheel well pulled back...

I went from underneith. I found there is enough room to wiggle the filter down between the lower A and the drive shaft... just barely. I was also lucky the previous owner didn't over-tighten the filter so I was able to unscrew it by hand.

Next time I'll know better

 

[marmotan]

rubber shield

a little late to this forum, but i'm attempting my first '97 oil change...

i understand it's best to get at the filter via the passenger side wheel well, with the wheels turned to the left. however, everyone mentions removing the rubber splash shield. my question is, mine is attached with single-use plastic pins that, once popped off, may not reattach to the body. i haven't pulled them off yet but i worry about not being able to reattach the shield. if it wasn't for the brake line right in the way of my reach, i could get around the shield without removing it - but alas, i really need that space for my hand. any tips?

 

[brian2sun]

It's the driver's side wheel well and I just let mine flap.

 

[4RunnerDNA]

a little late to this forum, but i'm attempting my first '97 oil change...

i understand it's best to get at the filter via the passenger side wheel well, with the wheels turned to the left. however, everyone mentions removing the rubber splash shield. my question is, mine is attached with single-use plastic pins that, once popped off, may not reattach to the body. i haven't pulled them off yet but i worry about not being able to reattach the shield. if it wasn't for the brake line right in the way of my reach, i could get around the shield without removing it - but alas, i really need that space for my hand. any tips?

It's the driver's side wheel well and I just let mine flap.

He has a 4cyl, so it may be different from your 6

 

[marmotan]

yes, you are right - looks like we have the same base rig, except mine has the 2.7L 4-cyl, which has its filter on the passenger side. has anyone else changed the filter on a 2.7L engine?

 

[brian2sun]

He has a 4cyl, so it may be different from your 6

Doh! Nevermind, I'm no help. haha :ybrick:

 

[01t4rnr]

Ive had to use a screwdriver on a few myself but there is no need to tighten so much that it takes an oil wrench to remove. get it about as tight as you can by hand and removing will be so much easier next time

 

[marmotan]

ok, so i just went out to the truck and inspected that rubber shield more closely. it looks like you can unsnap the clips and resnap them safely.

even with that shield out of the way, though, there is still a brake line and suspension components in the way of my reach. anyone else out there with a 2.7L? i can't believe that i have been searching the internet for days with no hits on how to attack the filter on this engine!

 

[steezemcqueen]

i used to have the 2.7. i found the best way was to get under the truck and face forward towards the front of the truck. from there i could reach up to the right side of the engine and use a end cap filter wrench or my hand to get the filter off. the only hard part for me was pulling the filter back out without turning it over and spilling all the oil out. good luck.:guitar3: