Note to self: take off rear skid plate BEFORE changing the oil.

[superhomunculus]

I just did my first oil change on a 4runner. A bit of a pain in the ass but not the worst oil change Ive ever done. That honor probably goes to my MIL's Ford Escape. Anyway, took me awhile to find the oil filter and of course I dropped it on top of the skid plate. Of course now I have oil dripping everywhere and I need to get to the skid plate bolts. Good thing I was wearing nitrile gloves, they really helped keep my hands nice and clean. My arms not so much. LOL.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I just did my first oil change on a 4runner. A bit of a pain in the ass but not the worst oil change Ive ever done. That honor probably goes to my MIL's Ford Escape. Anyway, took me awhile to find the oil filter and of course I dropped it on top of the skid plate. Of course now I have oil dripping everywhere and I need to get to the skid plate bolts. Good thing I was wearing nitrile gloves, they really helped keep my hands nice and clean. My arms not so much. LOL.

Mine is in the corner. Never put it back on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jgue467]

I just did my first oil change on a 4runner. A bit of a pain in the ass ...

This makes it Zero pain the ass. Flip a lever, oil drains thru hose into your refuse pan, flip lever back.

Just don't drop the filter, haha....

Amazon.com: Fumoto F106N FN-Series Drain Valve with Long Nipple with Lever Clip : Automotive

 

[Pyral]

Your doing it wrong. If the oil getting on the skid plate bothers you then put a fumuto valve with a tube attachment in place of the drain plug. That way you can drain it directly into a can instead of on the skid plate. Mine leaks oil, so theres not much reason to go to the trouble when the skid plate will become a mess anyway.

The oil filter is a pain but there is a trick to make it a lot less messy. Instead of trying to change it quickly and making a mess, unscrew the filter just before it starts leaking out oil. Then for the last threads unscrew it with a ziploc bag over it. The oil filter and the oil that dribbles out will fall into the bag instead of everywhere on the underside. Last time I did this I didn’t have any oil get out.

Then put the new oil filter you forgot to pre-fill with oil on, and you’re good to go

 

[Endlessblockades]

Another Fumoto Fan here. Can't believe I never know about them til my city offered me a free one......

 

[phattyduck]

Get the filter through the wheel well. Use a form-a-funnel under the filter to direct the dripping oil down to a pan.

Oh, and a Fumoto valve for the pan...

-Charlie

 

[3bears]

if your going to run a fumato then make sure you keep your skid plate. I have seen .....only one.....where a guy bumped it hard enough to dump his oil. That said we are putting one on my sons taco on next oil change....i might do the same on my next oil change but for me...its only a few more minutes without and im checking other stuff out and throwing grease at zerks.. they are a great easy way to change oil....we have them on all our big ass diesel generators...but those are big john deere that go no place and nothing is gonna bump them. but the fumoto has been around long enough to trust

 

[Endlessblockades]

if your going to run a fumato then make sure you keep your skid plate. I have seen .....only one.....where a guy bumped it hard enough to dump his oil. That said we are putting one on my sons taco on next oil change....i might do the same on my next oil change but for me...its only a few more minutes without and im checking other stuff out and throwing grease at zerks.. they are a great easy way to change oil....we have them on all our big ass diesel generators...but those are big john deere that go no place and nothing is gonna bump them. but the fumoto has been around long enough to trust

Yep, the Fumoto lets you leave your (heavy, overkill, aftermarket) skid plates installed during oil changes.

 

[superhomunculus]

This makes it Zero pain the ass. Flip a lever, oil drains thru hose into your refuse pan, flip lever back.

Just don't drop the filter, haha....

Amazon.com: Fumoto F106N FN-Series Drain Valve with Long Nipple with Lever Clip : Automotive

I do like those but the drain plug wasn't a problem. When I dropped the oil filter the oil that was in the filter was leaking out everywhere. But, ya it would help if I didn't drop it. lol.

 

[superhomunculus]

Get the filter through the wheel well. Use a form-a-funnel under the filter to direct the dripping oil down to a pan.

Oh, and a Fumoto valve for the pan...

-Charlie

Years ago, I had a Taurus and the oil filter was directly above the starter. I used some cardboard as a funnel. I was definitely unprepared for this oil change. LOL.

 

[mtbtim]

You guys promoting the Fumoto valve are missing an important reason for dropping the skids, and that's for a better visual inspection of the underside of your engine to catch something that might need addressing. Depending on how many miles you drive a year and how often you choose to do oil changes, this might be the one and only time you drop the skids for an entire year.

I don't get the resistance to removing the skids, especially OEM ones. They are simple to remove and are not heavy. Now, aftermarket skids are a lot more work because they are bulkier and much heavier, but I still remove them for my engine oil/filter and trans fluid changes because I want to do a good visual inspection and catch an issue that might leave me stranded.

Also, if you have a 4wd and you wheel your rig, you're going to want to grease your front driveshaft zerk fittings and it's a hell of a lot easier with the skid plate out of the way.

That's my two and a half cents on the subject.

 

[armabill]

The 2005 Sport Edition had the oil filter on top, driver side of the engine, easy access. They should have left it that way.

 

[repo]

I always take off the skids and sometimes I even take off the wheel to deal with the filter and put dog training pads underneath fir spills and still manage to make a mess. That ziploc bag trick sounds like a game changer, I went and put one in the new filter box to remind myself for next time. It only takes a minute to deal with the skids with my small impact wrench. They are usually stuffed with gravel, dead insect/plant life and all kinds of junk so it's an opportunity to clean that out.

 

[Endlessblockades]

You guys promoting the Fumoto valve are missing an important reason for dropping the skids, and that's for a better visual inspection of the underside of your engine to catch something that might need addressing. Depending on how many miles you drive a year and how often you choose to do oil changes, this might be the one and only time you drop the skids for an entire year.

I don't get the resistance to removing the skids, especially OEM ones. They are simple to remove and are not heavy. Now, aftermarket skids are a lot more work because they are bulkier and much heavier, but I still remove them for my engine oil/filter and trans fluid changes because I want to do a good visual inspection and catch an issue that might leave me stranded.

Also, if you have a 4wd and you wheel your rig, you're going to want to grease your front driveshaft zerk fittings and it's a hell of a lot easier with the skid plate out of the way.

That's my two and a half cents on the subject.

Agreed, but I do drop the skids for a number of other tranny and gear oil reasons during the year. I put nearly 15k miles on a year and since engine oil is the most frequent, it saves me a little trouble. I have also painted the insides of the 3 (aftermarket) skids light tan so I get a visual record of any drips, etc. from other components.

P.S. Everyone should go order the #sicmods and TIM patches from IG!!!

 

[Pyral]

My skid plates are always covered with oil and road grime. It makes a mess, and I already know what is leaking.

There is some risk to removing the stock skid plates, holding them up while bolting them back in risks cross threading. The hooks that keep the stock skid plate from falling down work, but I've found they will quickly bend if you leave them unsupported (if you remove them as 1 piece).

The beauty of the stock skid plates is that you don't have to remove them if you do an oil change. I never go a full year without having to remove them for other reasons, and you should remove them occasionally for inspection.

 

[superhomunculus]

You guys promoting the Fumoto valve are missing an important reason for dropping the skids, and that's for a better visual inspection of the underside of your engine to catch something that might need addressing. Depending on how many miles you drive a year and how often you choose to do oil changes, this might be the one and only time you drop the skids for an entire year.

I don't get the resistance to removing the skids, especially OEM ones. They are simple to remove and are not heavy. Now, aftermarket skids are a lot more work because they are bulkier and much heavier, but I still remove them for my engine oil/filter and trans fluid changes because I want to do a good visual inspection and catch an issue that might leave me stranded.

Also, if you have a 4wd and you wheel your rig, you're going to want to grease your front driveshaft zerk fittings and it's a hell of a lot easier with the skid plate out of the way.

That's my two and a half cents on the subject.

I agree. And like you said, it was super simple to take off and put back on.

 

[phattyduck]

Years ago, I had a Taurus and the oil filter was directly above the starter. I used some cardboard as a funnel. I was definitely unprepared for this oil change. LOL.

We've all been there:

(pre aftermarket skids...)

I find I can see pretty well around up in there with the skids in place. I do always remove under covers on my cars when doing oil changes, etc.

-Charlie

 

[shadow247]

Yep, the Fumoto lets you leave your (heavy, overkill, aftermarket) skid plates installed during oil changes.

I can take my Savage skid off in 8 minutes, less if I already have the tools.

Its why I recommend the 2 piece front skids to everyone. Oil changes are no big deal for me. I did have a 1 piece skid, and it was definitely annoying to remove that big thing for an oil change.

 

[Bad Luck]

This makes it Zero pain the ass. Flip a lever, oil drains thru hose into your refuse pan, flip lever back.

Just don't drop the filter, haha....

Amazon.com: Fumoto F106N FN-Series Drain Valve with Long Nipple with Lever Clip : Automotive

I went to install the Fumoto that you linked (Fumoto F106N) and discovered that the thread size was way too big. It's my fault for not verifying so I've ordered the correct one (Fumoto F133N). I wanted to post this for anyone else that might be considering this and needs the correct part number.

 

[JoeT4R]

I went to install the Fumoto that you linked (Fumoto F106N) and discovered that the thread size was way too big. It's my fault for not verifying so I've ordered the correct one (Fumoto F133N). I wanted to post this for anyone else that might be considering this and needs the correct part number.

Overall thoughts on it so far? I kinda want one for the "cool factor" but I'm kinda nervous, and I'm not bothered by the OEM drain plug. I'm fine with performing the normal ritual when it comes to oil changes but am slightly interested in the Fumoto drain valve.