Oil Change 5th Gen: How To- LOTS of PICS!

[Blitzkrieg]

If we are going to be completely honest, changing the oil on any vehicle is not a glamorous job. Some are better, some are worse.

Having had a 3rd Gen I can tell you I'd much rather change the oil on a 5th Gen than 3rd. Why?

The oil filter on the 3rd Gen sits between the upper and lower control arms on the drivers side.

You have to turn the wheels full tilt to the right, reach in through a rubber inspection cover and finagle the filter out through same. In the process you are guaranteed to get oil all over everything, including the skid plate which guarantees you, no matter how carefully you clean up, you will have a nice line of black oil drips all over your driveway when you back it out the first time.

Also it's very difficult to pre-fill the oil filter because of the above.

On the 5th gen, even having to remove the skid plate on my TE it's a no brainer.

I run the front wheels up on ramps, pull the skid plate and rock and roll. Also since the oil filter is completely vertical you can pre-fill the filter.

Now since we are talking about poor design, lets go back in time. I had a friend that had a 1979 Chevy Monza with a 305 V8. Remember that we didn't have platinum plugs back then and plugs might last 20-30K miles.

You know what you had to do to change plugs in that thing? You had to remove the motor mount on one side and jack the motor up.

Now THAT is a PITA. ;-)

 

[reelamin]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the design of the oil filter housing, oil filter housing placement or the process to change the oil on a 5th gen.

If you are smarter than a bag of sand it is easy to do correctly in one hour.

The problems come in when people who aren't qualified to use toilet paper attempt something that requires a modicum of skill and screw things up and then scream "BAD DESIGN!!!".

I have to disagree comparatively to lots and lots of vehicles. This is not only a Toyota issue, but it is a foreign car issue more so than American. That being said...I've been done buying American Designed vehicles many years ago. This set up is what causes consumers to continue to pay more and more for oil changes and maintenance. Its an oil change and it should only require the following to do with no other steps, broken parts, worn our parts over time, and general pain in the rear. READY-SET-GO!! Remove drain plug, spin off canister filter, replace drain plug, spin on new canister filter, replace oil, verify level, STOP..total time 10 minutes or less!

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I have to disagree comparatively to lots and lots of vehicles. This is not only a Toyota issue, but it is a foreign car issue more so than American. That being said...I've been done buying American Designed vehicles many years ago. This set up is what causes consumers to continue to pay more and more for oil changes and maintenance. Its an oil change and it should only require the following to do with no other steps, broken parts, worn our parts over time, and general pain in the rear. READY-SET-GO!! Remove drain plug, spin off canister filter, replace drain plug, spin on new canister filter, replace oil, verify level, STOP..total time 10 minutes or less!

Oh come on. You find any vehicle, ANY vehicle that you can change oil in 10 minutes on and film it with a stop watch while you are doing it and I will personally send you $50.

Not happening my friend.

Hell, I let my oil drain for 15-20 minutes alone because the worst of the crap in the pan is the last to come out.

 

[reelamin]

Oh come on. You find any vehicle, ANY vehicle that you can change oil in 10 minutes on and film it with a stop watch while you are doing it and I will personally send you $50.

Not happening my friend.

Hell, I let my oil drain for 15-20 minutes alone because the worst of the crap in the pan is the last to come out.

Your on brother! LOL....I love this....if I cant do exactly what I described above I will send you $10 (all I can afford to lose in a bet). Heck I will change the oil in one of my rigs even if it doesn't need it. Give me few days to get a camera guy and I either pay or you pay. I will even use a factory original vehicle with nothing removed for access. I have a 96 runner with no skid guard I would use if you allowed it, but that is not stock even though I could reach around the guard to the filter. Stand by..This will be fun win or lose!!

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Your on brother! LOL....I love this....if I cant do exactly what I described above I will send you $10 (all I can afford to lose in a bet). Heck I will change the oil in one of my rigs even if it doesn't need it. Give me few days to get a camera guy and I either pay or you pay. I will even use a factory original vehicle with nothing removed for access. I have a 96 runner with no skid guard I would use if you allowed it, but that is not stock even though I could reach around the guard to the filter. Stand by..This will be fun win or lose!!

Yeah. Right. Coming from a dude who goes by reelamin.

Troll elsewhere homie.

 

[reelamin]

Yeah. Right. Coming from a dude who goes by reelamin.

Troll elsewhere homie.

Come on man don't be like that....I love this forum and don't want people upset. This is fun for everyone...really just having fun I typed something about my feelings on long process oil changes....you called me on it...offered a payment....I accepted with an unsolicited counter offer to save face. Nothing more nothing less lets just have a good time with it. I just lined up my cameraman and the process will be done on a 04 Chev 2500. Really....laugh enjoy the outcome. More to come in the very near future.

 

[(none)]

Who drains oil any more?? just suck it out of the dipstick tube (at least Toyota still gives us those!!) and be done with it.

That is what's nice about vehicles with the top mount filters (my previous JK, my 525i, GF's A4). Oil change takes no time and no need to crawl around on the ground, no hot oil spraying everywhere, etc.

The 4R does take longer, but at least everything is accessible once you drip the skid plate. Unlike the older Yota 4runner/pickup with the 3.0 that you had to wiggle through the wheel well and spill oil everywhere. Far from the best but lightyears from the worst as well.

 

[Antman]

Not to stir the pot here, but...

It takes me just about 10 minutes to change the oil in our Honda Odyssey. That includes everything but dumping the old oil into the storm drain.



Calm down, I meant recycle canister.:frisky:

 

[wsgoat]

Oil changes on the 4th gen V6 are very simple....I'd bet I could change the oil in 10 mins or less.

 

[BDOUTLAW]

Great information Antman!.. Fantastic photo's, and a very well documented thread. Thanks so much for the time you invested to help each of us. I really appreciated the extra guidance - now I'm off to the garage!

 

[deavvaed1]

AntMan, thank you so much for this. I just used your instructions to do my first oil change on my 2016 all this time later. The was the first one that wasn't dealer free . I appreciate all the time you took to put this together.

Sent from my LG-H910 using Tapatalk

 

[reelamin]

So if this is not the correct location to post this video please let me know. I completed the oil change and have the video. (8:47 including a fast beer) My buddy forgot to have his phone held sideways....so working on getting the video oriented correctly because it is sideways. QUESTION IS....Post it up here or other location...I would think here?

Video upright...now downloading to youtube...also trying to fuzz out a couple things my buddy included and was not supposed to. I can hear it coming down the tracks and it will be here soon. Antman...hope your ok with this...Blitzkrieg get your money out...or you can pay in beer if you want.

 

[jkiddtx]

Major step backwards

After having 4th Gen, and a 2013 Tacoma, just did first oil change on new 2016 Limited and that is the biggest screw up ever. How do you go from the most simple oil change to a giant pain in one generation?

 

[catrains]

After having 4th Gen, and a 2013 Tacoma, just did first oil change on new 2016 Limited and that is the biggest screw up ever. How do you go from the most simple oil change to a giant pain in one generation?

for me it took a good hour plus to do the oil change .major reason 45 min for the oil to drain out. using an electric driver tool bolts come out easy and fast. using the 6 inch ramps plenty of room to drop the covers.

just unscrew the DRAIN PLUG THEN using the filter socket remove the filter cap. then wait for 45 min till it all drains out.

there is no reason to have those covers with on road driving IMO...
I did leave my covers off a few days to check for leaks.. I bet those covers off you can get a couple more MPG'S since they are so heavy.

I was thinking to make up a thick plastic sheet to replace those steel covers.... just like GM does..

 

[sandcrawler]

After having 4th Gen, and a 2013 Tacoma, just did first oil change on new 2016 Limited and that is the biggest screw up ever. How do you go from the most simple oil change to a giant pain in one generation?

you make it Dual VVT-i by adding it to the exhaust side too.

 

[jkiddtx]

you make it Dual VVT-i by adding it to the exhaust side too.

Other engines have had VVT added and not totally dorked up serviceability. On the LE 3 (3!) underbody panels have to be removed to get to an oil filter that is now not made of a metal casing but of plastic canister that will get brittle and break and requires a special tool to install and remove.

I get this on design that is just starting out but when previously Toyota showed everyone how simple this could be on the previous generation its pretty lame.

Yes aftermarket will come to the aide of the access panel for the filter now, but that concept of a overland vehicle that just works seems to have been forgotten when it comes to whomever thought up the means to change oil.

 

[sandcrawler]

Other engines have had VVT added and not totally dorked up serviceability. On the LE 3 (3!) underbody panels have to be removed to get to an oil filter that is now not made of a metal casing but of plastic canister that will get brittle and break and requires a special tool to install and remove.

I get this on design that is just starting out but when previously Toyota showed everyone how simple this could be on the previous generation its pretty lame.

Yes aftermarket will come to the aide of the access panel for the filter now, but that concept of a overland vehicle that just works seems to have been forgotten when it comes to whomever thought up the means to change oil.

here you go. it's quite a few pages back now... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...ange-5th-gen-how-lots-pics-5.html#post1085018

 

[DLH87]

Could someone refresh my memory please? I recall seeing somewhere on this forum, there was a metal filter cap that replaces the plastic one. Did I imagine that or is there something like this that exists??
Thanks!!

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[jstim]

[MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] I just read this for the humor.....I'd like to know who took all those pictures for you? There wasn't a blurry one in the bunch.

Edit: We have members who don't change oil, or can't?

 

[Raymich24]

Do you guys/gals ever notice any buildup/sludge in this area when you are changing your oil?

I have a 2016 Trail with about 8K miles. The dealer did the 1st "complimentary" oil change but I'm convinced I should be doing this on my own. Great write up and instructions will help me no doubt!

But definitely checking to see if you think this is normal/acceptable (picture below).
Thanks!