oil filter never changed!

[digphisher]

I just got my oil changed at Jiffy Lube, and they were having the hardest time finding the oil filter. After we looked and looked, we finally found it. When they removed it, it was an OEM Toyota filter. This was interesting since my last 2 oil changes were at Firestone. That means that they never changed my filter!

Any suggestions for a course of action?

What effect will having driven over 5000 miles on the same filter have, if any?

thanks!

 

[drake3]

Is your car new? Hopefully the filter is not the one from the factory which is used during break-in!

I changed my oil at 1200 miles after break-in and will probably do it again at 3000. (NOT trying to start an oil change thread, seen plenty of those). But it is important to change the oil after break-in.

You are probably OK if they did change the oil since I hear the V8 Toyota engine is one of the easiest on oil - hopefully you were not towing an 5K boat through the mountains or using your 4runner as a sand rail either!

You definitely need to go back and say something to the shop if you truly feel they did not change your filter assuming they actually did but used genuine Toyota parts. If they did use a Toyota filter I would consider making them my permanent change place! But don't let it bug you about serious wear and tear on your vehicle.

 

[drake3]

OH and DON'T use JIFFY LUBE if you care about your car. Just my opinion.

I know alot of people will back me up when I say you should try to change it yourself as it is a very rewarding feeling to do your maintenance. It does not take much time or effort if you have the right tools.

 

[biglatka]

I just got my oil changed at Jiffy Lube, and they were having the hardest time finding the oil filter. After we looked and looked, we finally found it. When they removed it, it was an OEM Toyota filter. This was interesting since my last 2 oil changes were at Firestone. That means that they never changed my filter!

Any suggestions for a course of action?

What effect will having driven over 5000 miles on the same filter have, if any?

thanks!

Given it's a Toyota, probably not much. I wouldn't advertise it though. Haven't you been reading posts here about Jiffy Lube? Do a search on Jiffy Lube. Stay away from those places, including Firestone as you evidently found out the hard way. Either take it to Toyota or do it yourself.

Edit: BTW, I always mark my filter with a scratch or a sharpie just to make sure they changed it. You can get to it without taking off the front skidplate.

 

[digphisher]

I've read the Jiffy lube threads, but these were the guys that actually found that my filter had not been changed! I watched these guys do the work. I thought they did a fine job. I would love to do it myself, but how do I get under the truck, and what do i do with the used oil?

 

[Fourty-four]

I know this is gonna sound stupid, but were your last oil changes (at Firestone) written up as an oil and filter change? If not, you don't have a leg to stand on. Believe it or not, there are places that will change your oil without changing your filter. It's your responsibility to tell them that you want your oil filter changed.

If your receipt shows that you paid for the filter, you should go back and raise some hell. They'll probably offer to refund your money for those last two oil changes.

 

[drake3]

You can either buy a really low car creeper or just slide under it with an old T-shirt on. I put my used oil back into the containers that the new oil comes in and take it to Autozone.

Here is a place to find recycling centers near you:
http://www.earth911.org

 

[biglatka]

I've read the Jiffy lube threads, but these were the guys that actually found that my filter had not been changed! I watched these guys do the work. I thought they did a fine job. I would love to do it myself, but how do I get under the truck, and what do i do with the used oil?

I can get to mine (the filter) without jacking up the truck. Put one of those

 

[sketch1]

Thats the nice thing about the 06, the filter is accessible just by popping the hood and reaching in.

 

[biglatka]

Thats the nice thing about the 06, the filter is accessible just by popping the hood and reaching in.

It's always been that way for the 4th generation V6. With the V8 you have get the filter from underneath.

 

[spyne]

I wouldn't worry about putting 5K on the filter, especially if it's the Toyota brand filter. Unless you put some really hard miles on the 4R during that time you'll be fine. As Forty-four said, make sure you really paid to have the oil and filter changed and if you did, go raise some hell.

As for changing your own oil, you can get to the filter from above on the 6's (or so I've heard) but it's still a tight squeeze under the truck to get to the drain plug for the oil pan. I use a set of 6000 lb ramps which lifts the front of the truck up about 10 inches. More than enough to get in and drain the oil with ease. I paid about $20 for them 20 years ago, they'd probably cost about $40 or so now I guess. Considering the savings in doing my own oil changes they've paid for themselves many times over.

 

[Kmvreter]

I just got my oil changed at Jiffy Lube, and they were having the hardest time finding the oil filter. After we looked and looked, we finally found it. When they removed it, it was an OEM Toyota filter. This was interesting since my last 2 oil changes were at Firestone. That means that they never changed my filter!

Any suggestions for a course of action?

What effect will having driven over 5000 miles on the same filter have, if any?

thanks!

The recommended change interval is 5000 miles so I wouldn't worry because you're OK there.
As mentioned earlier though, if you paid for the filters as part of the oil changes, I would go back. Don't wait too long or you might lose the full effect. Take both of your receipts and politely ask first for an explanation and then for ALL your money back. Don't lose it YET. Don't take coupons for future services (do you really want them working on your truck again?) Only start making noise if they give you a hard time. Don't give them a reason to call the cops (like jumping over the counter at them) but make your presence known and lose it by getting progressively louder. The squeaky wheel gets the grease especially if there is an audience of other customers. Top it off with a local newscast segment if you are so inclined (you don't want others, who think they are getting proper maintenance done, to suffer the same level of bad service now do you?)

 

[03RoadRunner]

kmvreter,

Oh I must rant here and feel very sorry for your car and your ordeal

Changing oil/filter is almost easier than filling up your car with gas. Why do you think so many oil change places are out there. They charge 20-35 dollars to do a 10-15 dollar easiest maintenance job on a vehicle. They wow you with their communications from down in the bay to the guy standing up top. It makes the owner of the car getting the service feel like they're doing a real precise engineering feat on your vehicle. Gimme a break! Haha.

Any way if they didn't know where the filter on your car was. That would be a dead giveaway to say "Thanks, but I've gotta go now!". Hehe

Firestone doesn't know what they are doing. I called and the guy said, we need to do this, that and the other. When I got their another guy said, "you don't need that, but you do need this other stuff that adds another $230 to what the guy on the phone quoted you. I said, "Have a nice day" and went home to find an real automotive mechanic place. "the job was a tranny flush, filter change, etc." not an oil change.

The kids at jiffy lube/instant oil change striped out my oil filter plug in my old integra. The dealer said that it would cost $150 to replace the oil pan, plus labor. I didn't do the service, because I sold that car soon after that.

Conclusion...
Change your oil 2-3 times and you will realize how fast/easy it is to do it. Plus, you feel good about yourself that you did it all alone. Its nice to hold on to some of the basic maintenance stuff around the car/home these days. It seems like there is a service for everything these days. I'm sure someone will start up a business that will come to your home and wipe your butt for you soon enough. Haha. You've got an awesome vehicle, read a few books about general car maintenance and you will be able to do most minor services on your 4runner with ease.

Ps. I didn't mean to knock/offend anyone at instant oil changes. I know that some those guys/gals know what they are doing, but that is the exception. Most of those dudes were flipping burgers the day before. Haha!

Good luck!
03RR :bigok:

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Oil Changes, etc.


The oil filter on the new V6 4Runners (at least on my 2005, anyway) is on top of the engine, and is extremely easy to reach. See it in the photos below:

The oil pan bolt is under the vehicle, but you have to remove an oval-shaped plastic piece (in the center of the metal skid plate) that easily snaps out with just your bare hands or perhaps a flat-head screwdriver if it is a little tight. It will have six little tabs that hold it in place.

The oil pan bolt will be easily seen when you remove the skid plate "hole cover" and you can pop it off with a basic socket (14mm, I think). It hangs straight down and the dirty oil won't drain all over your exhaust pipe - as it does with my Nissan Sentra.

It is much simpler than it sounds. Trust me; that if I can do it, then you can too! Just be sure that you have a little plastic bottle or something to catch the 4 or 5 ounces of oil that will remain when you remove the filter. Take off the little rubber plug that is connected to the hole at the back of the oil filter housing, and let the old stuff drain into there -- and be sure to replace that little stopper plug. Wipe it out really well before putting on the new filter, and it will stay clean for the next time.
:awais:

Be wary of professional oil change joints. They, as mentioned above, might not include changing the filter when you ask for an oil change. Of course, I think that changing oil without doing the filter is akin to taking a nice hot shower and putting on dirty underwear.
:bash:

I recommend using synthetic oil in your 4Runner, especially if you intend to keep it for a long time. Even though I leased mine for three years, I always use Mobil-1 in it -- along with a good quality (OEM or better) oil filter. And yes, I still change it every 3 to 4k miles - even though I could go much, much longer. Call it peace of mind.

If I buy out my 4Runner when my lease ends, I'll know that I have a vehicle which has been maintained for the "long haul" -- and it will be a better deal for someone else who may be interested in buying it after I am finished driving it.

 

[Fourty-four]

I

 

[Fourty-four]

As for changing your own oil, you can get to the filter from above on the 6's (or so I've heard) but it's still a tight squeeze under the truck to get to the drain plug for the oil pan. I use a set of 6000 lb ramps which lifts the front of the truck up about 10 inches. More than enough to get in and drain the oil with ease. I paid about $20 for them 20 years ago, they'd probably cost about $40 or so now I guess. Considering the savings in doing my own oil changes they've paid for themselves many times over.

C'mon...get with the times! Get yourself one of those vacuum pumps and you'll never want to crawl underneath your 4Runner for an oil change again, especially people with a V6 Runner.

 

[biglatka]

No, it's not to their advantage; they must pay to have it removed. Then again, some shops have specially designed heaters that run on used motor oil. Those shops benefit from taking in as much used oil as they can, simply because it serves as winter heating fuel!

You just refuted your own statement.

 

[Fourty-four]

You just refuted your own statement.

No, read my post again. If a shop has the special furnace needed to burn used motor oil as fuel, then it is to their advantage to take all the used motor oil than can find.

But most shops do not have that type of heating system, so they must pay to have their used oil removed. I've even heard of shops that avoid paying waste fees by allowing other shops with the motor oil heating systems to take their used oil. That's a win-win for everyone.

 

[kimboy]

I put around 20K miles on my 4runner annually. With a 3K oil change inverval, I would constantly be at the dealer every other month. I've decided it's ok to go with 5K mile invervals.

 

[xUSNavy]

No, it's not to their advantage; they must pay to have it removed. Then again, some shops have specially designed heaters that run on used motor oil. Those shops benefit from taking in as much used oil as they can, simply because it serves as winter heating fuel!

Recycle ordinance differs between counties. The manager at Pep Boys tod me that a parts store that sells automotive oil must collect it as well. So far, every place that I've purchased oil from had a oil recycling program.