Pain in the A Oil change

T

tcoleman

New member
So I'm new to the 4runner forum and to the truck in general for that matter. I've been doing oil changes forever in all my cars but last night was the biggest pain in the butt oil change ever.

I have a 2000 4runner. The oil drain plug was no problem to get to. However, the filter was an arms length away through a narrow passage just big enough to stick a hand through. Not only that but once you remove the filter, oil drains ALL OVER the skid plate and onto the floor. SERIOUSLY???? I can't be the only person frustrated with this setup?
 
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Did you go through the fender?

oil_filter_flap.jpg


4Runners.org - Changing Your Oil

there'll be some spillage
 
It isn't terribly difficult to relocate, but I would rather put my money elsewhere. I use a bucket instead of an oil drain and that reduces a lot of spillage.
 
I always remove the skidplates, and then use one of those oil filter cap removal tools that fits over the end of filter. Then come in through the wheel well with a u-joint on a ten inch extension attached to a ratchet.

I use some old newspaper to make a sort of funnel under the oil filter, that leads out past the front diff, and allows the oil in the filter to run down onto the old newspaper then it flows along on the newspaper, until it runs off and into my container.

Pretty easy to do, and no mess.
 
I pay some one to do it if I have to get it done during the winter months, cause I have no garage and we still have snow on the ground. lol

but I am also new to my rig, so I have not done one on this rig yet.

My ford took 15q's so I for surely did that one on my own.
 
MTDewX8 said:
I pay some one to do it if I have to get it done during the winter months, cause I have no garage and we still have snow on the ground. lol

but I am also new to my rig, so I have not done one on this rig yet.

My ford took 15q's so I for surely did that one on my own.
Click to expand...

15qts.. must have been a power stroke diesel..
 
tcoleman said:
And that's why I'm on here. I never even thought of that.... Thanks guys. Next time I'll go through the fender.... It looks like just a couple of screws to remove to get to it, yes????
Click to expand...

Those are just little plastic plugs and yes, thats all you do but your probably still gona spill a little oil trying to get it out.
 
I did my first oil change on the weekend, I removed the skid plates to get at it and it was still a pain to do thanks to the POS before me torquing the filter down 100lbs or more. I knew about the inner fender access but didn't want to break those plastic clips that hold it in place - seems they always break.

A remote oil filter mount may be in the future.
 
Best way to do it.

- Go through fender. If you're careful, even 10 year old salted up clips won't break.

- Use K&N filters so you take it off with a socket wrench no problem.

- Funnel with hose hooked up under the oil filter to run into the drain pan. Might take you a while to find one that fits, but it's worth it, and you'll never have to take your skids off.


It might not be as easy as some other vehicles I've owned, but it's a lot better than others. If you get the process down it's easy and clean.

I took my skids off the first time just to get the layer of old oil and grease left from the previous owner.
 
Avarice said:
Best way to do it.

- Go through fender. If you're careful, even 10 year old salted up clips won't break.

- Use K&N filters so you take it off with a socket wrench no problem.

- Funnel with hose hooked up under the oil filter to run into the drain pan. Might take you a while to find one that fits, but it's worth it, and you'll never have to take your skids off.


It might not be as easy as some other vehicles I've owned, but it's a lot better than others. If you get the process down it's easy and clean.

I took my skids off the first time just to get the layer of old oil and grease left from the previous owner.
Click to expand...


Probably not a bad idea getting a K&N because of that. I usually only buy Toyota or WIX but the parts guy at oreillys told me WIX made the filters for K & N??? I don't know that to be fact
 
cj80cruiser said:
Probably not a bad idea getting a K&N because of that. I usually only buy Toyota or WIX but the parts guy at oreillys told me WIX made the filters for K & N??? I don't know that to be fact
Click to expand...

Not sure on the WIX thing either.

I actually prefer the Purolator PureONE filters with the grippy yellow coating to the welded nut on the K&N. I find it faster and easier to just reach in there with my hand and twist it off then get out the tools and get a socket on that nut. It also helps that I don't put the filters on too tight in the first place. :)

What Avarice said was money. That's exactly the way to go. I changed the oil in my sisters '97 yesterday in my driveway, and it took all of 5 mins. Didn't get any oil on the concrete either. :)
 
An Oil Change is the only thing I take my 4Runenr to the shop for!

This is a well known fact! These 4Runners are no fun to change the oil in. I do almost all of my own maintenance with the exception of oil changes. Its easier and cheaper to buy a coupon book here in Vegas that has 3 free oil changes in it than to do it yourself. The main problem that I have with it is the skid plate. Taking that off doubles your time in changing the oil. Eh what do you do. They are built to last and thats why we love em!
 
Just another quick change tool, you can hook up a hose on the valve into a bucket/container so there is no mess, I would like to hook up an oil filter relocator along with the Fujimoto valve for a quick and clean oil change.
 
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