The no drip 4R oil change

[BTO]

I have mentioned before that I had devised a method for changing the oil on the 3rd gen 4Runner V6. I just finished doing it again. This time I took some pics along the way to help out others.

First you need a 14 mm socket ratchet with an extension.

No need to remove any skid plates. The oil drains straight into your pan.

This is the trick to this "no drip" method. You need about a foot long piece of garden hose and a funnel like this.

Put them together like this.

You only need to pop out two retainers here. The one I'm removing and the one under that I already removed. You can turn the wheels to hard left to gain access but I find it easier access to remove the wheel and support with a jackstand.

There's the oil filter. From underneath, reach up with a filter wrench and loosen the filter but don't loosen it too far. Just get it loose enough to take off with your hand but not loose enough to where it starts dripping.

Take the funnel/hose and place it under the filter against the engine block over the top of a grounding strap.

Secure the other end of the hose to the skid plate with a zip tie. This keeps the funnel up into to proper position to catch all drips.

Funnel in position.

Continued in next post.

 

[BTO]

Continued:

Break out a new filter and take it out of the box.

Reach in from the side an unscrew the filter with your hand, rotate the thread side up because it still half full of oil and pull it out.

Put the old filter into the new box like so. My fingers got a couple of drops but none on the engine or the floor. Put the new filter on through the side. I hand tighten it and then crawl underneath and give it another quarter turn with the filter wrench.

Don't forget to replace the drain plug. I use the same funnel/hose to refill with 6 qts of 5w-30.

All done and not one drop hit the floor!

 

[kball]

Nice! I'll have to try this out next time.

 

[Presta24]

Get the one with the nipple so you can attach a piece of tubing......http://www.fumotousa.com/

 

[BLKTJ334]

Geat idea!! I'll try this out later this week, I'm due for an oil change anyway

 

[Duhockey]

too bad, that wont work with Budbuilt skids...

I take mine to Toyota to have them do it. they go in thru the side and Im sure it coats the skid belly pan with oil...

 

[fightman80]

Nice write up man! :driving:

 

[Martinjmpr]

The down side of this method is that without that regular coating of motor oil, you now have to worry about your skidplate rusting.

Good writeup. I'll try it next time I change my oil (which should be soon, as it's past due!)

 

[TheDurk]

I just go in through the side with a baggie. I crack it with a wrench and then unscrew it with the baggie over the filter. Sort of like dog-walkers do with poop in the city. It catches almost all the oil--and the filter.

I hope OP doesn't doesn't do hand-tight plus a full turn--that's way too tight. I do fine just by hand.

 

[BTO]

I hope OP doesn't doesn't do hand-tight plus a full turn--that's way too tight. I do fine just by hand.

Nope. Hand tight and then I give it about a quarter turn with the wrench just to snug it up.

 

[twa318]

cool writeup!

Thanks for taking the time to take photos and put that write-up together, it really helps us newcomers out!

 

[TheDurk]

Nope. Hand tight and then I give it about a quarter turn with the wrench just to snug it up.

Cool. Did you edit that 'quarter' in there, or did I miss it first time around? If I missed it, I apologize. If you added it, thanks, somebody new to this might have had a problem.

 

[004Gunner]

Nice write-up! I'll have to try a funnel with the drain plug too, otherwise I get drips on the skid plate.

 

[RAB]

Excellent!

 

[BTO]

Cool. Did you edit that 'quarter' in there, or did I miss it first time around? If I missed it, I apologize. If you added it, thanks, somebody new to this might have had a problem.

I did edit it after you brought it to my attention. Thanks.

 

[cordrayj1]

Nope. Hand tight and then I give it about a quarter turn with the wrench just to snug it up.

what for? hand tight is plenty.

 

[BTO]

what for? hand tight is plenty.

It probably is. Maybe I'm a weakling. I just thought that given the amount of leverage I had because the filter is in a somewhat awkward location, it was easy to give it a quarter turn with the wrench for a little assurance against potential leaks. No harm done.

 

[cordrayj1]

It probably is. Maybe I'm a weakling. I just thought that given the amount of leverage I had because the filter is in a somewhat awkward location, it was easy to give it a quarter turn with the wrench for a little assurance against potential leaks. No harm done.

fair enough. i guess everyone's got their own preferences...sweet write up tho fo sho. i pretty much just accepted gettin oil drippage until now.