V6 2004 Change Oil Filter Mess

[my04runner]

This is driving me up the wall! I know it has to be something small and stupid I am doing or not doing. Sometimes when I change out the oil filter, oil begins to leak out from the filter and forms a small pool of oil where the oil filter is mounted. Other times I can change the oil filter without any oil coming out of the filter. At first I thought it was just me, and I was not remembering correctly what had happened before, but nope I am not that old yet. Then I thought maybe I the truck needs to sit over night and the oil will empty out of oil filter, ..... that did not work. Then I thought drive around a bit, maybe that was it..... I was proved wrong again. :bash: Anyone experience this? What am I doing wrong? I need a :beer: .

 

[Jeff Kleb]

If you have the oil filter mounted atop the engine (as is the case with my 2005 V6 SR5), some will spill out when you remove the old filter. That is why that little metal thing is there and you should have a little rubber stopper plug near the hole at the bottom of it. Just put a plastic bottle under there and pop off the rubber stopper - to catch the oil that will come out of the filter (about eight ounces or so).

Wipe up the rest with an old rag and you'll be good to go!


P.S. If I can find them, I'll attach photos later.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Photos


Okay, I hope these help. Since yours is an '04, you may not have the filter on top of the engine; but these pics should help if you do. I know the '05 4Runners with the V6 are set up like this, but maybe the '04 trucks were different.

Oh, the V8 still has the filter underneath the engine - and it is not easy to reach from what I understand.

Good luck next time!!!!

Front view of 4Runner V6 engine

Far view of where oil filter is located

Close view of oil filter; hole is visible at lower part of photo
{Be sure your rubber stopper plug is in place before removing
the old filter!}

 

[sharp4runr]

Jeff, your engine bay is entirely too clean.

 

[srpage]

The reason sometimes you have oil spill out and other times you do not has to do with how well the anti drain back valve is working in the oil filter.

If the drain back valve works properly you will have a lot of oil in the filter when you remove it. If the valve is not functioning very well the oil will drain back into the engine and the filter will be pretty much empty.

So it is not something you are doing although you might make sure you use a good qualtiy oil filter that has an anti drain back valve that works.

 

[xUSNavy]

The reason sometimes you have oil spill out and other times you do not has to do with how well the anti drain back valve is working in the oil filter.

If the drain back valve works properly you will have a lot of oil in the filter when you remove it. If the valve is not functioning very well the oil will drain back into the engine and the filter will be pretty much empty.

So it is not something you are doing although you might make sure you use a good qualtiy oil filter that has an anti drain back valve that works.

Not to mention that some oil filter do not have the anti drain back valve. So if you are switching between different brands, then that could also be the culprit.

 

[JB.]

Jeff, I think your truck is trying to tell you something.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

:bigok: :biggrin2: :beer:

 

[my04runner]

Thanks guys, I knew I could find the answer I was looking here. Gotta Love this Site!
I do remember that I would happen before I started using the Bosch oil filters. You guys have placed my mind at ease now, thanks again.

-Oscar

 

[4by4th]

The reason sometimes you have oil spill out and other times you do not has to do with how well the anti drain back valve is working in the oil filter.

If the drain back valve works properly you will have a lot of oil in the filter when you remove it. If the valve is not functioning very well the oil will drain back into the engine and the filter will be pretty much empty.

So it is not something you are doing although you might make sure you use a good qualtiy oil filter that has an anti drain back valve that works.

Any recommendations for a filter with an anti drain valve that works? I changed my oil yesterday and the Toyota filter did have some oil in it, but I didn't see anything that looked like an anti drain valve. The stealer made such a big deal about my previous "after market oil filter" possibly causing (lifter like) start up noise that I went out and bought 3 Toyota filters yesterday. I'd rather try one with an anti drain valve that really works. Mobil 1?