RCI Skid Plate and Oil Change

Went ahead and ordered an aluminum RCI KDSS skid plate and the small filler plate today while waiting for my ORP. How messy is the oil and filter change with the RCI plate in place? The removable door for the filter looks pretty small so is it pretty easy to get the filter off and not spill oil on top of the plate?

 

I have the RCI engine skid and did my first oil change yesterday with the skid plate in place and I removed the canister without first draining the housing by removing the drain plug and it got pretty messy. The next time I will remove the small plug and attach a short piece of clear tubing. Should be fairly easy to clean any residual oil.

 

Thanks for the info. What's the oil change interval on 4Rs?

 

Toyota says 10k….most do either 5k or 7.5k. I personally do 5k because it’s cheap and there is no harm in having clean oil constantly in your engine.

 

Find a piece of rigid tubing that just fits over the end of the little housing drain nipple provided with the filter. Notch the end of the tubing for the little lugs sticking out of the sides of the drain nipple. Make the tubing long enough that it extends well below the skid. Use that tube/nipple contraption to drain the housing into your pan. I used 1/2 EMT conduit. Clear plastic tubing would be neat and it may not get hot as quickly.

 

So the interval is like the Tacoma. Thanks and thanks for the tip about the tubing.

 

I have an rci aluminum skid plate, I just remove the entire skid plate, it's really light weight and zero mess

 

You may want to check out my post #35 on my build page. I have the RCI skid plate and this post describes what I have done to ease oil changes.

https://www.4runners.com/threads/co...cle-of-mods-upgrades.18688/page-2#post-300894

 

Thanks! I'll probably will end up just dropping the aluminum plate.

 

Those of you who installed the RCI skid plate, were the bolts difficult to put on? I just ordered mine and wonder if I need to do this?

 

Not at all. The hardest part is the transfer case crossbar, but even that isn’t bad. Did the whole install by myself easily

 

Mine went on without any issue. Super simple. I recommend starting the two middle bolts first. Just get them in enough to hold the plate up. Then set the two front bolts, but don't tighten all the way. Then set the two back bolts. Again don't tighten all the way. Once all six bolts are threaded, tighten the two middle bolts and then tighten the other four. I provide pictures on my build page at the link below.

https://www.4runners.com/threads/cowboys-first-4runner-and-chronicle-of-mods-upgrades.18688/

 

I took a hard look at the RCI skid plate and that’s what concerned me, was the small size of the oil filter access hole. If you gotta pull the skid to change the filter, then what’s the point?

 

I have the RCI skid and you don't have to pull the skid to change the filter.

 

Thanks for sharing that!

 

I installed the RCI full skid package plus gas tank skid on my 2021 OR last weekend by myself and it was a simple install. Having a floor jack to lift and position the skids and transfer tank skid cross member made the job easy for one person.
As has been stated by others, wait until all skids are in place before you tighten all the bolts.

Cheers,
Bob

 

I have the RCI plates and the oil change is super easy. Access door for the filter, and the oil drops straight out through a hole in the plate behind the filter area.

 

There is no reason to pull the skid to replace the filter. The door is plenty big. If you put these plates on and install a fumoto valve to boot, oil changes will be much quicker than with OEM plates. It’s not even close

 

Where did you find the Fumoto valve? Had one on my Jeep but that distributor only carries FCA, not Toyota.

 

I got mine from RCI at the same time I ordered my plates. It’s at the very bottom of their 4Runner page. Amazon also has them. The one you want is

$36 F133s with LC-10 S-Series Large Body FUMOTO Valve with Short Nipple and LC-10 Lever Clip for 12mm-1.25 Gold

F133s. Fits perfect and gives plenty of clearance from the plate.

 

Amazon sells a screw in drain hose for like $15ish. And you may want to replace the plastic oil filter cap assembly with the Toyota metal one. Just a suggestion!

Oil Filter Drain Hose:

$13 MOCW Oil Filter Drain Tool Oil Filter Draining Tool Compatible with Toyota, Lexus, Scion 2.0L - 5.7L Engines with Cartridge Style Oil Filter System Replace OE # 15620-36020, 15620-36010

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C5F5FQP
Filter cap Assembly:

$26 Toyota Oil Filter Cap - 15620-31060

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008BHP68A?_encoding=UTF8

 

I have both of what Zeet is showing above and those are also HIGHLY recommended! It’s an investment upfront, but saves you time and mess for years and years to come!!

 

I personally do 5k because it’s cheap and there is no harm in having clean oil constantly in your engine.

 

How long did you guys wait for your front RCI skid plates? Currently still waiting for mine.

 

About 2 weeks or so. Wasn’t bad at all.

 

That's quick. I'm currently at 2 weeks and nothing yet.

 

If it makes you feel any better: 1) that was about 3 months ago and lead times are constantly changing, and 2) it took 2 months for me to get my sliders from them. Just be patient. It’s a great company with a great product. Wait times are the norm for these types of items and RCI still has one of the shortest. You will love them once they arrive.

 

I ordered mine in mid April of 2021 and received it the end of May. So about a month and a half.

 

It was designed so that you don't have to remove it.

 

I ordered mine in May 2020, and it took 4 weeks, and THEN they sent me the wrong transmission plate. They finally made it correct after about another 4 weeks. COVID ravaged them it sounded like. Still happy with them and the product.