First DIY Oil Change & Tire Rotation

I've used up the free Toyota Care service, and I'm about to do my first oil change at home. Is there a definitive oil change thread I should look at before getting started? I was surprised not to find one pinned. I did a search, but "oil change" brings up a looooong list.

Thanks!

 

Did you click on any of the results?

 

A few, but I was hoping someone might have bookmarked the best go to thread.

 

It's all the same.
Remove skid plate, drain, change filter, refill with 6.6qt of your preferred oil.

If needed, Google for videos and writeups w/pictures. Way too many threads on oil changes and oil/filter opinions. Stick to the basics. Easier that way.

 

Do yourself a big favor while doing the oil change - get a Fumoto or similar type drain valve to install while the oil is drained. You'll be way ahead for future oil changes.

 

Check YouTube, if I recall correctly Lifestyle Overland did a great how to video on it.

My .02 is to not bother with the drain plug on the filter housing.

 

Purchase the full Motivix kit to make life easier.

 

And do it every 5K.

 

Check your grease fittings on the driveshafts. I'm guessing those ball bags at the stealership never greased them. I bought mine in for 15k service and specifically reminded them to grease under there. They told me there was nothing to grease under there and on top of all that I found a filthy cabin air filter that they were too lazy to inspect or try to upsell to me.

 

Be patient, not something I enjoy, especially removing the skid plate.

 

Problem with the valves is they take a LONG time to drain. Convenient, yes. Not efficient if you want to bang out an oil change quick.

The other pro though is that they are nice to take an oil sample to send out

 

how far the fumoto reaches and the bottom position definitely on the pan doesn’t help. i encountered a thread where someone drilled small holes into the part that reaches into the pan to speed things up.

 

Usually the small holes drilled in the Fumoto thread is to allow complete draining IF the threads of the valve stick up above the oil pan drain boss (think internal) so you can get a complete drain. Small holes in those threads don't aid in the drain speed, that is completely dictated by the smallest internal diameter of the flow path of the valve.

I have dropped the oil pan twice on my truck with a Fumoto installed, the threads were level with the internal top of the drain boss. But I've seen where the threads stick up higher which then you'd need the small holes for a complete drain.

Only way to tell on these vehicles is to somehow snake a camera up in there and look after an oil drain or pull the pan.

 

is what I consider to be the definitive oil change thread.

 

Exactly the kind of thing I was looking for, and I was shocked not to find one stickied here.

 

Found this one too. It might be a little easier to navigate.

https://trail4runner.com/2018/06/11/5th-gen-4runner-oil-change/

 

I made this up a while ago for my daughter. It is exhaustively detailed, but it has all the part numbers and torque specs.

 

That's Awesome Captain!!

 

Love the 47 step proses for an Oil change. Yay Toyota. lol

 

The number of steps reflects the level of experience of the person for whom the instructions were intended, and not the complexity of the task.

 

Before pulling trigger on oil and filter y'all may want to decide on regular cellulose or upgraded TRD synthetic material oil filter and what grade of oil. As stated in manual 0W20 is optimum for increased fuel economy and engine starting at minus temperatures but maybe not so much for severe service such as short city drives leading to fuel dilution, dust conditions, high speeds, towing or overloaded rig. Pretty happy with how these TRD filters keep the oil clean about halfway or more into OCI even with 140K miles on this truck compared to previous used Toyota cellulose filters.

 

That is definitely in my downloads folder.

 

This information isn’t useful without stating how much “extreme service” constitutes a need for the stepped-up service schedule.

Well if you are going to enshrine it, have a PDF version.

 

That was my thinking. I do all my own maintenance. So during the break in period I used the TRD filters for the first 2 oil changes to catch as much metal as possible. And yes I found quite a bit on the first filter. The TRD filters do have a much higher filtration rate. After that I switched to the stock OEM filters. I use Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0W20 which meets all the requirements and change every 6 months regardless of mileage.

 

Something you could add after "Drive 4runner onto ramps. Open hood" Would be Set Emergency Brake and Block rear tire

 

Good idea. Also, “replace oil drain cover” should be moved down the list below “check for leaks.”

 

Get out of bed. Use restroom. Drink coffee. Contemplate life. Put shoes on. Where does it end?

 

Cease breathing.

 

Seems like you see stuff like this every now and then

https://www.kktv.com/2023/06/05/aurora-man-killed-while-doing-truck-maintenance-driveway/

 

Attached is a new version of the Oil Change notes with the revisions discussed.