Changing your own oil

I’ve always done my own oil knowing that I can do at on my time, and do it right without breaking other things, like stripping out the skid plate, running the 4runner through the dealer car wash , scratching the bottom of the doors with vacuum, getting oil all over the inside…. Thanks Toyota.
Anyways, dealer charges about $60 per change and handles all the disposal.
Who changes their own oil and is the process pretty straight forward? Drop the skid plate, replace the filter, replace the oil drain seal, refill the oil. Is that about all there’s to it?

 

Yes. Buy the Motivx tool kit to make life easier.

 

Very simple process with one caveat; if the dealer torqued the filter housing on to 100 ft/lbs like they have a tendency to do, it'll be a pain to remove it without a breaker bar or something more... Once the 1st change is completed, easy peasey from then on. I installed a Fumoto valve on mine (as I do on all my vehicles) to make it easier and no mess.

 

Thanks. Another reason to do my own. I actually bought a T bar type wrench to get the drain plug out without torquing it to one side using breaker bar. Equally turning it.

 

If you do your own, get the Toyota oil for it. It's Mobil One but with some other goodies added. Best stuff for your Gen 5. Lots of other threads here on that subject so I won't provide any details in this thread. Here's a link to it on Amazon, and.. you can get it from lots of places:

$53 Toyota/ exxon mobil Case of 6 Quarts Full Synthetic TGMO SN 0W-20 Oil

Amazon.com: Toyota/ exxon mobil Case of 6 Quarts Full Synthetic TGMO SN 0W-20 Oil : Automotive

 

The real question is, HOW often do you change it? 1k, 3k, 5k or 10k miles? Let's start a REAL discussion (read: argument)!

 

There are some oil filter wrenches out there that will engage on both the flats of the housing *and* the tabs molded into housing. Having good engagement on both helps with loosening them without breaking them. Napa has them. But if you don’t verify the wrench is fully seated over the ears, it can easily deform the flats.

I’m a rebel and never change the washer on the pan drain plug. I just lap the face of the drain plug a by tightening and loosening it lightly a few times before final torque. My rebellious attitude on this point probably stems mostly from laziness, and the fact that I don’t feel like chiseling off the washer that came on it from the factory.

It’s a straight forward normal oil change like most other cars. I’d say the skid plates are a pain in the ass, but it’s no different than other new toyotas. They all seem to have something covering things up. I changed the oil on a 22 highlander, and I had to remove way more crap.

 

I put this together for my daughter. A tool user in training.

 

I’ve always sworn on Valvoline. After using it in two previous vehicles and driving to 250k with no issues the life of the vehicle. My current Toyota dealer where I’ve been going up to 60k miles, they have been using Valvoline/

 

Very nice! I printed it out. Thanks!

 

Yea I’ve never done the oil plug seal in past vehicles either. It’s overrated !

 

The process is pretty simple. With tire rotation, it takes me about 45-60 minutes to do the full service every 5k miles. It takes longer to drive to the dealer and back home.

 

What process (jacks, stands, etc) do you use to rotate tires?

 

RCI skid with filter door, and Fumoto. Motivx helps too. Mobil1 from costco, uder 30$ for 6qt when on sale.

 

I have found a local garage that lets me rent a bay for 45$ an hr.

 

1k oil changes and make sure to use impact on everything.

 

I'm a bit conservative and believe in the wisdom of AMD, aka the Car Care Nut, on YouTube, a Toyota Master Tech. I use the manufacturer specified oil (0W-20, I personally use M1 EP) and change it at 5,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. This also aligns with the 4Runner Warranty and Maintenance Guide which states 5,000 miles or 6 months for severe duty, which includes repeated short trips in cold weather, applicable to my 4Runner.

Oil is cheap, and I like changing it.

 

I enjoy changing the oil too. But only if I can take my sweet time. Every time I do one and Im in a rush, it always seems to result in huge mess of sort lol.

 

Wind is my worst enemy. I try to change oil only on days with wind under 5 mph, as I do it outside.

 

You %$#@*...

 

I do it outside with a cheapazz Harbor Freight 3-ton floor jack. It helps to have a square piece of 2x4 to put on the jack and protect your frame. I tried a hockey puck, but it started shifting mid-pump and scared the hell out of me.

It helps to have two sets of wheel/tires on hand, as you have a readily available placeholder while you place the shell game with the four on the truck. Otherwise, you can just drop the spare to be the placeholder.

 

so $45.94 per oil change DIY. Dealer is advertising $57 happy hour 1-4PM. Additional time in disposing the oil, collecting it at the house.

I suppose its still worth it and not having issues with Dealer screwing things up!

Priced for 3 oil changes
4 - 5quart Valvoline $26.97 = 107.88
Oil plug seal $1 x 3 = $3.00
Oil filter with seal $8.98 x3 = 26.94
Total $137.82 / 3 = $45.94 - Per oil change

 

I cannot believe it. Please provide evidence that dealership using Valvoline oil. As I understand, Toyota dealerships contractually obligated to buy at bulk and use Exxon Mobile oil, and due to volume, at big discount.

 

ah you're right, its 00279-0W201 which is the Toyota brand!! I guess with all the Valvoline flags and sticker I assumed the oil was also Valvoline.

I do see them use Valvoline brake system oil for the flush I got a while back , part 608334 and Valvoline gear lube 75/90 for the Diff/Tcase - Documented as such on the service invoice.

 

I'm willing to bet he can't get a dealer to provide evidence to a random internet poster to prove what oil they're using. I also bet you can't get Toyota to give you proof that their dealers are contractually obligated to use bulk XOM.

I also bet that I won't bet more than $5, because I'm risk-averse.

 

Any off the shelf oil of the correct viscosity will work well so Valvoline it up.

 

Get an RCI skid plate and a Fumoto and you won't have to remove the skid plate. I go to Valvoline Instant Oil change though, I love their machine.

 

Buy it from the dealer, not Amazon.

 

Ha! Dealerships probably do a half and half, half your old oil and half the cheapest crap they can buy in bulk. And 16 year olds do the oil change. They can keep their free oil changes, I never went to them.