Ultimate Oil Change Thread

[carmellocafe]

Great write-up! I'm getting ready to do this soon & convert over to M1. I noticed in the fsm, it states to drain the crankcase first, then remove the oil filter. Is there any kind of benefit/disadvantage to removing the oil filter first as in this write-up?

[chris4x4]

Originally Posted by carmellocafe

Great write-up! I'm getting ready to do this soon & convert over to M1. I noticed in the fsm, it states to drain the crankcase first, then remove the oil filter. Is there any kind of benefit/disadvantage to removing the oil filter first as in this write-up?

Not sure. I have always just drained first, then removed the filter. Never thought to think why not the other way.

[Veccster]

I remove the oil filter while the oil is draining. So the advantage is that it gives you extra time to ensure all the oil has drained out of the crankcase.

Also, if any oil comes out of the filter and into the engine, it will drain out because the plug is already removed.

[pittim]

I always drain the oil, wait for there to not be any type of stream, then pull the filter.

[oldtimertoyota]

Just wanted to report that I was successful on my first oil change on my 09 and even reset the oil change reminder gizmo on the dash(thanks chris4x4!) This thread was a great help, it's really nice to have this site to share our thoughts and technical advice with each other.

[mitiko]

[what oil you used/

[oldtimertoyota]

I went with a toyota oil filter and castrol 5W-30W oil(non synthetic).

[mitiko]

for the price or just because

[THE TECHNICIAN]

This thread is entertaining.

[oldtimertoyota]

Originally Posted by mitiko

for the price or just because

The filter to ensure a good fit and the oil because of past experience, my old toyota truck(86) has around 330,000 on it. I should say that I change my oil always at 3,000! So no it's not the price as I know you can go twice as far on synthetic, I'm probably just getting old and stuck in my ways

[AliOop127]

As for Recycling, I read that every Wal*Mart Auto center will take used motoroil and properly recycle it and the filter for you!

[Veccster]

Advance Auto takes it off my hands.

Never thought to ask Wal-Mart.

[Crashmo]

All you guys with your 2nd gen tacos have it good. I went to change my oil last weekend and had forgotten what a #*#@$% the filter was.

It doesn't have that nice under mount catch thingy with the drain fitting. There is just a grounding strap and block there.

Any heads up for my future other than shoving a rag under there and hoping? It always seems to drain some into the anti-scrape pan and there it sits for the next 5k miles.

Our old BMW has the filter right up front, on top. It's the most killer convenient idea I've ever seen in a car.

[tacomaman06]

Originally Posted by Crashmo

All you guys with your 2nd gen tacos have it good. I went to change my oil last weekend and had forgotten what a #*#@$% the filter was.

It doesn't have that nice under mount catch thingy with the drain fitting. There is just a grounding strap and block there.

Any heads up for my future other than shoving a rag under there and hoping? It always seems to drain some into the anti-scrape pan and there it sits for the next 5k miles.

Our old BMW has the filter right up front, on top. It's the most killer convenient idea I've ever seen in a car.

take the filter off using a ziplock bag...it will catch most of the oil that comes outta the filter.

[JKD]

Originally Posted by countryboy22

hey how long do you guys go between oil changes if your running synthetic?

Inside warranty I will go with the OCI that keeps the warranty intact. I use regular oil up to about 5,000 miles, then switch to Mobil 1 for the rest of the vehicle's life.

After a warranty is up, I use oil analysis and extend the OCI. On my last vehicle the oil was fine for well over 8,000 miles. I was changing it about every 10,000 to 12,000 in the past few years, since my highway commute has me putting a couple thousand miles on a vehicle every month. The engine is still in fine shape after 165,000 miles, but a deer jumped out in front of me and did enough damage to warrant a new vehicle.

After warranty on the Tacoma I will probably do analyses with the goal of checking oil longevity up to 15,000 miles or so.

[JKD]

Originally Posted by Kyouto42

You'd need a torque wrench. Honestly I don't use it, I just get it finger tight and "just a bit more" about maybe 1/8" on a socket wrench. The vacuum from the engine running will tighten it up even more. As long as it doesn't leak when you fill, you should be gold. I still check during filling, after the first run, then after my first drive. I'm just paranoid like that.

I do not understand how "engine vacuum" is going to tighten a drain pan bolt.

[vbibi]

What happened with the way we all did it in the past: Filling the filter with oil to speed up the time till the oil get moving?
Can't do it now. It is one of the reasons I choose synthetic oil.
take care
vbibi

[pittim]

Originally Posted by tacomaman06

take the filter off using a ziplock bag...it will catch most of the oil that comes outta the filter.

yep.

i just use a grocery bag. put it over the filter, unscrew the filter with the bag over it, and it should drop inside the bag.


oh, and make sure the bag doesn't have any holes in it....not that that's ever happened to me

[pittim]

Also,

Just curious as to how many of you put some oil in the filter before you put it on? It seems like some people do and some people dont.

[carmellocafe]

Originally Posted by pittim

Also,

Just curious as to how many of you put some oil in the filter before you put it on? It seems like some people do and some people dont.

Just around the filter gasket.