3.4L 5VZ 1st Gen Oil Change Guide

I've never heard of such a thing, but who knows. It's not that bad getting it off, I didn't think so anyway. Seen a lot worse.

 

well I was referring to these: http://www.partsgeek.com/y3qghcw-to...=PartsGeek+Bing&gb=pp&utm_term=&ad=7759158267

and that's what I was looking at but some say some of them have fittings that reduce to opening size and its "said" it can reduce oil flow to the engine and be problematic. others say they used them for hundreds of thousands of miles without issue so they must work.

my only thing is thinking there must be a simple converter so the filter changes from horizontal mount to vertical mount without needing hoses and relocation. just looking for a way to avoid the mess and need for buckets and funnels or 2 liter jugs or whatever the "rig" of choice is to catch the oil that leaks down everywhere.

 

ok, just finished oil change (didn't know I needed 6 quarts so off to the store again for another quart lol) but anywho everything was super easy without the skid plate being in the way and other then the engines grounding wire being right there under the filter and a little in the way (couldn't they have put that somewhere else????) it wasn't hard or messy at all.

I have a pavement princess so I have no need for the skid plate so its going up for sale on ebay soon, just waiting for another member who expressed interest in getting it first.

it was a little awkward getting the filter angle correct to start the threads but that's mainly just because I never did it before. im sure next time my brain will remember the angle to hold it at.

after doing it, I think there is no need for oil filter relocating kits if you remove the skid plate or don't have one but if you change oil with the skid plate in place then I would use the relocation kit.

 

Do you end up with the same protection as a 2WD (non-Prerunner) normally has when you leave the skid plate off? Or does the 2WD have more protection stock than a 4WD with a removed skid plate?

I feel like the first time I drive my truck without a skid plate is the day a rock will kick up and whack the oil pan.

I don't go off-road much and removing the skid plate adds time & hassle to the oil change process. I change my oil more often than I go off-road.

 

Removing the skid plate(s) is a lot easier if you just remove both pieces as one unit. Bring it down on your belly and slide out. Same with reinstall, slide/roll under the truck with it on your belly, and you should be able to start all five bolts pretty easily by just using your hands and knees to support/move the skids around as you start the bolts.

 

I removed it because I don't go off road. when on the road, anything that might hit the oil pan would also take out the skid plate and the oil pan any way. the skid plate is not very strong and is only good for deflecting high weeds and small branches in my opinion.

as to the comparison, I don't know, I have no one I know with a 4wd to compare it to but my prerunner does look to be the same as my last 2wd 5 lug truck was.

 

Thanks for the input.

 

No matter what you do, oil will still get everywhere. The filter on my 7.3 diesel points directly down at the ground right above the front diff and it still makes a huge mess when I take it off. I just have a can of brake cleaner handy and after the new filter is installed, I spray the oily areas down and it cleans all the old oil up pretty effectively. I've found that the easiest way to get my filter off is just turn the wheels all the way to the left and take down the mudflap covering the engine bay to the left of the front leaf spring and you can just reach in through there and twist it off. If I can't get it with my bare hands, I use an old piece of sandpaper for grip and it screws right off. Here's a pic of the opening I'm talking about and you can see the filter right through the hole. Hope this helps, I personally wouldn't do a relocation kit on something as critical as an oil filter, if something goes wrong, it could cost you an engine.

 

Is the filter in a different place for the 2.7L? I couldn't find a walkthrough for the 2.7 so I followed this guide - everything was the same except the filter was on the passenger side. I attached a picture for reference.

 

you 4 banger got it easy. only thing is cleaning the oil off the rack unless you have something to cover it while it drains.

 

Yep, it's in a much easier place to get to that's for sure!

 

aluminum foil works great for making a drip deflector for that

on my 99 I used a shopping bag to cover and remove the filter and its mostly mess free that way

 

Changed the oil today. Had the wrong filter top wrench. It almost fit but would slip. Went and got the correct one and it fit the old filter and the new one. Pulled one plastic plug on the wheel well flaps and went in that way (wheel turned all the way to the left). Worked like a charm with a 3/8 swivel on a long 3/8 extension with a 1/2 inch converter to a 1/2" ratchet wrench. Plenty of room in the wheel well to work. I didn't attempt to contain the oil (next time) I had the catch basin on a large piece of cardboard under the truck. Cleaned up the filter mating surface and installed the new filter with my 8 year old son holding the fender flap towards the front of the truck so I could reach in with the filter gasket facing towards my palm to keep it clean until I spun it in my hand and slipped it on and threaded it hand tight. I gave it a quarter turn with the filter wrench. Thanks to all of the various posters who made it easy for me today! Next time will be a breeze. Man does she sound nice with 5.5 fresh synthetic quarts sloshing around.

 

Wanted to say thanks for posting this info. I got my first Tacoma not too long ago, so I'm new to vehicle maintenance altogether. This guide helped me through my first oil change and it was a success! Spilled a bit of oil from the filter, as well as when I was pouring the old oil into the container, but otherwise the whole thing went pretty well.

 

I knew the oil filter was under the wheel liner, but never knew the liner would unclip and twist to the side so easily! Is everyone using synthetic oil?

 

Most people are it seems. Only way to go if you plan on keeping your truck forever and want it to last. I won't run anything else in my engine, transmission, and all the gearboxes but synthetic lubricants.

 

Yes guess synthetic is the best way to go. I was reading the posts of first time oil changers, and chuckling a little. It put to mind my first oil change , but I owned a Honda then. I drove a screw driver into the filter to twist it off and taped a plastic shopping bag over the filter to catch all the oil, and dropped the filter into the bag as well. Of course, that was before oil was recycled. Argggg, I'm giving my age away!! Its easy on the Tacoma's to actually drain out the transmission by accident.

 

Then you need to visit here.... https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/50-thread.171974/ or https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-40-old-timers-thread.162787/

 

HA HA Funny...

 

Does anyone have a part number for those puppies?