4.0L 1GR 2nd Gen Oil Change Guide

The last time I changed my oil, I drained it directly into an empty window washer fluid container. I waited until it stopped dripping and closed up the drain plug. Put 5.5 quarts in and checked the dipstick. It was halfway up the damn thing!

Then it hit me, the empty container (which I filled to the very top) is only 1 gallon (or 4 quarts). I then had to drain out 1.5 quarts to get an accurate reading - which I did.

Any way to measure how much oil you took out?


Also, I scuffed up my dipstick with sandpaper so the oil would stick to it a little better. It worked great. Be sure to clean it off after sanding it - don't want that dust in your engine.

No need to crank down on that oil filter when you put it back on. I go hand tight + 1/2 turn.

 

X2 water bottle works great!

 

That's a great idea Veccster

 

nice writeup

 

the mechanic at Car Quest gave me 5W-20 for my tacoma but the manual says 5W-30...

 

I have always changed my own oil (at least on vehicles I can get my fat belley under) but anyways I have never had the situation where they even used a gasket for th eplug let alone change it every oil change. Whats up with that? Can I just buy some gasket material and make one myself? I would hate to spend an hour going back and forth to the dealer for a 50 cent gasket....thanks, also why is there a plug on the oil filter housing anyways?

 

Oil filters have a rubber gasket that seals against the block.

Drain plug has a crush washer that should be changed every oil change (they're like $1 at the dealer, I've gotten them for free from mine a couple times)

Guessing theres a plug on the filter housing because whenever you take the filter out it'll drip some (4th pic down...first gens dont have this (not v6s at least)) so there is a way to drain that oil aswell.

 

I am assuming you can only get these at the dealer correct?

 

Yes you can get them at the dealer. Just get a bunch at one time to make the trip worth the gas. You can also get a second use out of it by flipping it over so long as you torque the drain bolt to spec.

 

Now are you talking about thr 4 cylinder engines cuz I crawled underneath mine and I could not find no drain valve by the oil filter.

 

Just did my own "First" oil change on the Taco. Thanks TacomaWorld and Chris 4x4 for the simple & easy instructions. She's sitting with 5.5 qts of Mobil 1. I used the water bottle instead of the tube. Piece o cake.

Now to dispose of that oil...

Have a great weekend. Supposed to hit 106F today. Giddyup.

hip

 

I just did my first oil change on my 2010 Taco (4.0) and there was no oil drain plug crush gasket. My Subie had one....

Weird...

 

I didn't see one when I removed the plug because it stuck on the oil pan. I had to use a flat screw driver to pry it off.

 

Maybe that's what happened. I'm definitely going to change it and check for it better next time around.

 

Mine stuck as well on my first oil change.

 

That is good advice about putting in 5.5 qts of oil. I changed my oil for the first time this a.m. I drew a sharpie mark of the side of the vessel I used to catch the oil dumped it into a bucket and poured water up to that sharpie mark it was around 5.5 qts give or take a little. I am going to inspect the washer on the oil plug Monday at work with a microscope. From the naked eye I really do not see any difference between it and the new one. I know for the sake of a dollar it's probably wise to change it,however If I don't see any difference I will probably reuse at least 1 more time...

 

I have used both types and really recommend the extra coin be spent with the Fumoto valves. The other type based on the FRAM Suredrain design just has extra parts to keep track of. Also the poppet design not the best and can leak.

 

Do those Valves ever leak? I think I got one of those things on my Husqvarna riding mower and it was a piece of junk, took it off at first oil change.

 

Where do I find a tube? Thought about it, can't come up with anything.