Knucklehead Rookie Mistake (Oil Change)

Hey Fellas,

I got a used 2016 Tacoma and changed the oil yesterday. Upgraded to the aluminum filter housing and installed it without the gaskets (I guess I assumed the gaskets came with it pre-installed).

Sure enough, I just checked and the skid plate is wet with oil.

My question is, do I need to drain all my oil through the drain plug before pulling the filter housing?

I would prefer just to remove the filter housing, lose whatever oil is in there, install the two gaskets, and re-install; can I do this without draining the rest through the drain plug? Thanks

 

No need to drain all the oil just remove the filter, install the two gaskets, and re-install.

EDIT: Welcome to TW, we have been where you are, that is how we get experience and learn through mistakes.

 

Thanks; decent news.

Have another question, previous owner must have taken it to a butcher shop for oil changes because I noticed two things that weren't right. First, the oil filter housing retaining clip is missing.

Second, I could not remove the filter housing oil drain bolt prior to the filter housing because it would just cause the whole filter housing to spin when I tried to remove it. I had to remove the whole filter housing and then it was a task to get the oil drain bolt removed from the housing after removal.

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

Just be sure to torque the bolt and the housing to spec and it will be fine the next time. That's my experience.

 

I guess I'm butchering it myself.

I don't have a torque wrench and just went with a simple snug on the filter housing and housing drain plug.

How tight does the filter housing need to be? I'm guessing it has to be tighter than the housing oil drain plug?

 

Any tighter than a firm push on a normal ratchet is too much. Just firm.

 

Does that go for both the filter housing and the housing drain bolt?

 

The aluminum filter housing could be leaking. I changed mine to one and it was slightly leaking, so I just went back to the stock plastic.

 

For the housing.

The drain bolt in the filter just snug, most techs in the field don't disturb it and just drain the whole housing in one shot.

The drain plug for the motor is a standard wrench, no longer, firm again.

 

the first time i changed my oil the entire housing turned when just trying to loosen the drain. since then i don't even mess with the drain i just undo the housing and let it drip into a pan then remove.
on the good side at least you did not drain the tranny fluid by mistake, there has been a thread on that one.

 

Does the aluminum housing come with the large o-ring gasket pre-installed?

If it does, then the gasket is there because I definitely didn't remove it.

If the gasket is there because it comes pre-installed on the aluminum housing then mine must be leaking a little just like yours did..

 

Give the oil filter housing drain bolt a sharp WHACK to loosen it first - if you just turn it slowly the whole oil filter housing will turn along with it. I think it's a goofy design, but it works.

Dave

 

Perfect explanation.

 

These are generic pictures I pulled from online, they show where the large ring goes. It’s not preinstalled, you have to put it on

 

Thanks. I will attack it tomorrow. I'm thankful I didn't miss it and let the motor run low on oil and blow

 

Is it ok to drive without the skid plate over normal roads?

I want to keep an eye on the filter housing for leaks the next couple days

 

Totally fine

 

I drove without a skid plate for a week when I switched to the aluminum housing. It had a few drops of oil on the bottom the first day I drove it after my last oil change. I cleaned it off, watched it for a week and did not see anything else. Don't know if the o-ring just needed more lube or what but it has been fine since.

 

I’ve found some people think the socket insert on the drain plug is to take the filter on and off. First time I changed my oil, the drain plug was on so tight we fought with it for quite a while to get it out, it was WAY over spec thanks to the dealer that did the oil change.

Torque specs are 30 drain plug/ 20 filter / 10 filter drain plug

 

Perfectly fine to drive without skid plates on. I always take them off before going in for an oil change if I'm not doing it myself. Had a place forget to put them back on....