1st oil change done

So i just did my 1st oil change on my 2019 4x4 offroa . This was my first experience with toyotas and with a cartridge style filter. This is how i did it with some notes.

1) i took the front skid plate off. 4 bolts and 12mm. The front of skid has a place on each side where it hooks to the truck. Easy peasy

2) i used a 3/8 rachet with extension to loosen up the filter housing drain plug. Easy. Once i removed that plug, i saw the oring for it as it fell out. Lol.
3) install the little drain tool that comes with filter. Mine didnt screw in but rather snapped in. Then the flow started.

4) seemed to take 15 minutes till flow went to drip. I was wondering if perhaps oil from the pan was coming out there as well since i didnt drain pan yet becasue i wanted to make sure i could get the filter housing off first.

5) once filter housing drained, i then used the special motiv tool for toyota and lexus housings. There are like 2 ridges on one side of housing and 1 ridge on the other opposite side. Line up the tool to those ridges then use a 27mm socket with ratchet to loosen.


6) there is a retaining clip on housing but i believe the tool pushes it out of the way as you loosen.

7) it took a few turns of ratchet to get the filter to be able to be removed by hand and i removed it.

8) i took out old filter element, removed old oring on the housing and replaced with the new oring that came with filter. I wiped inside the housing but not inside the tube in middle of housing. I used my finger to remove oring and also to lube up new ring with new oil.

9) i cleaned the housing drain plug and then installed the new oring in the recess for it, again, used new oil to lube it. I snugged down best i could. Torqued later.

10) i installed new element in housing and then threaded housing by and to the truck. I then used my motiv tool and torqued to 18 ft lbs.

11) i torqued housing drain plug to 10 ft lb .

12) at this point i was past the new territory stage and went to loosen the oil pan drain plug. 14mm and it came right off.

13) the old washer was stuck to the pan. I had to use a flat blade screw driver to get it off. Tried plastic trim tools to no success. Was worried of scratching the area where the washer rests but i didnt. I am thinking it was just sealed at factory against tacky paint on pan.

14) wiped pan bolt area clean and installed plug with new washer. Torqued to 30 ftlbs.

15) filled engine with 6 quarts synthetic 0w20.

16) started engine, no leaks after 5 mins.

17) shut off engine and let sit 10 min .

18) checked level. Perfectly towards top of range. Hard to see on the stick. Used a papertowel to transfer oil from stick to towel and perfect.

19) reinstalled skid plate and snugged them. Will check those with torque at 22 ft lbs later.

All in all not bad. The filter is easy to get to but u have to go thru the extra steps of the element.

If u change your oil on cars with spin on filters, this job is about 30 mins longer. It takes me 1 hour to do my xterra and it has a skid plate with 8 bolts. This job took me 1.5 hours. Next time, will be an hour. I work slow and triple check everything. Ymmv. Fyi. I did not prefill the oil housing and filter before reinstall. I usually do on spin types but chose not to here. No noises or lights on startup.

 

Nice lil write-up , what year is your Xterra?

 

I did my 2019 about a month ago. First time with this type of oil filter too. Easy peasy too.

 

What brand oil and filter did you use?

 

2007. The retards at nissan messed up the skid plate bolt holes by using the wrong bolts in the wrong holes. There are 2 different kinds of bolts for the skids. Well, 1 bolt type and 1 screw type. They mixed them up. Learnt me never to use dealer or anywhere else for oil change .

 

Valvoline synthetic and wix filter.

 

Does that have the timing belt or chain?

 

Not counting your time, how much did it cost to do the oil change? Reason I ask is I can get the dealership to do it for 45$. I recently just got through my free services on my 18 and plan on doing it myself.

 

You can do an oil change on a Tacoma for under $20 and a little of your time.

 

Chain. Had tsb applied back in 2009or 10. Owned since new.

 

I always use synthetic. So i pay about 40$ in material . To me, its more aboit getting it done right versus the cost. Too many bad experiences to let the dealers touch my cars.

 

Does anyone know what brand oil the dealership uses? Does Toyota recommend a certain brand? I dont even know? just curious. I was thinking about buying all filters from the dealership and then said oil from wherever.

 

U got a link?

 

0-20W oil is only available in synthetic and you need about 6 quarts. Those 5 qt containers are a wise buy but you will still need to buy another qt. Even with a rebate and using a quality oil filter, your cost should be more than $20 but still much better than taking it to the dealer.

 

I usually buy 2 of those 5 quart Mobil 1 to take advantage of the $12 rebate on each.

 

How many miles did you do this at?

 

Every 10k is what Toyota calls for.

 

Oh ok, was just wondering why you did yourself?
Did mine at 3k just because I'm too precautious but will let Toyota do it on the 10k intervals

 

1053 miles. Yes i kno . Too soon blah blah bla . I am a firm believer in 1k mile 1st oil change. Then will be every 6 months or 6k miles or so whatever comes firs . As its not my daily, will be every six months. And i buy 2 5 quarts so i have 4 left for next time. Will need to just buy another 5 quart and filter

 

The OEM oil filters from the dealer are inexpensive considering its a cartridge. I think they list/sell for under $5.00. I bought 8 OEM TRD synthetic oil filter earlier this year when Toyota had that anniversary sale. I think it came out to $8 ea. or so. I avoid ebay or Amazon unless its sold from a Toyota dealership. There were reviews on Amazon stating not OEM parts/counterfeit