QUICK oil change question

Just dropped the oil in my 4.0 and realized I don't have a new filter. Am I wasting 5.5quarts of synthetic by filling it and not changing the filter? Can the filter wait til my next trip into town or should I not bother until the next 5000k?

 

If you regularly change your oil/filter you will be fine. I would put the new oil in and get a new filter asap just so you keep with regular maintenance schedules. I'm paranoid so I would probably plan on doing my next oil change sooner than I normally would. You can never be too careful.

 

It ought to hold til your next trip in town. If you're just coming due with it (minus the new filter) you should be good for a while to go. But, as said, I wouldn't let it linger any longer than necessary if you can help it. Not like you'll lose a lot of oil by changing the filter to begin with, yes?

 

I change the oil every 5000KM (3200 miles) which is probably on the excessive side since the concensus on here seems to be 5000 MILES (8000 km)

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

I am not trying to be a smart ass but ...... did you drain your oil, pour in new oil and then think about the filter?

I am just a bit confused, but as the others said you should be okay as long as you keep a good schedule.

 

been there, done that. thought I had a filter on the shelf, drained the oil, went to get new filter and realized it was for a car I didn't own anymore. Filled the oil, drove to auto parts store, got a new filter, and a few extra quarts of oil to replace the lost oil when swapping filters.

At least you don't have to crawl under and get messy all over again with the Tacoma.

 

Excellent Question!!!

A new filter and a FEW EXTRA QUARTS OF OIL TO REPLACE THE LOST OIL WHEN SWAPPING FILTERS, How big is that filter??????????
Come on guys,,,,,,,,, changing oil is pretty basic, leaving the old filter on for a couple (extra) thousand miles isn't going to hurt anything, most of us change it to early anyway, (kinda reminds me of my BMW forum), those guys are really ANAL!!!Doc

 

Not every filter is in an ideal location, and some filters hold more oil than others. Even with some filters screwed to the "Top" of a mounting point, oil may still drain excessively.

Some filters look the same, even tho they aren't.

I didn't say I used all of the few extra quarts, but purchased in case they were needed.

On a side note, If you have never needed an extra quart of this, or gasket for that, or you have never misplaced a screw/nut/bolt while re-assembling something, I would feel honored to meet the perfect person and shake their hand.

People make mistakes, and usually the way to correct that is to slow down a little bit.

 

Actually I had a filter in the cupboard that I thought was for the Tacoma but after I dropped the oil I realized it was for a vehicle that I no longer own. I usually keep a spare on the shelf as I live out in the sticks.

 

I disagree.

It is in my opinion much more important to change the oil filter then the oil.

The filter is designed to catch debris (metal filings and the like) and trap them inside the filter saving your engine from harm. The filter has a designed lifespan of usability.

I would get a new filter. Drain your synthetic out. Install new filter and refill the synthetic oil back into engine.

 

not sure, but wouldnt it be okay to change the oil filter since its right side up?

 

I knew what ya meant, just giving you the busness, I'm on the older side and have made more mistakes then I care to remember, I usually try and not get to worked up over a mistake, most times I just chock it up to experience, " making no mistakes is a sign of experience, experience is gained from making mistakes" (something like that) Doc

 

That's the ticket ..........

 

Please correct me if I am worong, but how is oil going to drain out of the truck with a vertically mounted oil filter on top of the engine. I mean gravity works down not up???? Just let your truck sit for 30 minutes to allow the oil to drain back into the pan. The filter should only have a few ounces of oil in it. What's with the several quarts reference???? It's not like oil shoots out of your filler tube when you pull out the dip stick; so why would you expect to lose a lot of oil taking the filter off the 4.0? If your ADBV is worth a crap; oil coming out of your filter should be negligible. If you are losing a lot of oil from the filter, you might want to consider changing brands.

Also it depends on what brand of oil filter you are using. If you're using an el cheapo basic filter, I wouldn't press it past 3K; however the OP said he changes oil every 3200 miles. I would just swap out the filter anyways.

 

Got ya ....

 

Not to jack the OP's thread but help me out here guys.

I am guessing we are talking about a 6 cyl. Where is the location of the filter and how is it mounted?

I have a 4 banger. Thanks.

 

just drain a quart or two of oil into like a 2lt bottle. then change your filter it will just leak a bit of oil plus what is in the filter. put in new filter. pour in the oil you just drained. run your truck and check oil level. it should be good and might need a half quart or so.

easy as pie.
and im pretty sure you can hook a small tube to the nipple on the oil filter guard to drain the oil from the filter out so you dont spill oil.

and change your oil filter. is a max $20 worth saving a few grand?

 

You wasted the synethic oil, just as well run it till the next oil change its already contaminated, never install new oil with a old filter.

 

Do you have a particular source that states what that designed lifespan is? The reason I ask is that in some vehicles I have owned, the oil filter was only specified to be changed every other oil change.

 

Why do you need to drain the oil??? The filter is mounted on top of the block. No oil outside of the filter should drain out.