QUICK oil change question

To the right side of the engine veritcally on top of the engine..

Somebody please explain why you need to drain oil to remove the filter. To many 4 banger folks are chiming in stating this needs to be done???? You guys are incorrect and giving out bad info.

 

Even though i have a 4 banger i still know where the oil filter sits on a v6 thanks to a billion oil change threads on the v6.

Im just pointing out if you are worried about oil coming out of the motor then drain a few quarts and pour it back in when you are done. seems the OP is looking for a quick fix and is worried about oil spilling out. if you noticed i also told him about attaching a small tube to the oil guard.

some people on TW are just so touchy

 

Well, you don't need to drain the oil, but, the way I understand it (and that means nothing!!) it is a pressurize system, and by pulling the plug and draining the oil you relieve the pressure and the oil from the filter is drained at the same time as the pan, about the only advantage is the oil filter will be just about empty when it is removed and you will avoid a potently mess, not sure if this is correct or not, but that is my understanding, I am refering to the 6cy, don't know about the 4, Doc

 

Not touchy...just don't understand why you think oil would come leaking out of the engine. You remove a dip stick to check the oil right? Does oil come leaking out of the filler tube? So all I'm asking if you are aware of the setup of the 6cyl from the numerous threads is why would oil come out of the block by removing a vertically mounted filter.

The OP asked is he should change the filter since he missed it and surprisingly a few of you guys recommended draining oil before removing the filter when there's absolutely no need to. Keep it simple right???

 

You should be fine. I change mine every 10k or once a year. I am almost due for it. I will send a sample to Blackstone and post results when I get it. Next time, just have a couple on the shelf. That is what I do.

 

Swap out the old filter for a new one when you get the chance - simple as that. Ignore anything about draining oil - its incorrect info because it isn't necessary.

Too many internet mechanics giving nonsense advice...

 

That is incorrect. It's only pressurized when the motor is running. Again as I mentioned above two things to consider. One, when you pull out your dip stick to check your oil, does oil come shooting out of the filler tube? No, so that would prove the system is not pressurized. Second, when you remove your oil filter, is there a release of pressure, or is there a noticeable release of air? Again the answer is no. Same goes with adding oil to your truck when you remove the filler cap, oil doesn't come shooting out of the opening.

Oil should not be drained from your filter by removing the drain plug. The oil filter on the 4.0 Tacoma is designed to hold a residual amount of oil within the filter to help alleve dry starts. That is the purpose of the anti drain back valve; which plays a vital role in any filter application that is mounted vertically above the engine. The only oil that should come out would be any residual oil in the center tube of the oil filter, not the area between the shell of the can and filtering media.

 

Thanks Fortech, my point exactly

 

I love that new term:

Internet mechanics. Gives it a clear picture of the shade tree mechanic

 

The Tacoma is easy, but not every vehicle has the oil filter mounted in the ideal location.

I am glad the internet all-mighty is here to correct all the nonsense ,
You would think everyone would be exactly the same and understand because we are all raised and taught exactly the same.

 

This should be made federal law instead of the TPMS bs

 

My brother's fiancee's car is a Yaris, what a pain in the ass to replace the oil filter... it is upside down, in a tight ass spot, not to mention getting under the car is a nightmare.

 

Not trying to be a jerk, most rational, mechanically inclined people know the oil filter is located in different location on different cars, and why does that have any significance to the original question at hand?...The OP asked about a specific application, a 4.0L Tacoma, not a Nissan, not the 2.7L 4 cy, not a 5.0L Mustang. Simple if someone don't know the answer to a question, they shouldn't answer as if they do.

 

if you are using synthetic oil all the time i would not worry about it. technically you could go 10k between oil changes (although I go 5K with syntho). If you have been using dyno oil (regular) then I would get a filter in there and replace the oil.

 

I did state in my post that I didn't know if I was correct or not, and have no intention of starting an argument, but help me understand, when I turn off the ignition does the oil in the filter drain back into the pan? and refill after start-up? It was my understanding that oil remains in the filter even when the truck is not running. If I were to change just the filter could I do this and not have a filter full of oil? This is the first Vehicle where the filter was on the top (where it should be) In my other vehicles I (where applicable) fill the filter with oil before I install it to avoid not having a full filter during the second or so after start up. I am not saying I am correct but I am well into my senior years and have changed oil in countless vehicles, -Drain,- remove filter,- install filter-fill with oil. Next time I change the oil in the Tacoma I am going to remove the filter first and see what happens, Thanks Doc

 

First, we aren't talking about any other vehicle - the last time I checked this was a Tacoma forum, and a question was asked specifically about the 4.0L V6. End of story.

Second, wrong info is just that - wrong info. If wrong info has been presented, its the responsibility of other forum members to correct it before the original poster of the question utilizes it. Thankfully in this case it wouldn't have mattered, but it was still wrong and worthy of a mention.

 

Boy! aren't you Mister Know-it-All, you should contact Toyota and ask if you could write their manuals!! people are just giving their opinions, who in the "H" are you telling anyone they are wrong, you should read the posts so you understand them, It would surprise me if you took your vehicles in to have the oil changed, sure sounds like it, anyone that doesn't know it is a pressurized system should'nt be giving advise, read the posts and understand them, Doc

 

Doc,

I know you are not trying to start an argument, sorry if I gave the impression you were. In regards to the oil filter set up in our 4.0 Tacoma, yes, once you turn off the key to your truck your oil pump does not cycle oil from your pan through the filter and into your engine. All automotive oil systems work this way, but becasue of the unique setup on our Tacoma's, it more apparent. A vehicle with a oil filer mounted horizontally on the side of the engine block or underneath the engine will contain more oil. Once the engine is shut off, oil will drain back into the pan. As I mention earlier. Oil filters have what is called an anti drain back valve (the black or orange rubber flapper you will notice i you look through the smaller holes on the bottom of the filter) this keeps a small amount of oil in the filter to ensure pressure builds up quickly in the engine once started and to also provide a small amount of oil to the engine to prevent dry starts. On a side note, this is why folks don't care for the basic Fram Orange can in our application becasue of the cardboard end caps and poorly desinged ADBV; but that is another topic. The oil left in the filter once the truck is turned off resides in the area between the outer shell of the can and the filtering media. Some folks incorrectly believe the ADBV keep oil in the center tube. With our oil filter mounted on top of the engine vertcally, it become more apparent the need for the ADBV to be present on the filter and for it to work as desinged. Also there is no magic in terms of gravity. The longer our trucks sit becasue of the location of the oil filter, gravity will cause oil to drain out of the engine and center tube of the filter and back into the oil pan underneath the truck if the truck is turned off but hopefully the residual oil between the can and filtering media wil be there. Once the truck is started up, the oil pump cycles oil from the pan and into the filter; refilling the filter to maximun holding capacity.

If you turn your truck off and immediately remove the filter; you will have several ounces of oil come out of the filter (residual oil in the center tube) but it will not be quarts as others have mentiond. THe oil filter will never be full of oil when the truk is turned off thanks to gravity. Keep in mind, the oil filter on our trucks only hold a few ounces of oil at any give time keep in mind the displacement of the media withn the can and the size of the can; the oil filter is smaller than a soda can, so there will be no more than 16 ounces in a full can. On our trucks you can remove the filter first when changing your oil, but you are adding extra steps. I always found on our trucks to start underneath and work your way back into the engine bay for conveneience, but if want to pull the filter off first; there will be no issues if you let the truck sit for 30 minutes before changing the oil. In regards to drain, remove filter and fill, this is more a matter of convenience on our trucks than strict procedure. Hopefully this answers your question.

 

Steve, Thanks, clears thing up (for me) I did realize that if anything, it would only be the oil retained in the filter. this is the first vehicle that (imop) has the filter in the correct place, almost fun to change oil!!!, I have had some!!! well you know!! Thanks for taking the time to explain, Doc