3.4L 5VZ 1st Gen Oil Change Guide

ill remember that for next time. im up for another change

 

had my cleanest oil change ever yesterday! only a oil spot about the size of my palm on the garage floor. i was so proud of myself

 

yeah mine was a success too. mine would have been completely puddless except when i pulled the drain plug i didnt have the pan over far enough and it hit the edge and some went on the floor, but as far as the oil filter goes i didnt miss a drop thanks to the 2 liter bottle trick! worked great but it is kinda tricky to get it back out. just takes some finagleing

 

they oil i spilled was from the filter like always. i will try the 2-liter bottle trick next time though.

 

yeah i cut mine kind short so that it didnt go all the way up to the filter itself. and just mess with it till you get it positioned where you want it. i cut mine right at 4"

 

Thanks! Now I know how do it! Filter pretty hard to take it off, because My arm not long enough to reach turn off.

 

I am going to try the filter removal this way, after the engine is warmed up, remove the wheel well flap, loosen the filter a tad, take a sharp tapered punch marked with a piece of masking tape that when driven into the filter at the tape mark, would produce a 3/8's hole , pierce the filter to the masking tape mark at 12 O'clock, insert a piece of 3/8's plastic clear hose,carefully loosen filter to 6 O'clock, insert hose into a plastic bottle, re-pierce filter at 12 O'clock for a vent and see what happens. I think you could practice the first hole punch on a empty can so to get a idea if the hose will fit the filter with minimal leakage.

 

Just changed the oil on my 2001 Tacoma for the first time since I got it which was last week !

Quick question, I am almost 100% positive that my bolt in the drain plug DID NOT have a washer/gasket with it...How essential is this to making sure that I do not have an oil leak?

It has been 2 days, and I have not seen any leaks and I have also check my oil multiple times and so far so good. Just want to double check.

 

if there's no leak, don't worry about it. Just put one on next time you change the oil.

 

My $.02...

The filter change can also be done while standing and facing the engine. You'll need a strap wrench.

I wouldn't suggest this if the vehicle is really hot. With engine hot is the only way I've every done it, must be nice to have a cool engine on this one.

On the drivers side, look down in there and find that alternator. Reach your hand down in there and behind the alternator. Should be able to feel the oil filter.

Position strap wrench so it turns lefty loosy, slide that baby down in there and over the filter, give her a few turns and remove the tool. Should be able to spin the filter off with your hand. Tight fit.

Take a look at this link.
http://www.lowmileageengines.com/engine_blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/100_0034.JPG

It obviously does not have any of the serp belt drive/access attached but you can see what I"m talking about. And it's a lot harder with the engine in the truck.

Look at the bottom of the engine. Find the lower coolant intake pipe and directly behind it is the oil filter. A little hard to see b/c its a black filter and it's hidden by that bracket (alt bracket) but should give a pretty good visual.

 

SHould I buy new plastic push tabs? I've tried to take two out so far and broken both. one i broke the head, the other I broke the protruding plastic pieces that hold the tab into the frame..... things are a biatch to get out.

 

i think ill just zip ty it

 

What number is the filter that I need? I guess Fram, its late and I need to get my oil changed. Checker O'Reilly is the only guys open to get some supplies. I havent changed my oil a while cause i have two vehicles, but i started driving it again and its way past, i need to change it. The check engine light just came on as well. ugh...

 

If you like your truck, don't buy fram.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/te...-oil-filter-made-thailand-vs-competition.html

 

From the FSM:

1. DRAIN ENGINE OIL
(a) Remove the oil filler cap.
(b) Remove the oil dipstick.
(c) Remove the oil drain plug and drain the oil into a container.

Dang it! All this time I've been doing it wrong?

 

I had my oil changed at the dealership (I watched him so it since I couldn't get the filter off myself.) and when he had 5.5 quarts in, he showed me the dipstick and it was reading only half. After pouring in the remaining .5 quart it was full. Thoughts? I've checked the dip stick since and it is still full and everything seems to be fine.

 

I run mine at half (5.5 quarts) and it doesn't move in my 5k OCI's.

 

Been running Fram for years never a problem!

 

I wondering I been changed Castrol hi mileage and toyota oil filter every 3,000 kms, I curious does Castrol gtx hi mileage, Castrol gtx edge, Castrol gtx sync, engine run longer same all oil?