Stealership Oil Change...

I actually remove the access plate myself before I drop off for oil change and I tell the service person please do not remove the skid plate. Way too many stories of over torqued bolts and stripped screws. I can tell it’s done as I see some oil spillage on the plate which is fine with me. I respect all the do it yourself guys but I’m 61 and just don’t want to get on my back and do it anymore myself

 

I use a torque wrench for plenty of things, but not for an oil change. Still a good thing to have on hand for most jobs.

 

Yup terrible service. Only used that useless toyotacare for one service interval and that was the 10k they left the damn oil cap off and I didn’t notice until 2 months after since i dont drive the truck often

 

Last night I bought a Fumoto valve and filter removal tool. DiY from here on out. Today I plan on picking up an OEM filter from a local dealership. I'll be sure to post pictures of my currently installed filter once I pull it out.

 

I have my 20K last free oil change next week and plan on doing it myself after this. Where did you get the tool?

 

$7 Heavy Duty Oil Filter Wrench for Toyota,Lexus,RAV4,Camry,Tundra,Highlander,Sienna,Cruiser,Venza-Filter Cap Removal Socket Tool for 2.5-5.7L Engines with 64mm Cartridge Style Oil Filter Housings

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JG83SQR

 

Do you have enough clearance with the TRD skidplate drain plug hole to use the valve? Have a fumoto on my Mazda weekend car and love it, would be great to make oil changes on my taco even easier.

 

I tweaked my filter cap with a tool similar to this. I ended up buying a replacement filter cap at the dealer and buying the pricier

$30 Motivx Tools Oil Filter Wrench for Toyota Camry, Tundra, Tacoma, 4Runner, RAV4 and More - 64mm 14 Flute Precision CNC Machined Aluminum Oil Filter Removal Tool

Motivx tool, which is toleranced much better.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-ptr60-35190-trd-skid-plate-installed.792164/

 

Nice! Love it.

 

FML...I actually have the metal filter cap in my Amazon cart as a future "upgrade". The torque spec is 18 ft lbs so unless it was really over tightened by the dealership I shouldn't have an issue.

 

I'm due for my first "free" service in june. I changed the oil at 1k mi already because I figure they won't and I'll just take it in when they let me know about the axle bolt check. : )

 

Be sure you get the Toyota part and not Dorman or another knockoff

The MotivX tool is MUCH better than the one you had linked. I had one of those in the beginning, I threw it in the trash after two uses

 

$29 Toyota Genuine Parts - Cap Assy, Oil Filter (15620-31060)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008BHP68A

Here is the MotivX tool if anyone is interested.

$30 Motivx Tools Oil Filter Wrench for Toyota Camry, Tundra, Tacoma, 4Runner, RAV4 and More - 64mm 14 Flute Precision CNC Machined Aluminum Oil Filter Removal Tool

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XTAGHU0

 

Another recommendation for the motivx tool

also, a heads up for anyone doing their first oil change on this truck. When you pull the drain plug the oil comes out with extreme force. Maybe it’s that the truck is higher, I don’t know. But let’s just say I had issues I did not have on other oil changes in the sense of the pan not being able to contain it.

have a deep large oil pan or something to absorb so it doesn’t splatter.

Now I have the Fumotovalve so controlling the flow is much easier

 

^Same.

And it works on my 5th gen 4runner and Camry.
So a $10 dollar investment per vehicle..

 

a torque wrench was mentioned several times but if you are an experienced tugger you really don't need it.
having said that, about 10 years ago i needed one to install some head bolts on and engine i was working on so i checked out harbor freight click type Pittsburg brand.
they have 3 sizes, all costing about $8 or $9 on sale at that time. a quick look and they are about double that now but not on sale. i don't know if they run those sales anymore.
when i got it home i checked its accuracy VERY carefully with known weights and angles etc. i was surprised it was very accurate for the price. if it had been off i simply would have returned it but i was able to get the job done without spending hundreds of dollars for a pro wrench. i liked it so much i bought its little sister so i now have two of these things for relatively little money and i know they are accurate since i checked them.
just fyi in case anyone thinking about getting a torque wrench. it is a good thing to have around but not really necessary for the thread's purpose. i use it though, since i have it.

 

^ I have not experienced that one.

A pro tip, however.
If equipped, make sure the air bleeder is open on the oil drain pan before pulling the drain plug on the truck, or the pan won't be able to consume the oil quickly enough do to the back pressure.

 

When it comes to these dealership oil changers, it is not a training problem as some have suggested. These guys know to change the filter, they know to tighten the drain plug, they know to rotate the tires, but choose not to. The problem is the job does not pay enough to get an adult to do the job. Young men and women remain children on into their 30's these days, and that is about all you can get to work for less than $20.00 per hour. Most of them are only working because their parents force them to. The fast lube places are no different. No one really want to pay what it takes to get a real Technician to change your oil. All mechanics have to start somewhere, but most of your oil changers have very little interest in become a real technician.

 

I disagree. Cross threaded bolts and over torquing with air tools is a training and supervision issue in my opinion. Also allowing anyone to remain "children on into there (their?) 30's" is just enabling and pampering.