What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Truthfully, I've only ever changed out the washer hand full of times over all the oil changes I've done.. maybe 4-5 new washers in total, so yeah, usually reuse the existing one without an issue... just felt like it was time, and just didn't feel a non-oem washer would have been an issue, but here we are.

 

Glad I'm not the only one.
You can kind of refresh a sealing washer by heating it with a torch too. ymmv though

 

wait, your supposed to replace that?

 

Allow me to make your life a lot easier. Also no washers to change ever.

$37 Original Fumoto F103N with LC-10 lever clip FN-Series Engine Oil Drain Valve, 1 Pack

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D9DXCHP

 

Do I look like I have all day for an oil change. Actually in most cases I do... But I'm still impatient

 

I took pity on the crush washer on my Civic after 100k miles. It had all but become one with the plug. Never noticed a drip but that one parks on the street so I probably wouldn't notice it anyway.

 

Stopped procrastinating and dropped the spare to coat the frame with Fluid Film... and promptly discovered that the spare tire and fuel tank crossmembers are ~25-30% gone. Thankfully the vertical elements are basically spared, and I suspect (can't prove it without doing more engineering analysis than I want to) that they carry most of the load, so no urgency to replace them especially now that the Fluid Film is soaked in and should prevent further damage.

Still, probably should replace those crossmembers while I can still find replacements, especially since they're bolt-in... even if dropping the tank is gonna suck.

It's probably not necessary, but at a buck each (max) it's cheap insurance against the old one not sealing up proper-like. And I didn't feel like taking chances with what was likely a 20-year-old crush washer on the differential.

 

If you have a few extra set of hands, and if the fasteners aren't seized, removing the bed is often recommended as easier than dropping the tank.

 

Actually it’s pretty quick. By the time I have the oil filter off it’s about done.

 

Oh, I plan on taking the bed off regardless since I want to properly sandblast + repaint the frame rails - I'm just pretty sure one of the crossmembers is what's holding the tank up, so not really sure how I'd replace it without dropping the tank as well.

 

I have an irrational fear of bending my skid plate in and then it landing square on that valve since it sticks straight down on the 3rz.

 

If you support it in place (something underneath, maybe some ratchet straps to the frame) you might at least be able to save yourself the mess of disconnecting the fuel lines.

Then again, once you have the bed off, dropping the tank will be a lot easier anyway.

 

Yeah it does the same thing on the 5vz, I had the same fear initially. It’s been on there for 11 years without any issue though, a few bends in the skid plate but nowhere near hitting the valve.

 

If I didn't have to pull my skids to get to the filter, it would be more worth it too.

 

Fuel filter needs replacing too. I figure if I do it all at once at least it'll just be one mess.

 

If you do the fuel filter last you can use the fuel to clean up the rest of the mess

 

Go through the driver side wheel well, it’s easier, at least on the 5vz

 

Passenger wheel well for 3RZ, but yeah, that's how I do it. Decent access if you pull the fender liner back a bit.

 

My UCA double shear brackets said no

 

Wait, you’re supposed to change the oil?