Oil change questions

As I'm setting up to do my first oil change, I find it's not as simple as any of my previous Toyotas. The use of a cartridge style filter surprised me, I thought we were long past using those messy things. I'm also surprised that it takes removing the skid plate to access it which is the basis for my question.

I usually change the oil & filter in my vehicles but will often take my wife's or daughter's car to one of the oil change places nearby. With easily accessible spin on filters, I never question that the business changes it but can't help but wonder if they actually change one of these or just claim they did? Or do they charge extra?

Any first hand experience out there?

 

Tons of youtube video's on this but it is still just an oil change! Go for it brother, you will be fine. Just don't confuse your engine oil drain with the auto-transmission drain plug if you have an AT. Believe it or not, it happens too often!

 

My experience is those quick change places overtighten everything.
I did my truck last weekend and only took maybe 20 minutes tops.
The skid plate is 4 bolts and with the front hang hooks easy to get on and off.
I'd do it myself, this way you get a quality filter & oil, and you know for sure it is properly done.

 

The main reason I've always done it myself is I know what I'm putting in it. Understand that I've been doing it myself for well over a half a century and there may come a time in the not too distant future that I'm just rather not do it myself anymore.

I'm just curious if the oil change businesses actually change the filter and if so, do they charge extra? I know I can do it in less than a half hour but these places advertise themselves as a 10 minute process so I'm curious what they actually do.

Thanks but I don't need a youtube video, I've been changing oil & filters since the mid sixties and ran a large motor pool in the service. My question was not about my capabilities, it was about the service businesses. I could always take it to a Toyota dealer if I wanted to throw more money at it than necessary.

 

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Geez o Louis man! Yeah, now that I re-read your post, you are right! But your question is extremely subjective and pretty much un-answerable? How the hell are we supposed to know if every oil change place out there actually does what you paid them to do? What a waste of my fucking time. Best of luck to you!

 

We can't tell you if your local Jiffy Lube will change it or not. Could always stand there and watch? But no, they should not charge extra because you have a cannister style vice a spin-on style filter. Be warned that the cannister housing is plastic and takes a special spanner to remove. If the cap breaks, you are dead in the water until you replace it. Many go to the aluminum style cap to prevent breaking. Also, if you have an aftermarket skid, they may tell you no.

 

Its why i decided to keep doing the oil changes myself in the future. I'd have no issue going to an independent garage here or the local toyota dealer knowing the job will be done right, but their latest rates to do an oil change using a full synthetic was just over $100 for our prius this month....they claim its our current economy causing the price increase. I could just guess what it might be for this tacoma.

 

This settles it.

I'm doing my next oil change...and the next...and the next...

Fumoto valve, oil filter wrench, and OEM oil filter cap housing assembly under the back seat storage compartment!

 

Cartridge style Oil Filter Wrench - MX2320. They are around 25 bucks, but the Matrix is the best. Don't go cheap on this!

64.3mm 14 Flute Oil Filter Wrench - Fits Toyota, Lexus and Scion - Motivx Tools

 

There is an oil change place close to me that claims they can change to oil so quickly that the customer doesn’t even need to get out of the vehicle. That is all the information I need to know that they are not doing it right.

 

The key to success and happiness here is to just not change the oil too often.

 

My truck is just out of the free 2-year service time so I will be doing it myself from now on. I have a TRD skid plate but plan on putting in a Fumoto valve to make it easier after the first time. At that point it is as simple as stuff a hose in and flip a valve.

 

Reputable shops obviously should be replacing the filter. Is it plausible they dont? Sure, I guess anything is possible.
But I choose to believe that’s not common .

When my Toyota Care oil changes are over, Ill just do it myself whenever possible.

 

2018 owner here, who now does his own oil changes. i did the following, i added the F-133 oil drain plug instead of having to to always remove the dam oil plug. i also upgraded the oil filter to a metal oil filter. (also made by Toyota). no need to take off both skid plates now. speeds up process and way easier now.

https://www.fumotousa.com/f-133.html

$22 Toyota Genuine Parts - Cap Assy, Oil Filter (15620-31060)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BHP68A?ie=UTF8

 

The biggest problem I have found around where I live is where to dump the used oil. The only place that will accept used oil is Pep Boys, and for a while they stopped due to Covid. They opened it up back up, but twice I have gone there and they claim their tank is full. Major pain in the ass

 

So sorry to waste the few seconds it took you to read my question. I guess I could complain about all the responses that don't bother to answer my question in the first place but that's just not who I am.

But do you really think I am expecting someone to know what all oil change businesses do? I was asking for was first hand experience, that's it. In the future if you can't provide an answer to an OP's question, feel free to scroll on by.

I was asking for your experience, not if you were all-knowing. And FWIW, skid plate is OEM and the cannister is cast aluminum.

You touched on the reason I've always done my own - what most want for full synthetic is far too high considering the difference in oil cost is minimal. I've been using Mobil One since the early 70s.

And that right there was the reason for my post in the first place. Where I take my wife's car is like that, stay in the car and it's done in less than 10 minutes. I guess I just need to drive up there, have them look underneath and then ask them directly before I make any decision.

So far I've had no problem with disposing of old oil. Either Autozone or Advance still accept it, good thing too considering my Cummins DP takes 12 quarts!

Thanks for those links, I hadn't considered that a spin adapter might be available. I converted my 65 vette over 30 years ago to get rid of the damn cannister.

 

same here on maui, napa is the place and likewise "our tank is full", wasted trip. i have learned to call first.

 

There have been a few post where folks have changed their Oil after a Toyota Dealership did the previous change and found no element at all.
I would be seriously suspicious of a quick change place and unless you can physically watch them do the work I would say most don't change the filter. Especially the ones claiming less than 30 min.
I have an extra canister and since my Rav4 and Tacoma use the same filters I just have the third one ready to go. Even then, it is a 30 minutes job to do it properly.
At least with the old filters you could write a date or mark them to insure the were changed.
I, like yourself have been doing my own for damn near 50 years and hopefully can get a few more years out of my body.

 

I ordered the

$30 mx2320 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

mx2320 motivx wrench for future use ...its been redesigned over their past one due many reporting cracked composite cartridge housing's from it. The new model's flutes are suppose to fit more precise/tighter like a skin tight glove.

 

Why? It really doesn't take any time to change the oil if the shop is set up right.

Drive over pit, oil fill pump, parts on hand, you sitting in your car playing on your phone for a few minutes.

It shouldn't take long to do it right, they aren't changing your water pump or something.