A question or two before I do my first 3rd gen oil change.

Sunday. I’ll do my 2nd gen, which I can do blindfolded. (Talking S here - I’d probably drain my tranny by accident if I tried it).

then I’ll do my 3rd gen. It’s at the 5000 mark already. Like most people, I watched a YouTube video to educate and orient myself. Questions:
1. When you stick the 3/8th drive to remove the smaller plug and twist, I can see it’s entirely possible to also twist off the full canister cover.
2. This results in a bigger mess right?
3. If this happens, just dump it and proceed? Or do you reach up and hold it to keep it from doing so?

Thx.

 

The small plug has a lower torque spec than the bigger plug. I have never had an issue loosening the smaller plug. The big cap stays put.

 

I've never had it happen on me, but if it does, have your pan underneath before you start, and just go with it.
Also, have towels within reach. I am not a clean mechanic, my hands always get covered by whatever is hiding behind the small plug. And then they get covered again when I dick around with the valve.

 

1. The housing should be much tighter than the small plug. The plug should barely be snugged.
2. No, because of #1
3. Shouldn’t happen.

You will want something to catch the few drops of oil from the small plug though. I don’t really know why but a little oil ends up in there.

 

I never mess with the little drain cap. Just pull the housing, new filter element and o-ring, put back up there and don't overtighten it

 

It SHOULD not happen, but it has happened to me. If you see the whole housing starting to spin when you turn the 3/8 plug, put a big pair of water pump pliers on the housing and put opposing pressure on that and the 3/8 plug until the plug breaks free. Otherwise you'll end up with an absolute mess. Ask me how I know...

 

The small plug is torqued to 10 lbs ft, the cap itself is torqued to 18 lbs ft

And with that being said, the cap itself tends to have quite a bit of resistance or friction with the fitment of the polymer threads. The small drain plug, being alloy, breaks free very easily, and has almost no resistance as it’s unthreaded

 

cool. thanks everyone. i like anticipating things..it is a good thing for my career, maybe overkill for everyday life stuff.

go time!! i need to go shopping for some stuff.

 

I have a small strap wrench I put on the housing if it starts to turn, but usually the plug comes out fine. Even torquing to spec, it can get stuck. But not a big deal if it all comes off together, just messy. Mine was stuck on the first change, fine on the next few, then a bit stuck on the last one.

Depending on the housing tool you have, just make sure it is fully seated on the housing so you don't snap the fins. It can seem like it is seated when it's not.

 

Yep, you should be good. The O-ring on the larger canister creates quite a bit of drag in my experience. This drag surprised me the first time. The little drain plug should come loose first. Also, since I don't think it's been mentioned yet, the Motivx filter drain tool works really well to drain the filter canister before removing. Super clean and easy. Toyota provides a little plastic drain tool that was much more messy for me. Good luck.

 

Motivx adapter, drain tool for me, and buy the funnel that stays in the fill neck without needing held. And Fumoto drain plug.

https://www.motivxtools.com
https://www.fumotousa.com

 

get the MotivX kit

 

Roger!!

i'll delay my work to get it.

 

The funnel may look the same as AutoZone funnels, but has a screw-in or otherwise "holding" action to save someone holding the funnel steady for filling.

 

I did not have issues with the Filter Housing twisting off along with the small cap...although, the Filter Housing was a bear to torque off afterwards! lol

The MotivX tool helped pre-drain some oil before I removed the plastic housing.





The plastic housing was replaced on the second oil change along with adding the Fumoto Valve.

 

Thanks for those torque specs! I knew the houseing spec but not the plug.

 

a standard quart jug of oil won't thread on?

 

I start filling with a 5-quart jug, so start with pouring. I did not buy that funnel because it said "out of stock" and regret not ordering and waiting. If you only buy quart bottles, maybe it will work.

Others even put an additional funnel in the Motivx one so they have a bigger pouring target but one that stays in place.

PS: I am not completely lazy, but lazy enough where it counts.

 

Don't forget to put clean oil on the o-ring and canister threads before installing.

 

Good point, that. Also watch the o-rings on install as they may slip out of position. Oiling and watching position sounds like "I am NOT stupid!", but silly/simple mistakes are the ones that get us most often.