5th Gen 4Runner Oil Change – What You Need and How to do it

How to Change the Oil and Oil Filter on the 5th Generation Toyota 4Runner

There are many different types of maintenance you can do on a vehicle, but quite possibly the most important is changing your vehicle’s oil. If you are wanting to have a reliable and long-lasting vehicle, I would suggest changing your oil every 5,000 miles. You might not need to change it quite so often with synthetic oil, but it is well worth the money. You really should only use synthetic oil as well, such as Mobil 1. Although a 4Runner is pretty bulletproof, changing the oil is necessary and will only aid in a smoother, longer lasting vehicle.

WHAT YOU NEED

There are some key components you will need for changing the oil on your 5th Gen 4Runner. Here is a list of everything you will need:

• 6.6 Quarts of 0W-20 oil (I recommend Mobil 1)
• Factory Oil Filter or the TRD Oil Filter
• Funnel
• Oil drain plug gaskets
• Rags for cleanup and to wipe away any oil
• 10, 12, and 14 mm sockets
• Ratchet drive for sockets (3/8-inch)
• 64mm oil filter wrench
• Oil catch pan
• Latex gloves
• Owners manual might help

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR OIL – STEP BY STEP

Step 1 – Good Location

The first step is to find a location to change the oil on your car. I can fit under my 4Runner without any ramps or a lift; however, if you need and or prefer to raise your car up, do so accordingly.

Step 2 – Grab some Latex Gloves

Prepare to change your 4Runner’s oil by putting on some latex gloves. Although this isn’t necessary, I believe it is best to try and keep your hands as clean as possible from oils and grease. Using gloves also helps to have a quick clean up, because sometimes grease can be really hard to get off your hands.

Step 3 – Remove Skid Plate Cover

If your 4Runner comes equipped with a front skid plate, you will need to remove the small cover located on the skid plate that will give you access to the oil drain plug.

You will need to remove this cover by using a 12mm socket and ratchet. After removing the bolts, set the small skid plate that covers the oil drain plug to the side. I suggest placing the bolts on top of this small skid plate, so you can easily locate them once it is time to put this cover back on.

Step 4 – Remove the oil drain plug

Prepare to remove the oil drain plug and drain the oil from your 4Runner. In order to do so, you will need to have a container to catch the oil that spills below. Although, some oil is lost from the vehicle operation, plan for at least 6.6 quarts to come out (as this is how much you put in).

After placing a container to catch the oil underneath the drain plug, use a 14mm socket and ratchet to unbolt the drain plug. After the drain plug becomes loose enough, unscrew it by hand.

Make sure to hold on to the drain plug and try not to drop it in the oil catch container. After you remove the drain plug, oil will come out quickly so be prepared to move your hand out of the way and let the oil drain into the container.

In the meantime, you can go ahead and wipe any contaminants from the drain plug with a clean microfiber cloth. After doing so, set the drain plug aside until later.

Step 5 – Remove the Front Skid Plate & Cover

While your oil is draining, go ahead and remove the front skid plate and skid plate cover. You might ask why you have to do this, and the simple reason is to change the oil filter. You don’t have access to the oil filter unless you remove the front skid plate and skid plate cover.

To remove the cover, you will need a 10mm socket and ratchet to remove five (5) bolts. There is also one (1) push pin that you will need to remove. Once you remove the cover you will then have access to remove all four (4) bolts that hold on the skid plate.

To remove these bolts, use a 12mm socket and ratchet. Word of advice that is very important: Remove the front bolts first on the skid plate. After doing so you will need to hold up the skid plate while removing the back two. If you don’t hold the skid plate when removing the last bolt, the skid plate will fall and hit you. Although it doesn’t weigh too much, it probably won’t feel good. The front of the skid plate is on a hinge that unhooks.

Take your time and rotate the back of the skid plate towards the ground to remove the skid plate from the hinge. After you remove the skid plate, set it to the side with the bolts on or nearby.

Step 6 – Remove the Oil Filter

At this point in time you will want to remove the oil filter – which I think is the most complex part of the entire process, but still pretty straightforward. Before you remove the filter go ahead and reinstall your drain plug and the small skid plate that covers the drain plug. After doing so, move the container you are using to catch your oil so that it is underneath the oil filter.

Using a ratchet with a 3/8-inch extension remove the metal plug to the oil filter. Some oil will drip out so make sure you have a container to catch it. Your new oil filter should come with a plastic tool to further drain out some oil. All you have to do is push it into the base of the filter. Oil should drain out after doing so. Wait until the oil has finished draining and then remove the plastic drain tool. Along with removing the plastic drain tool, a small O-ring should also come out. This is trash, so go ahead and throw away the drain tool and the small O-ring.

Now you can remove the actual filter. Use your 64 mm filter wrench and take off the filter housing. Make sure to note a small metal tab on the side of the housing. This tab should align to the same location when putting the filter back on. After unscrewing the filter all the way, remove the old filter from the housing and throw it away.

There is also an O-ring on the housing that needs to be removed. You do not need any pry tools and should be able to remove this O-ring by hand with ease. I’d recommend doing this by hand as you don’t want to damage the plastic threads.

Step 7 – New O-ring from the filter box

Grab your new O-ring from the filter box and coat it with a small amount of oil. After doing so place it on the filter housing. Make sure it is seated all the way around. Next, place your new filter into the housing. You don’t have to worry about orientation as there is no right way up.

Step 8 – Screw the filter assembly back in

Make sure to keep tightening until the metal indicator tab is back to its position like it was before removing the filter housing. Now install the small O-ring into the filter housing by first coating it in a small amount of oil and then placing the O-ring in place on the drain area of the filter housing. After doing so, you can reinstall the metal drain plug into the filter housing. You don’t need to overtighten this, so just make sure it is snug.

Step 9 – Oil Change

After verifying that your drain plug and oil filter are back in place install 6.6 quarts of 0W-20 oil into your 4Runner. Use a funnel for this as you do not want to spill oil on your engine.

Step 10 – Check for Leaks

When you finish installing all 6.6 quarts of oil check around the drain plug and filter housing, make sure there are no leaks. If you can’t spot any you can go ahead and install the skid plate and skid plate cover.

Step 11 – Reset your maintenance light

Now that you’ve completed the actual oil change procedure you need to reset your maintenance light so that you know when to change it again. To do so you will need the key to your vehicle.

Turn your key to accessory mode (far as the key will go without actually starting the vehicle).

Verify your odometer is showing Trip A. If it isn’t, press the knob to the right of the speedometer to go to Trip A.

After verifying it says trip A, turn the key to the off position. Press and hold down the odometer button and then turn the key back to accessory mode. The screen should show the maintenance resetting.

Continue to hold the odometer button until the maintenance light has been reset. After doing this, you are good to go for another 5,000 miles.

CONCLUSION

Although there are some cars out there that make it a little easier to change the oil, the 4Runner’s oil can be changed relatively easily and in a short amount of time.

Since the 4Runner is capable of going in some pretty rugged areas, you need to take the time to maintain your vehicle as best as possible and prevent any potential damage from occurring.

Taking the time to change your oil every 5,000 miles with a quality synthetic, such as Mobil 1, will only benefit your vehicles performance, longevity, and reliability out on the trail and on the open road.