5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
I am changing the oil myself for the first time and need help from the veteran DIYers. Yes, I know i could take it to a garage and have it done for $10, and its not worth the trouble. But I want to do it myself anyways just for the sake of learning and knowing how to do it.
I'm having 2 problems.
1. I cant find the drain plug. Where the heck is it? I found one that looks to be the trans fluid drain but didnt want to touch it.
2. I found the oil filter but it looks to be REALLY stuck in there and I don't know how i'm going to get it out. Is it held in there by screws or just pushed up in there?
Forgive my noobness and thanks in advance for any help!
second the jackstands... place them under the frame rails or any other SECURE spot.
the oil pan drain plug is usually on the angled surface of the end of the oil pan, and is a hex bolt (i forget what size). so the allen key looking drain plug recessed on the flat surface of the trans pan is your TRANS FLUID plug!
technically, the oil filter is a screw in a sense, but its more of a nut if you want to think of it that way. its probably overtightened from your last service or just really baked on. get one of those oil filter wrenches and it should come right off. if you don't know what size, use your new filter to find it.
when you put your new filter on, smear a little new oil on the gasket... this keeps the gasket from drying out/baking on to the car.
__________________
2005 Camry "LE"
TL HID Retrofit | OEM Fogs | SE Bumper | SE Grill | Factory Spoiler | Kosei K1 TS 18x7.5 | BC Racing Coilovers
TRD [RSB | Strut Tower Brace | Exhaust] || Rear Drum to Disc Swap
All done! Thanks for the help guys! As suggested I went out and bought a filter wrench and the filter came out very easily. Finally found the drain plug, the bolt was a 14mm. All in all very quick and very easy to do. Might keep doing it on my own now instead of taking it to the shop. thanks again.
if you have problems identifying where the drain plug is on the oil pan and where your transmission is, YOU SHOULD NOT DO THIS YOURSELF.
if you have no idea as to how an oil filter is mounted to the motor and the fact that even assumed that screws hold it in place... YOU SHOULD NOT DO THIS YOURSELF.
the fact that you did this yourself amazes me. but seriously man, sometimes saving $10 is not worth fukking up your car, if you're seriously that noob at cars, bring it to a mechanic.
Good job. I remember the second time changing my oil, the filter wrench stripped the oil filter(the case at the bottom). Hah I ended up using a channellock cause the strapwrench was too big.
if you have problems identifying where the drain plug is on the oil pan and where your transmission is, YOU SHOULD NOT DO THIS YOURSELF.
if you have no idea as to how an oil filter is mounted to the motor and the fact that even assumed that screws hold it in place... YOU SHOULD NOT DO THIS YOURSELF.
the fact that you did this yourself amazes me. but seriously man, sometimes saving $10 is not worth fukking up your car, if you're seriously that noob at cars, bring it to a mechanic.
Give the guy a break. It's his car. If he screws up, he's got no one to blame but himself. It's not like it hurts anyone buy himself. And if he does mess up, we can all get a good laugh out of it like that BMW kid that stuck a sock in his engine because he lost the oil cap.
At least he asked about it first before and tried it.
__________________
2007 Camry 2.4L 5M
Last edited by touringcamry; 10-20-2007 at 01:22 AM.
Give the guy a break. It's his car. If he screws up, he's got no one to blame but himself. It's not like it hurts anyone buy himself. And if he does mess up, we can all get a good laugh out of it like that BMW kid that stuck a sock in his engine because he lost the oil cap.
At least he asked about it first before and tried it.
... "Is it ok to put foreign objects in my engine?"
__________________
2007 Magnetic Gray Camry LE V6:
Lit door sills, F/R cathode, trunk cathode, K&N SRI, IS250 chromes, LED tails/ bulb swaps, Katzkin leather
if you have problems identifying where the drain plug is on the oil pan and where your transmission is, YOU SHOULD NOT DO THIS YOURSELF.
if you have no idea as to how an oil filter is mounted to the motor and the fact that even assumed that screws hold it in place... YOU SHOULD NOT DO THIS YOURSELF.
the fact that you did this yourself amazes me. but seriously man, sometimes saving $10 is not worth fukking up your car, if you're seriously that noob at cars, bring it to a mechanic.
WOW take it easy buddy! If I don't start somewhere how the hell am I supposed to learn anything? and I did a fantastic job if i do say so myself
I'm guessing you mean the sock thing. Some kid in Los Gatos was filling oil in his M3 and dropped his oil cap in the engine bay. He plugged the hole with a sock which ended up getting sucked under the valve cover. Apparently the thing got wound around the camshaft. I don't remember the details.
OK.. $10...but where? In the year 1985 maybe? Mostly everything I see is closer to $29.99.
For that price, I get Mobil 1 stuff and Puro filter.
Good luck on the job well done... you will get better with time.
Invest in tools, socket sets, wrenches, it all pays off. I like Craftsman as med-grade tools.
I am changing the oil myself for the first time and need help from the veteran DIYers. Yes, I know i could take it to a garage and have it done for $10, and its not worth the trouble. But I want to do it myself anyways just for the sake of learning and knowing how to do it.
I'm having 2 problems.
1. I cant find the drain plug. Where the heck is it? I found one that looks to be the trans fluid drain but didnt want to touch it.
2. I found the oil filter but it looks to be REALLY stuck in there and I don't know how i'm going to get it out. Is it held in there by screws or just pushed up in there?
Forgive my noobness and thanks in advance for any help!
Good for you. I am glad your oil change was trouble free. No better way to learn than to get under the car and do it.
WOW take it easy buddy! If I don't start somewhere how the hell am I supposed to learn anything? and I did a fantastic job if i do say so myself
Congrats on learning car maintenance. In any case, I don't think there's much that you can screw up when doing your own oil change. If you've still got the old filter around, though, it might be good to take a look at it to make sure that it's little rubber gasket didn't get left on the oil filter mount. Sometimes that happens, and you end up with the *new* oil filter, with it's own gasket, getting mounted onto filter mount, while the old rubber gasket is still up there, which isn't good.
Also, make sure that when you put the oil filter on, you just do it hand tight. You don't use the oil filter wrench at all when you're putting the new filter on.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
ToyotaNation.com is an independent Toyota/Lexus enthusiast website. ToyotaNation.com is not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. The Toyota, Lexus and Scion names and logos are trademarks owned by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
Need Help!! DIY Oil Change
Linear Mode
