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I'm gonna attempt changing my gen3's (5sfe) oil for the first time... I actually already tried it today but ran into some difficulties...
I have the oil, I bought an oil filter and i have 1 of those things u can lie on and roll under the car...
I had an extra jackstand and the oem jack... however, the oem jack couldn't lift the car high enough.
did all of you who change your own oil need to go out and buy a jack? my friend who was with me changes oil on his 93 corolla and his oem jack worked fine.
when changing oil, is it fine just to lift one side of the car? as that's what my friend and his dad have been doing for several years.
also, do you need any special tools to unscew the plug under the car?
as for the oil filter, can you just twist it out with your hand or would you need a special wrench to twist it out?
yea.. i'm a complete noob @ this stuff which is why all the questions
I'm gonna attempt changing my gen3's (5sfe) oil for the first time... I actually already tried it today but ran into some difficulties...
I have the oil, I bought an oil filter and i have 1 of those things u can lie on and roll under the car...
I had an extra jackstand and the oem jack... however, the oem jack couldn't lift the car high enough.
did all of you who change your own oil need to go out and buy a jack? my friend who was with me changes oil on his 93 corolla and his oem jack worked fine.
when changing oil, is it fine just to lift one side of the car? as that's what my friend and his dad have been doing for several years.
also, do you need any special tools to unscew the plug under the car?
as for the oil filter, can you just twist it out with your hand or would you need a special wrench to twist it out?
yea.. i'm a complete noob @ this stuff which is why all the questions
It's very easy. I went out and bought a jack. It was pretty cheap. 20 bucks for a 2 ton jack and 2 jack stands. It was a sale at Checkers Auto.
I will explain the process to you. Lift the car. I just put the jack in the middle of the front and lift up the whole front.
Next use a socket wrench or any type of wrench to get the net off the plug to drain the oil. If a regular wrench doesn't work the first 2 times, Get a socket wrench. You DO NOT want to round the bolt. Now go inside and chill for 20-30 minutes and wait for the oil to drain.
Then you wanna take off the filter. I do it by hand, but some people use tools. A tool is like 15 bucks and isn't necessary. And put on the new one, You will want to rub a lil engine oil on the very bottom of the filter. Put it all around the circle. I think it acts kind of like a lube.
Put the plug on the bottom back on and then pour in your oil. Once thats done, Your finished. Not a hard job at all.
Well put, CamNub. I'd like to add that you should be careful exactly where you're lifting up the car in the front. There's a certain place the manual advises you to use. Otherwise, you might wind up bending something, or worse. Also, make sure you know exactly how much oil you need, or at least make sure you don't overfill (or underfill).
Well put, CamNub. I'd like to add that you should be careful exactly where you're lifting up the car in the front. There's a certain place the manual advises you to use. Otherwise, you might wind up bending something, or worse. Also, make sure you know exactly how much oil you need, or at least make sure you don't overfill (or underfill).
Yeah. I haven't ever found the place. There isn't a dome on the gen 4's so i kind of put it somewhere where it looks pretty solid. I gotta find out where Im supposed to put it someday.
But I usually put in 4quarts/1 gallon. But as he said, you'll prolly wanna check on the dipstick as you fill so you can get the right amount.
my car uses a little more than 4 quarts. Its an easy thing. I used a floorjack (2ton 20 bucks) and put it in the middle of the front frame. took about 20 min to do.
It might be worth checking to see if the oil filter is loose before you drain the oil just in case it's too tight to get off by hand. I've always done my own oil changes and removed the filter by hand but this time, it was just too damn tight (gotta start working out) and I'd already drained the oil. Fortunately, I knew someone nearby with a filter wrench.
When you do remove the filter, in addition to lubing the filter gasket, probably worth giving area around the filter on the car a wipe to ensure a good seal.
It's very easy. I went out and bought a jack. It was pretty cheap. 20 bucks for a 2 ton jack and 2 jack stands. It was a sale at Checkers Auto.
I will explain the process to you. Lift the car. I just put the jack in the middle of the front and lift up the whole front.
Next use a socket wrench or any type of wrench to get the net off the plug to drain the oil. If a regular wrench doesn't work the first 2 times, Get a socket wrench. You DO NOT want to round the bolt. Now go inside and chill for 20-30 minutes and wait for the oil to drain.
Then you wanna take off the filter. I do it by hand, but some people use tools. A tool is like 15 bucks and isn't necessary. And put on the new one, You will want to rub a lil engine oil on the very bottom of the filter. Put it all around the circle. I think it acts kind of like a lube.
Put the plug on the bottom back on and then pour in your oil. Once thats done, Your finished. Not a hard job at all.
I thought you have to take the oil filter out first, then jack the car up. After that get the plug off to drain the oil. This way, all the oil can get out easy, also it will help you to get the oil filter easy since you have more force.
The oil filter opener tool only cost around $4 for 4 cyl. Go to autozone and ask for one.
I thought you have to take the oil filter out first, then jack the car up. After that get the plug off to drain the oil. This way, all the oil can get out easy, also it will help you to get the oil filter easy since you have more force.
The oil filter opener tool only cost around $4 for 4 cyl. Go to autozone and ask for one.
Your right. I just jack the car up and then let it down. The oil comes out easier when set at "rest" position i bleieve.
aside from the jack stands, your car and 99% of all toyotas will use a 14mm wrench to remove the oil drain plug.. it's advisable to get a oil plug gasket (small ring) to replace the exsisting gasket on the plug.. 4 Cylinder cars will use 4 quarts, and 6 cylinder will use 5... I'd advise, dont buy Fram and all those other junk filters, goto your dealership, spend $6 and get a OEM oil filter (4 cylinders is an A2 for Gen 3-3.5s, or an 02011 for 6 cyl.) The parts department should have several cut outs of other competitor's filters to show the filtration process. Toyota filters have a better inner core than aftermarkets. you can use an oil filter wrench (they're cheap and you can get them anywhere) to remove the filter, but only hand tighten back. Tighten the plug nice and snug BUT dont tighten so much that the gasket breaks... I hope this helps.
what size wrench do i need to unplug the drainage port under the car?
so i only need 1 jack + 1 jack stand right?
is there a need to block off the tires at the back? or is that only necessary from if you are on a slant?
if i just buy any jack from canadian tire it should be able to lift it higher than the oem one rite?
This is a good time for you to invest some money on good jack. Go to sear and buy a 3tons craftsman jack and a pair of jack stands. I think they come in a combo set. They should cost you around 60-80 or something, I couldn't remember. And don't get any jack under 3 tons,
This is a good time for you to invest some money on good jack. Go to sear and buy a 3tons craftsman jack and a pair of jack stands. I think they come in a combo set. They should cost you around 60-80 or something, I couldn't remember. And don't get any jack under 3 tons,
Why not get any jack under 3 tons?
A car is about 3000 pounds. 2 tons is 4000 pound. A 2 ton jack should be sufficient.
specs:
Automatic bypass prevents jack damage through over pumping
Internal safety valve
Rear wheel swivel for easy positioning
Convenient carrying handle
5 1/2 - 14" lift range
not sure if 14" is high enough though... since the problem i had today was i couldn't get underneath because the oem jack didn't light it high enough...
and i'm not too certain of a jack having wheels on it.... some other jacks with wheels on it say do not use with vehicles
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There isn't a dome on the gen 4's so i kind of put it somewhere where it looks pretty solid. 
Fortunately, I knew someone nearby with a filter wrench. 
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