Anything special on oil change?

[supercoupe91]

Hello,
I bought my 03 Avalon used a few months ago and need to change the oil on it. I do not have an owners manual...is there anything tricky with changing oil on this engine.
Sorry for the simpleton question, and thanks in advance.
Also what brand oil does everyone use in these cars?

[KoG506]

Originally Posted by supercoupe91

Hello,
I bought my 03 Avalon used a few months ago and need to change the oil on it. I do not have an owners manual...is there anything tricky with changing oil on this engine.
Sorry for the simpleton question, and thanks in advance.
Also what brand oil does everyone use in these cars?

No, nothing special is needed,.... just change oil and oil filter.

I use valvoline/pennzoil. but now i just take to toyota dealer to do since it cost like $20 for oil change... just buying oils and oil filter alone is about $20.. so why not let them do it. and the use toyota oil and toyota oil filter better IMO

[bobflood]

Not hard, but you need a end cap oil filter wrench and a short extension, as oil filter is right under the exhaust manifold.

[bobflood]

Realized I was a bit too brief in last post. The oil filter is accessed from above, not underneath. Open the hood and it is right below the left side of the front exhaust manifold. You have to get your hand down between the back of the radiator and the front of the exhaust manifold to reach the oil filter. Both are hot if you drain the oil hot, as you should. If you have big hands, it can be difficult to reach in there without getting burned. If you get an cap style oil filter wrench that fits over the end of the filter, and a short (2-3 in) extension, you can manuver the cap onto the filter w/o getting scalded. You also have to move the pan you drain the oil into so it is below the filter, as some oil will leak out as you unscrew it. Good luck!!

PS: I have been working on my own cars for decades - Toyots, Nissans, Fords, Chevys - and always use the same oil - Whatever is on sale!! I have never had an engine failure, or a car that burned oil, and typically run my cars well into the 250K mileage range. I am rigorous about changing oil and filter every 5K miles, which IMHO is far more important than the type of oil you use.

[supercoupe91]

Wow thanks for the detailed instructions, much appreciated. I ended up taking it to Toyota which I won't be doing again, I sat in there for over an hour waiting on them. Next time I will change everything out myself.