Oil change advice

Hey everyone,

Have a 2007 Tacoma PreRunner very much in need of an oil change I'll be doing myself. Engine is a 4L V6 as it's well overdue and the oil is pretty gunky. Mileage is 163,000. I also need to do filters including air. It's never gotten to this point before so was wondering if anyone has thoughts on if there's anything special to take into consideration when doing the change, types of oil & filters that would be best to use since it's in the condition it's in, etc. Previous change was done with a synthetic oil and for this scenario not sure if it's better to stick with synthetic or go regular? The truck will be used for a 1500 mile road trip a couple weeks after the oil is done so want to make sure I use the best techniques and materials for all to go well with that and the long term of the truck then be back on regular changes. Appreciate any thoughts and suggestions!

 

Stay with synthetic 5/30
Air filter
What about plugs? When were they changed last
Check all Fluids. Lube all zerks “grease fittings”

 

How old is the oil? I would just put synthetic back in it with a Toyota filter and not worry about it unless it's giving you issues.

 

6 quarts of 5w-30 oil
And an oil filter.

Don’t make it complicated.
It’s not.

TacomaWorld is notorious for making an oil change MUCH more complicated than it should be.

 

Get a Fumoto valve. Future oil changes will only take 10 minutes from that point on…

 

5w-30 Synthetic oil. OEM oil & air filter and a new gasket.

 

It takes you that long to change the oil in your 2nd Gen?

 

Yes do, it’s the hipster accessory for people that have problems R/R drain plugs. Repeat after me
“Righty tighty, Lefty Loosey” and it’s not Friday yet but maybe this one will be 10 pages by then

 

My shiny brass Fumoto plug draws stares and gasps from amazed onlookers everywhere. It's the first thing they notice on my rig.

 

When I'm at the mall I try to crawl one tire up on a decorative stone, exposing my Fumoto valve. I jump out with my skinny jeans and button up short sleeve,crack open a PBR and relish in my awesome Fumoto.

 

MAKE SURE THEY ARE ACTUALLY TOYOTA OEM!!!

I bought a pack of 10 crush washers on Amazon that weren't, and the adhesive and fiber on one side of the aluminum crush washer couldn't handle the heat of the motor and oil and ended up squishing out in less than 100 mi. leaving a finger tight drain plug!!!! Never ever had that issue with toyota OEM crush washers so quickly grabbed a pack from the local dealer and threw out the other ones and replaced the one that was on the truck.

 

Another vote for 5W30 synthetic, OEM oil filter.

Replace engine air and cabin air filters. Consider plugs too as previously stated. Denso copper. Depends on last time you changed them.

Also another vote for replacing the crush washer.

 

Take the blue pill

 

I no longer have my 2nd gen. Wish I did.

 

This ain't rocket science. Probably the worst thing that can happen is that you drain the transmission instead of the engine. That seems to happen a lot. Double check before removing the drain plug.

Also you NEVER get all of the old oil out. While the engine may take 6 quarts I like to add only 5 quarts. Then start the engine and let it run for a minute. After turning the engine off give it 5-10 minutes then check the dipstick. Add oil as needed. It probably won't need a full quart to get to the fill line. If you just add 6 quarts without checking you can overfill.

Also, if the oil is really that bad, I'd change it again a lot sooner than recommended.

 

Sounds like a hoax

 

Not a hoax but a conspiracy

 

If you have ultra-bad oil that has gone too long since the last change -- maybe good to do an impromptu oil flush.

Pull the oil filter, drain the pan. New oil filter on.
Get a 5-gallon container of the cheapest 5W-30 conventional oil, drain & refill, idle the engine 10 minutes.
Drain and refill again with the cheap crap, idle another 10 minutes.

Then drain again, put on another new oil filter, and this time refill with the good-quality 5W-30 synthetic.

 

Yay!