🔧 Corolla - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

This job drains the old engine oil and replaces the oil filter, then refills with fresh oil. Clean oil protects your engine from wear and helps it run cooler and smoother.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.75-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Let the engine cool 10-15 minutes so the oil isn’t dangerously hot.
• Support the car with jack stands—never rely only on a floor jack.
• Wear gloves and safety glasses; used oil can irritate skin.
• Keep oil off belts and exhaust parts to prevent smoke/odor.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (pair, rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 14mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• Oil filter wrench (cup or band style)
• Drain pan (at least 6-quart capacity)
• Funnel
• Trim clip remover
• 10mm socket
• Shop rags
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (0W-20 full synthetic) - Qty: 5 quarts
• Oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug crush washer/gasket - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Corolla on a level surface and set the parking brake.
• Chock the rear wheels with wheel chocks.
• Warm the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap (helps the oil drain quicker).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and support the front of the car

• Use a floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) to lift the front at the front center jacking point.
• Place jack stands (pair, rated 2-ton minimum) under the left and right front support points and lower the car onto the stands.
• Give the car a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable before going underneath.

Step 2: Access the drain plug and oil filter

• If your Corolla has a lower splash shield access door, remove it using a 10mm socket and/or a trim clip remover.
• Slide the drain pan (at least 6-quart capacity) under the oil pan drain plug.

Step 3: Drain the old engine oil

• Use a 14mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet to loosen the drain plug.
• Finish unthreading the plug by hand, then quickly pull it away so the oil drains into the pan.
• Let it drain until it slows to an occasional drip (usually 5-10 minutes).
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug and install the new one.

Step 4: Reinstall the drain plug

• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range) with a 14mm socket to tighten it: Torque to 37 Nm (27 ft-lbs).
• A torque wrench is a tool that tightens bolts to an exact setting so you don’t strip threads or cause leaks.

Step 5: Remove the old oil filter

• Move the drain pan under the oil filter area (some oil will spill).
• Use an oil filter wrench (cup or band style) to loosen the filter, then spin it off by hand.
• Check that the old rubber gasket didn’t stick to the engine (remove it if it did).
• An oil filter wrench is a tool that grips the filter canister so you can loosen it without crushing it.

Step 6: Install the new oil filter

• Wipe the sealing surface on the engine clean with shop rags.
• Put a thin film of new oil on the new filter’s rubber gasket.
• Spin the new filter on by hand until the gasket contacts the engine, then tighten an additional 3/4 turn by hand. Do not use the wrench to tighten.

Step 7: Refill with new engine oil

• Place a funnel in the oil fill opening.
• Pour in about 4.4 quarts of 0W-20 full synthetic engine oil.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap.

Step 8: Start, check for leaks, and verify oil level

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and look underneath for leaks at the drain plug and oil filter.
• Wait 5 minutes, then check the dipstick and top off as needed to reach the full mark.

Step 9: Reinstall the splash shield access door and lower the car

• Reinstall the access door using the 10mm socket and/or trim clip remover.
• Raise slightly with the floor jack, remove the jack stands, and lower the car.

Step 10: Reset the maintenance required light

• Turn the key to ON (do not start).
• Use the trip button to set the display to Trip A.
• Turn the key to OFF.
• Press and hold the trip button, then turn the key to ON (do not start).
• Keep holding until the maintenance light resets (countdown/zeros), then release.

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✅ After Repair

• Recheck for leaks after your first short drive.
• Confirm the oil level is at the full mark on the dipstick.
• Dispose of used oil and the old filter at an oil recycling location (most auto parts stores accept it).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $80-$140 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $30-$55 (parts only)

You Save: $50-$110 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.7-1.2 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.