🔧 Tacoma - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change

You’ll drain the old engine oil, replace the oil filter element, and refill with the correct oil. This keeps your engine properly lubricated and helps prevent wear and sludge.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 1.0-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and chock the rear wheels.
• 🛑 Let the engine cool 15–30 minutes; hot oil can burn you.
• 🛑 Support the truck with jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• 🛑 Keep oil off belts and exhaust parts; wipe spills immediately.
• 🛑 Battery disconnect is not required for this service.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (8-quart minimum)
• Funnel
• Shop towels
• 12mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch drive extension (6-inch)
• Torque wrench (10–80 ft-lb range)
• 64mm 14-flute oil filter cap wrench (specialty)
• Small flat pick tool

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (SAE 0W-20 full synthetic) - Qty: 7 quarts
• Oil filter element kit (cartridge type, includes O-rings) - Qty: 1
• Engine oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Run the engine 2–3 minutes, then shut it off (warm oil drains faster).
• 🧰 Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• 🧰 Raise the front and support it on jack stands at the frame points.
• 🧰 Open the hood and loosen the oil fill cap (this helps oil drain smoothly).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the front skid plate (if equipped)

• Use a 12mm socket with a 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the skid plate bolts.
• Set the skid plate and bolts aside where they won’t get oily.

Step 2: Drain the engine oil

• Place the drain pan (8-quart minimum) under the oil pan drain plug.
• Use a 14mm socket with a 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen and remove the drain plug.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip.
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug and install the new one.
• Reinstall the drain plug and tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 40 Nm (30 ft-lbs).
• Tip: Push inward while unthreading to reduce splashes.

Step 3: Drain the oil filter housing (cartridge filter)

• Locate the oil filter housing at the front/lower area of the engine.
• Move the drain pan under the filter housing.
• Use the 64mm 14-flute oil filter cap wrench (specialty) and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to slightly loosen the housing.
• If your housing has a small center drain plug, remove it carefully and let it drain into the pan.
• Reinstall the small drain plug and tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 13 Nm (9 ft-lbs).
• Tip: Wipe the housing clean before opening fully.

Step 4: Replace the oil filter element and O-ring

• Use the 64mm 14-flute oil filter cap wrench (specialty) with a 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the filter housing cap.
• Pull out the old filter element and discard it.
• Use the small flat pick tool to remove the old large O-ring from the cap (an O-ring is a rubber sealing ring).
• Install the new O-ring from the filter kit and lightly coat it with fresh oil.
• Install the new filter element into the housing.
• Reinstall the housing cap, then tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Reinstall the skid plate

• Reposition the skid plate and hand-start the bolts.
• Use a 12mm socket with a 3/8-inch drive ratchet to tighten the bolts securely.

Step 6: Refill with new oil

• Lower the truck safely off the jack stands using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Insert a funnel into the oil fill hole.
• Pour in SAE 0W-20 full synthetic (start with about 6 quarts).
• Reinstall the oil fill cap.

Step 7: Start, check for leaks, and set the oil level

• Start the engine and let it idle 30–60 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and wait 5 minutes.
• Check underneath for leaks at the drain plug and filter housing.
• Check the dipstick level and top off through the funnel as needed (do not overfill).
• Use shop towels and brake cleaner spray to clean any oil residue.

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Recheck the dipstick after your first short drive and top off if needed.
• 🧪 Reset the maintenance reminder (if it’s on):
• Turn key to ON, set odometer to Trip A, key OFF, then hold ODO/TRIP while turning key to ON until the display finishes resetting.
• 🧪 Dispose of used oil and the old filter properly (most parts stores accept used oil).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $120-$200 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $45-$80 (parts only)

You Save: $75-$120 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 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.