🔧 RAV4 - Engine Oil & Filter Change

You’ll drain the old engine oil, replace the oil filter cartridge, then refill with fresh oil to the correct level. This keeps your engine protected, clean, and running longer.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 1-1.5 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🦺 Always work on a cool engine; hot oil can cause serious burns.
• 🛑 Park on level ground, engage the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• 🧱 Support the front of your RAV4 with jack stands; never rely only on a floor jack.
• 🔌 Battery disconnect is not required for this job.
• 🧼 Clean up any spilled oil immediately; it’s slippery and harmful to the environment.
• ♻️ Plan where you will take the used oil and filter for recycling (most service stations or parts stores accept it).

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton or higher, Qty: 2)
• Wheel chocks
• Oil drain pan (at least 10-quart capacity)
• 14mm socket
• 10mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (5-75 ft-lbs range)
• 3/8" drive extension (3"-6")
• 64mm 14-flute oil filter cap wrench (specialty)
• Flathead screwdriver (medium)
• Trim clip removal tool
• Shop rags or paper towels
• Funnel (medium size)
• Disposable gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (0W-20 full synthetic) - Qty: 5 quarts
• Engine oil filter cartridge (for 2.5L) - Qty: 1
• Oil filter housing O-ring (large, comes with filter) - Qty: 1
• Oil filter housing drain plug O-ring (small, comes with filter) - Qty: 1
• Engine oil drain plug gasket (crush washer) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner or parts cleaner spray - Qty: 1
• Shop towels or absorbent pads - Qty: as needed

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park your RAV4 on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Gather all tools and parts so you don’t have to crawl in and out repeatedly.
• If the engine is cold, you can briefly run it for 2–3 minutes to slightly warm the oil. Warm oil drains faster.
• Turn off the engine and remove the key from the ignition.
• Open the hood and remove the oil filler cap on top of the engine. This helps the oil drain more easily.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Safely lift and support the front

• Position the floor jack under the front center jacking point (behind the front bumper, on the reinforced crossmember).
• Raise the front of your RAV4 high enough to slide under comfortably.
• Place jack stands under the left and right front pinch welds (reinforced seams under the front doors).
• Slowly lower the vehicle onto the jack stands and gently shake the body to confirm stability.

Step 2: Remove the lower engine cover access

• Slide the oil drain pan nearby but not under the car yet.
• Crawl under the front and locate the small access panel in the lower plastic engine cover near the engine oil pan.
• Use a 10mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the bolts holding the access door, or use the trim clip removal tool for any plastic clips.
• Set the panel and fasteners aside where you won’t lose them.

Step 3: Drain the engine oil

• Find the metal oil pan at the bottom of the engine and locate the oil drain plug (a single bolt, usually toward the rear of the pan) with a 14mm head.
• Place the oil drain pan directly under the drain plug, leaving room for oil to stream out at an angle.
• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to loosen the drain plug counterclockwise.
• Finish removing the plug by hand and quickly move your hand away so it doesn’t get splashed by oil.
• Let the oil drain completely; this can take 5–10 minutes. Be patient for a better change.

Step 4: Replace the drain plug washer and reinstall

• Clean the drain plug with a shop rag.
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug and install the new engine oil drain plug gasket.
• Once the oil has slowed to an occasional drip, thread the drain plug in by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8" drive torque wrench to tighten the drain plug to 40 Nm (30 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Locate the oil filter housing

• Move the oil drain pan under the front of the engine where the oil filter housing is located.
• The oil filter on this RAV4 is a cartridge inside a plastic or aluminum housing, pointing downward near the front of the oil pan.
• Wipe around the housing with a shop rag so you can see the parts clearly.

Step 6: Drain the oil from the filter housing

• On the bottom of the filter housing there is a small center drain plug.
• Use the correct small socket (usually 3/8" drive ratchet with the supplied filter tool or a small hex/bit if applicable) to remove the small center plug and let the oil drain into the oil drain pan.
• Remove and discard the small oil filter housing drain plug O-ring that comes off with the plug.

Step 7: Remove the oil filter housing

• Install the 64mm 14-flute oil filter cap wrench onto the oil filter housing.
• Attach the 3/8" drive ratchet and turn counterclockwise to loosen the housing.
• Once it is loose, finish unscrewing it by hand while holding it upright to avoid spilling oil.
• Dump the old filter element into the oil drain pan and set the housing on rags.

Step 8: Replace the filter and O-rings

• Pull the old filter cartridge off the housing center tube and discard it.
• Use a flathead screwdriver carefully to lift off the large O-ring from the housing groove. Do not scratch the plastic or aluminum.
• Install the new large oil filter housing O-ring in the same groove. Make sure it is not twisted.
• Install the new small oil filter housing drain plug O-ring on the small center plug.
• Lightly coat both new O-rings with a bit of fresh engine oil using your finger. This helps sealing.
• Push the new filter cartridge onto the housing center tube until it clicks or seats firmly.

Step 9: Reinstall the filter housing and drain plug

• Thread the housing back into the engine by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 64mm 14-flute oil filter cap wrench and 3/8" drive torque wrench to tighten the housing to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).
• Reinstall the small center drain plug with its new O-ring by hand, then snug it with the appropriate socket and 3/8" drive torque wrench to 14 Nm (10 ft-lbs).
• Wipe everything clean with a shop rag and spray a bit of brake cleaner if needed to remove oil residue.

Step 10: Reinstall the lower engine cover access panel

• Position the access panel back in place.
• Use the 10mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to reinstall the bolts, or push in the plastic clips using the trim clip removal tool if needed to help seat them.

Step 11: Lower the vehicle

• Use the floor jack to carefully raise the front of the vehicle just enough to remove the jack stands.
• Lower your RAV4 fully to the ground.
• Remove the wheel chocks.

Step 12: Add new engine oil

• With the hood open, locate the oil filler opening on top of the engine.
• Place the funnel in the filler opening.
• Pour in about 4.5 quarts of 0W-20 full synthetic engine oil.
• Reinstall the oil filler cap by hand and snug it.

Step 13: Start engine and check for leaks

• Start the engine and let it idle for about 30–60 seconds.
• Look underneath (without going fully under) to check for any oil leaks at the drain plug or oil filter housing.
• If you see any drips, shut the engine off and tighten the leaking part slightly with the appropriate socket and 3/8" drive torque wrench.
• Turn off the engine and wait 5 minutes to let the oil settle back into the pan.

Step 14: Check the oil level

• Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean with a shop rag, then reinsert it fully and pull it out again.
• The oil level should be between the "LOW" and "FULL" marks, ideally near the top mark.
• If it is low, remove the oil filler cap and add oil in small amounts (about 100–200 ml at a time) using the funnel, then recheck.
• Total capacity with filter is about 4.6 quarts, but always follow the dipstick, not just the number.

Step 15: Reset the maintenance light (if on)

• Turn the ignition to "ON" without starting the engine.
• Use the steering wheel buttons to navigate to Menu > Settings > Maintenance Reset on the display.
• Select "Oil Maintenance" or similar and choose "Reset" or "Yes" to confirm.
• Turn the ignition off and then start the engine to confirm the light is off.

---

✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Recheck under the vehicle after your first short drive (5–10 minutes) to ensure there are no new oil drips.
• 📏 Recheck the oil level on the dipstick the next morning when the engine is cold and top off if needed.
• 🗑️ Take the used oil and old filter to a recycling center or auto parts store that accepts waste oil.
• 📝 Note the mileage and date of the oil change for your records; follow your owner’s manual for the next interval.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $35-$60 (parts only)

You Save: $45-$80 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.7-1.0 hours.

---

🎯 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.