🔧 Tacoma - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change

You’ll drain the old engine oil, replace the oil filter, then refill with fresh oil. This protects your engine from wear and keeps oil pressure and lubrication correct.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.8-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support your Tacoma with jack stands before going underneath.
• ⚠️ Engine oil can be hot—let it cool 15-30 minutes if you just drove.
• ⚠️ Never rely on a floor jack alone; always use jack stands.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off belts/exhaust; wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Dispose of used oil and the filter at a recycling center/parts store.

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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 (at least 8-quart)
• Funnel
• Shop towels
• 14mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• Torque wrench (10-80 ft-lb range)
• 12mm socket
• Trim clip tool
• 64mm 14-flute oil filter cap wrench (specialty)
• 3/8" drive extension (3"-6")

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (viscosity per oil cap) - Qty: 7 quarts
• Oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug gasket (crush washer) - Qty: 1
• Oil filter housing O-ring - Qty: 1
• Oil filter housing small O-ring - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to neutral, and set the parking brake.
• Chock the rear wheels with wheel chocks.
• Raise the front with a floor jack and set it securely on jack stands.
• Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap (helps it drain faster).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Confirm your oil viscosity (quick check)

• Look at the text on the oil filler cap for the required viscosity (example: 0W-20 or 5W-20).
• If you tell me what the cap says, I’ll tailor the refill exactly.

Step 2: Remove the front skid plate (if equipped)

• Position your drain pan under the engine area.
• Use a 12mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the skid plate bolts.
• If your skid plate has plastic clips, remove them with a trim clip tool.

Step 3: Drain the engine oil

• Place the drain pan (at least 8-quart) under the oil pan drain plug.
• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to loosen and remove the drain plug.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip.
• Replace the drain plug gasket (crush washer) with the new one.
• Reinstall the drain plug by hand first, then tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 40 Nm (30 ft-lbs).

Step 4: Replace the oil filter (cartridge-style housing — most common on your Tacoma)

• Position the drain pan under the oil filter housing.
• Use the 64mm 14-flute oil filter cap wrench (specialty) with a 3/8" drive ratchet and 3/8" drive extension (3"-6") to loosen the filter housing.
• Slowly lower the housing; more oil will drain out.
• Remove the old filter element from the housing by hand.
• Remove the old O-rings and install the new ones (lightly coat them with fresh oil first).
• Install the new filter element into the housing.
• Reinstall the housing and tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).
• Oil the O-ring so it doesn’t pinch.

Step 5: If your Tacoma has a spin-on oil filter (alternate path)

• Use the drain pan under the oil filter.
• Loosen the filter using the 64mm 14-flute oil filter cap wrench (specialty) or by hand if it’s loose enough.
• Wipe the mounting surface with shop towels and confirm the old rubber gasket came off with the filter.
• Lightly oil the new filter’s gasket, then spin it on by hand until it contacts.
• Tighten by hand an additional 3/4 turn (do not use a torque wrench unless the filter manufacturer specifies a torque).

Step 6: Reinstall the skid plate

• Reinstall the skid plate using a 12mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Ensure any clips removed are reinstalled using the trim clip tool.

Step 7: Refill with new oil

• Insert a funnel into the oil fill hole.
• Pour in about 6 quarts first, then pause.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap.

Step 8: Start, check for leaks, then set final oil level

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and wait 5 minutes.
• Check underneath for leaks around the drain plug and oil filter housing.
• Check the dipstick, then top off as needed to reach the full mark.
• Typical fill for the 4.0L with filter change is about 6.2 quarts (5.9 L), but always finalize by dipstick.

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✅ After Repair

• Recheck the dipstick after your first short drive and top off if needed.
• Reset the maintenance light (if it’s on): key OFF, press-and-hold the trip reset button, turn key to ON, keep holding until the display shows zeros.
• Pour used oil into a sealed container and recycle it with the old filter.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $40-$90 (parts only)

You Save: $80-$110 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.8-1.2 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.