🔧 Highlander - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

This job drains the old engine oil, replaces the oil filter, and refills your Highlander with fresh oil. Clean oil protects the 2.7L engine from wear, overheating, and sludge buildup.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 30-60 minutes

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a level surface so the oil drains correctly and the vehicle stays stable.
• 🧤 Engine oil can be hot. Let the engine cool 10-15 minutes if it was just running.
• 🚗 Never crawl under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Use jack stands.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.
• ♻️ Used oil and filters must be recycled properly at an auto parts store or recycling center.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 14mm socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch drive torque wrench
• 64mm 14-flute Toyota oil filter cap wrench (specialty)
• 3/8-inch drive extension
• Oil drain pan 8-quart minimum
• Plastic trim clip remover
• Flathead screwdriver
• Funnel
• Floor jack rated 3-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 3-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Shop towels

A torque wrench tightens bolts to the correct tightness so you do not strip threads or cause leaks.

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil 0W-20 full synthetic - Qty: 4.6 quarts
• Engine oil filter cartridge kit with O-rings - Qty: 1
• Engine oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your Highlander on level ground and set the parking brake.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• 🌡️ Warm the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• 🛞 Raise the front of your Highlander with a floor jack and support it securely on jack stands.
• 📖 Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap. This helps the oil drain smoothly.
• 🧰 The oil filter on this engine uses a cartridge-style filter. That means the reusable plastic housing stays on the engine and only the paper filter element is replaced.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and Secure the Front

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum at the front center jacking point.
• Place jack stands rated 3-ton minimum under the proper front support points.
• Gently lower your Highlander onto the jack stands.
• Use wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Shake gently to confirm stability.

Step 2: Remove the Lower Access Cover

• Put on safety glasses and nitrile gloves.
• Use a plastic trim clip remover or flathead screwdriver to remove the small lower engine access panel fasteners if they block the drain plug or filter area.
• Set the clips and panel aside where they will not get stepped on.

Step 3: Position the Drain Pan

• Place the oil drain pan 8-quart minimum under the engine oil drain plug.
• Make sure the pan is slightly behind the plug because oil may shoot outward at first.

Step 4: Drain the Old Engine Oil

• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen the oil drain plug.
• Remove the plug by hand once it is loose.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to a drip.
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug.
• Wipe the drain plug with shop towels.
• Do not reuse the crush washer.

Step 5: Reinstall the Drain Plug

• Install a new engine oil drain plug crush washer onto the drain plug.
• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the drain plug.
• Torque to 40 Nm (30 ft-lbs)

Step 6: Remove the Oil Filter Housing

• Move the oil drain pan 8-quart minimum under the oil filter housing.
• Use the 64mm 14-flute Toyota oil filter cap wrench, 3/8-inch drive extension, and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen the oil filter housing.
• Unscrew the housing slowly. Some oil will drain out.
• Remove the old paper filter element from the housing by hand.
• Remove the old O-ring from the housing using your fingers or a flathead screwdriver carefully.
• Do not scratch the plastic housing.

Step 7: Install the New Oil Filter

• Use clean engine oil on your finger to lightly coat the new O-ring from the engine oil filter cartridge kit with O-rings.
• Install the new O-ring into the correct groove on the oil filter housing.
• Push the new paper filter element into the housing until it is seated.
• Wipe the filter mounting area on the engine with shop towels.

Step 8: Reinstall the Oil Filter Housing

• Thread the oil filter housing into the engine by hand first.
• Use the 64mm 14-flute Toyota oil filter cap wrench, 3/8-inch drive extension, and 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the housing.
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs)
• Plastic housings crack if overtightened.

Step 9: Reinstall the Lower Access Cover

• Use the plastic trim clip remover or your hands to reinstall the lower access cover and clips.
• Make sure the panel sits flat and does not hang loose.

Step 10: Lower the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to lift your Highlander slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 3-ton minimum.
• Lower the vehicle slowly onto level ground.

Step 11: Add Fresh Engine Oil

• Place the funnel into the engine oil fill opening.
• Add about 4.3 quarts of engine oil 0W-20 full synthetic first.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap.
• Start the engine and let it idle for 30 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and wait 5 minutes.
• Pull the dipstick, wipe it with shop towels, reinsert it fully, then pull it again to check the level.
• Add oil in small amounts until the level reaches near the full mark.
• Total capacity with filter replacement is approximately 4.6 quarts.
• Do not overfill the engine.

Step 12: Reset the Maintenance Reminder

• Use the steering wheel controls and ignition button/key with the vehicle parked.
• Turn ignition to ON without starting the engine.
• Use the display controls to select Trip A on the odometer display.
• Turn ignition OFF.
• Press and hold the trip reset button.
• While holding the button, turn ignition ON again without starting.
• Keep holding until the maintenance reset completes and the display finishes counting down.
• Release the button and turn ignition OFF.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start the engine and check under your Highlander for leaks at the drain plug and oil filter housing.
• 🧽 Wipe away spilled oil with shop towels.
• 📏 Recheck the oil level after the engine has been off for 5 minutes.
• 🚘 Take a short drive, then inspect again for leaks.
• ♻️ Pour used oil into a sealed container and recycle it with the old filter.
• 🗓️ For normal driving, change oil about every 10,000 miles or 12 months when using 0W-20 synthetic oil; severe driving may require shorter intervals.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $90-$160 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $35-$65 (parts only)

You Save: $55-$95 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.4-0.7 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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