If you’ve ever had oil trouble, you may understand how valuable it is to know how to change your own oil. Whether at home or in the middle of a long road trip, if your oil warning light comes on, this skill can help you manage the situation and get back on the road. Here at Toyota, we love to empower our customers with car solutions, so we’ve created a guide for how to change the oil of your Toyota yourself in seven steps.
Assemble The Proper Supplies
If you know it’s time for an oil change, the first thing you need to do is assemble the proper supplies. You’ll need both new oil and a new oil filter. You can check your Toyota owner’s manual to learn about what type of oil and filter it recommends for your vehicle. If you have questions, you can always give us a call. Other useful tools for this job include a wrench set, a funnel, an oil pan, and a rubber mallet.
Safety goggles are also a good idea, as they can protect your eyes from any oil that might splatter during the process. Finally, consider wearing a pair of old clothes that you wouldn’t mind getting oil stained, and bringing a few rags you can use to wipe your hands and car parts.
Warm Up The Oil
Once you’ve assembled your tools, run your engine for approximately five minutes. This will warm the oil to the ideal temperature for an oil change. It’s best if the oil is warm rather than hot, so if you’ve driven the car that day already, it may be helpful to wait half an hour instead. This allows the oil to cool to the proper temperature. Once you’ve done so, turn off your car and remove the key before moving on to the next step.
Drain The Oil
To drain the oil, you’ll need to find the oil filter and drain plug. These are located in different places on different cars, so if you’re unsure where to look, check the owner’s manual. In some cases, the drain plug is located beneath the car, so you may have to raise it to gain access. If this is the case for you, you may be able to reach it by crawling under the car. If not, you can use a car jack and raise your vehicle the same way you would to change a tire.
Once you’ve located the drain plug, which resembles a large nut or plug, place your oil tray below it, unscrew the plug, and pull it away, allowing the oil to drain out into the oil tray. As you do so, be ready to move your hand out of the way of the draining oil once you remove the cap. You may also wrap your hand in a rag to protect it from falling or splattering oil. After the car has drained, you may clean the oil plug with a rag before screwing it back into place.
Replace The Filter
Next, find the oil filter located at the top of the engine and remove it, along with the accompanying rubber gasket. If the oil filter cap is too tight to remove by hand, use a wrench. You can drain the old filter into the oil pan before discarding it. Next, take out your new filter and use a finger to smear some oil on the gasket on top. Then, insert the new filter where the old one was before. You can follow the instructions that accompany the filter to ensure you do this correctly.
Add The New Oil
To add new oil to your Toyota, open the hood of your car and unscrew the oil cap. You can identify the oil cap by the oil-can symbol. Next, pour in new oil slowly, using a funnel to help reduce mess. Your owner’s manual includes information about the type of oil and how much you should add or you can search your car model online.
Check The Oil
Make sure you’ve added the proper amount of oil by using a dipstick. To do this, take the dipstick out of its tube and wipe it clean with a rag or paper towel. Then, slide it down into the oil receptacle and pull it out again. Make sure the line that marks how high the oil went matches the full marking on the dipstick. If the oil mark is low, add a little more oil, wipe the dipstick clean, and check the level again. Once the oil level is correct, replace the oil cap.
Run The Engine
After adding oil, turn on your car and run the engine for one minute, then turn it off and check around the oil filter cap to ensure there are no leaks. Soon, the oil light is likely to go out. You may now remove the oil drain pan from under the car and tidy up any other tools that you may have lying around. You can set aside the old oil and oil filter to take to an oil-recycling center or auto parts store for proper disposal.
Next, it may be helpful to test drive your car for five to ten minutes. When you’re done, check the oil level again. If the level is still at the “Full” mark, that indicates that no oil is leaking and everything is functioning as it should. This means that your oil change was successful and you’re ready to hit the road.
Congratulations, you now know how to change the oil of your Toyota yourself. If you have any questions, you can always contact us at Longo Toyota of Prosper. We’ve got all the car parts you may need and will be happy to offer service tips and tricks. Give us a call at 972-347-4952 or drop by at 2100 W University Dr, Prosper, Texas, 75078. Feeling nervous about performing your own oil change? Don’t sweat it. Schedule a service visit at our local dealership, and our trained professionals will be more than happy to help.
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