1) Does anyone know if there is a group or club in the Greensboro/High Point, NC area that goes camping or trail riding?

2) How difficult is it to change the oil in the 2002, given it has that protector plate on the underside of the engine? Would I need a floorjack for this. I've never done a oil change on an SUV with so much weight and this stupid plate, so excuse my ignorance.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Danny:confused:

 

Hey Danny,

Can't help you on question #1 but re: question #2:

It's except for the location of the oil filter, it's easier to change your oil on the 4Runner than your average car because you don't even have to jack it up.

You can change the oil the easy way or the cleaner way.

Easy way:

-Park w/o jacking up the vehicle and turn your front wheels fully to the left.
-Get your oil pan ready and crawl underneath the front end to about 2/3 of the way towards the back of the front skid plates. There you will see a hole in the 2nd skid plate. Up in there is the drain bolt for the engine oil. Undo it and let the engine oil out.
-Look in the driver-side wheel well and you should see a cover which you can undo by pulling out the plastic clips holding it in (be careful so you don't break them).
-Once the shield is off, or partially off, you will see the engine oil filter. I'd recommend getting an oil filter wrench to help you undo it. Remember that when you undo the oil filter, you will get oil coming out of that area as well, leaking down on whatever is underneath it, skid plate included.
-When the oil is finished draining and you have the oil filter off, get back under the truck and put the drain bolt back in. Tighten the bolt, but do not overtighten it. If you have a torque wrench, it should be set to no more than 20 ft-lbs.
-Now take your new oil filter and dip your finger into some of the engine oil. Rub the oil around the rubber seal area of the oil filter and on the metal threads of the oil filter.
-Put the oil filter on and only hand tighten it. Do not overtighten and do not use the oil filter wrench to tighten it on.
-Open your hood and remove the engine oil filler cap. Pour in the appropriate amount of engine oil and put the filler cap back on.
-Start up the truck and let it run for a minute or two.
-Turn off the engine and wait a minute for the oil to settle. Then check your oil level. Add more oil if necessary.

Cleaner way:

-Same as above except remove the skid plate first. Over time of doing oil changes the easy way, you will get gunk build up on your skid plate which you'll want to remove and give a bath to.

More info on checking engine oil (and other fluids) on this page:

http://www.hboss.net/4runner/fluid-check.htm

Hope it helps.

 

Thanks HBoss. I'm gonna take the skid plate off. Any chance you might know the mm of the bolts for the skid plate?

 

Don't quote me, but I believe they are 12mm sockets, and there are 9 of them to take off.

 

They are indeed 12mm. Get a 12mm deep socket, and a short extension.