I've gone 3,000 miles since doing the first oil change on my truck since purchasing it. I want to change the oil since it's starting to turn a little dark, but don't want to go through the trouble of pulling the skid plate to change the filter because some of those little nuts busted off and don't want to fix them at this time. My question now, is can I just get away with changing the oil and not the filter, i've got an OE toyota filter in there right now, and in about another 3,000 miles i'll probally be ready to pull the skid plate and fix the nuts.

 

You should be able to reach the filter by going through the driver's side wheel well. This is how I change my '00 SR5, and I never remove my skid plate.

 

Just do what Toyota recommends and change your oil and filter every 5k miles. You have at least 2k more miles left on that oil. 3k mile changes are simply wasteful.

"Darkness" of an oil isn't always a direct indication of its service life.

 

u dont have to fix the bolts at the moment. but u can still change the filter w/o taking off the skid plate right? Well at least on the 3.0 u can, but its a biotche. I would change the filter too, b/c old oil and stuff that came out of the oil is still in the filter and it will get into the new oil and contaminate the system.

 

Thanks for the advice, I think I will go ahead and go another 2,000 miles before I change the oil. Then when I do change it, i'll fill it up with Mobil 1 Truck and SUV oil and a fresh OE filter
Anyone install a Frantz filter on one of these trucks?

 

DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK!!

Next time use a syn oil and a top notch filter (napa gold, wix, Mobil 1, etc -- no stinkin' FRAM) and you can safetly go 5K btwn changes. It's a PITA, as others have warned, but you can do it from the wheel well. Makes it easier to remove the wheel too. The bolts on my skid are buggered too, so I don't want to take it off when I do mine. I've had Amsoil 5-30 in for 6 months now. I was gonna change it today but it's a 106 bloody degrees today in my backyard! d'oh!

S.

 

just leave the skid plate off?

i havent had mine on in nearly 2 years and have wheeled that way...

 

Here's a bit of good advice. When I change my oil, I NEVER take off my skid plate, although I've figured out a perfect method to not spilling oil.

1. Remove Drain Plug. Once most of the oil is out, start the engine and let it run for maybe 10-20 seconds. (the engine start is to suck some oil out of the full oil filter, back into the pan)
2. remove the filter
3. replace the filter
4. replace the drain plug
5. add 4 quarts
6. start for a minute
7. add last quart

I used to get oil all over the place before I figured out that starting the engine for a second AFTER draining the oil, causes that to be less of a hassle.

As far as changing oil when the color changes, that's ludicrous. You should change your oil every 5k miles. If I put fresh oil in my truck today, it'll be black tomorrow. So don't count on oil color for your indicator on whether or not you should change your oil

Changing your oil without changing the filter, is like not changing the oil.

 

Follow Ricky's advice at your own risk. Running the engine for ANY length of time with little or NO oil pressure is very very risky... And, no offense, Ricky, but foolhardy... I'd rather have oil on the side of my block and skid (that I can clean at the local quarter car wash) than risk a spun bearing or some other engine failure! I know, I know, I know what you're gonna say: 'I've been doing this for years..." Well, all I can say is you've been lucky.

S.

 

Took the words right out of my mouth. And if you mess up your engine because you didnt want to spill oil what happens.

 

I'm not starting a cold engine in the middle of an oil change. Generally when I change the oil, I go out, buy it, come back, let the truck cool for a few, then change it. There's still oil in the engine at that point. Does the pressure itself really have that much of an effect on having a spun bearing or other problem? (besides the fact that without pressure, there will be no oil...) Maybe I'll learn something...