OK guys I was blown away how easy it was to change my oil with the vacuum system!!
On the V6, you never have to get under the truck. Change the oil and screw on a new filter. WOW!

Go to griots garage and order the oil change machine- hand pump (about $69). It looks kinda cheap in the picture but it is a really soild, nice piece of equipment- really well designed in Germany. This thing is awesome.

I never got my hands dirty and it pulled all (I mean all) the oil out.

BMW and Mercedes recommend this method on all their vehicles now and I think that is the way it's done at the dealerships.

 

Whats it called? Where can you get it? Links! More info Please!

 

Hmmm, I think I would still prefer to get under the rig and drain all the old oil out. I may be wrong but I just dont think a vacuum could clear as much as draining...

 

Yeah, this is a nice product. However, it does not solve the oil filter problem on the 3rd gens. You will still have to take the skids off or take your skin off to get the filter out. Your choice.

Are the 4th gens just as much of a pain?

 

$65 at griots garage-click here
I did just a bit of research on this type of oil change and it does, in fact, get as much oil as through the drain plug. You just have to have the engine warm- not hot, not cold- to mix the oil well.
It makes life REALLY easy. It pulls all the oil out since you can see exactly how much oil is pulled inside the semi-clear container.
You pull up and down on the lever about 3 times and it just sucks all the oil out!

Yeah the oil filter is right next to the oil fill so it makes it really easy


96Runner,
What if you got one of those Amsoil filters-they only need to be changed once every gazillion miles right? You could just quick change the oil every 3-5K and deal with the filter at longer intervals? Just an idea
Jiffy Lube stripped a bolt on my skidplate on my old truck so I never go to those places.

 

ok I have my oil changed at the dealership (29 min service) ... and they're supposed to change the filter as well ... I have never seen them take the skid off.

 

you can get it thru the driver's side wheel well.just lift the flap and you'll see it

 

I have seen that unit in person since I live not to far from my favorite wax/hard to find parts place, Griot's
It does look like a well made unit.

My dealer does drop the skid plate though, and changes the oil drain plug gasket each time too.

One time they took longer than normal, and I thought I was going to get the next oil change for free on account of the extra time
Reason they took so long is my skid plate bolts were stipped (I already knew about them) and they retapped all 4 holes and put in new bolts all for FREE.

Long love Doxon Toyota!

 

Gravity is free and works as well as that thing. If there is a free way and a $65 way i'll take the free way every time, thanks.

 

That's how I discovered it! I got something you recommended from them and saw it in their catalog. I did a little reasearch and decided to give it a try. Glad I did!

 

I saw the same device for around $40 in the Northern Tools catalog. The oil filter in my 2000 V6 is hard to get to, but I have never had a problem changing it from within the engine compartment. I never pull the skid plate --just put plenty of paper towells under the oil filter before removal.

 

Actually for Amsoil you change the filter around twice as often as the oil...so you'd probably use the oil-vac much less with Amsoil.

It's a cool concept though.

Jim

 

The oil changer comes with 2 extensions. Use the thinner one for the oil change (with red end plug).
On the 4th gen V6, there is a rubber capped plug under the "spill dish" of the oil filter (you can see the little drain hole from the top).

Remove the rubber plug and stick the black plug extension from the oil changer on there. It happens to be a perfect fit.

Route the line under the truck to a plastic cup or whatever. When you remove the oil filter the overflow just drains away.

No muss or fuss. Total time is about 10 minutes.

Oh, you can remove the engine cover if you need more room to get at a stubborn oil filter.

 

Has anyone used this to do the tranny fluid???
I have been thinking of buying this just for this reason....