I'm getting ready to do my first oil change since getting the truck. I noticed the oil pan is divided by the cross member. There is only an oil plug on the rear part of the pan. How can the front part of the pan drain? It seems to be even lower than the rear part. It seems you'll always have about a 1/2 quart of old oil that doesn't drain out.
I found a photo to show what I'm talking about.

 

It is what it is.

I've decided that if the pan ever comes off mine, I'm gonna braze in a boss for a plug there.

 

Jack the front end up?
Park on a hill?
Ramps?

Any of those would help that oil drain. The jacking and ramps idea would make it easier for a ...ahem...large size mechanic (like me) to get under there to drop the drain plug more easily. I used to do the jacking with my 87 pickup. It really helped me fit a lot, and it drained fast. Especially when hot.
Never had any trouble with the 4Runner. I fit under it nicely, and it drains just fine.

Just a couple of thoughts...
Pat☺

 

While the oil pan design isn't ideal for oil changes, it doesn't seem to be a problem as long as you keep up on maintenance.

 

i believe very little oil "sits" in there forever. it is likely to circulate during normal operation, so you do end up with new oil over periodic changes, not some amount of oil that "never" gets changed, even though a little bit remains after each change.

 

I guess I put it wrong by saying some oil would never out but it sucks that an amount like that could dirty up the new oil. I like the idea of jacking up the front to help drain better. That is the easiest solution for now. A new bung is a great idea but I hope I never have to get to the point of removing the pan.
The truck has had good maintenance over it's life so far. The PO was good about doing oil changes every 3K.
I've had a few Mercedes cars before. Mercedes actually suggests suctioning out the oil instead of draining even though they had drain plugs in the pan. It was far easier to drain. I don't think you could suction oil out of a 3Vze too easily from the dipstick hole. The Mercedes had a pretty big hole for the dipstick. It was about the diameter of your average automatic transmission filler pipe.

 

Like old87yota said, it's not a problem as long as you keep up on maintenance. My old 3.0 had 365,000 miles on it when I swapped in my new engine.
That little bit in the pan is no worse than all the oil passages in the block and oil pump that don't drain either. Just put in a new filter and oil and drive on.