Annual oil change. Easy when you know how and have the correct tools.

[Konrad C]

I just carried out the annual oil and filter service, for the third year. The car has just done over 76,000 miles. I took the following photo a few hours later to record the odometer.

I covered my previous oil service experience here:- 

I am currently using Petronis 0W-20 oil I got at discount from Euro Car Parts.

The only issue I had this time, was the filter being hard to undo. Blame the last person who changed the oil filter - me.  

A longer socket handle and brute force sorted that out. 

Toyota seem to be using the same style filter across the range of most the petrol and hybrid engines, including the tool. 

I checked the coolant which was near the minimum mark. I topped up a little for the first time in well over a year, which is not bad, since only a small amount was needed. Drive belt was checked and looks fine - I have spare in the boot. The cabin and air filters have been change earlier this year.

The car is fine for a good while.  

[yossarian247]

The first time I changed the oil on my Auris I found the plastic filter housing so tight I was worried that I was going to have to break it to get it off. Fortunately I didn't, but it wasn't easy. The job wasn't helped by the fact that the garage who had changed the oil previously had apparently not used the correct tool and chiselled the thing off, breaking off most of the plastic lugs in the process, which meant that the proper tool no longer gripped it properly! Replacement filter housings are available at quite a reasonable price online so next time I changed the oil I changed the filter housing too. 

[Konrad C]

20 hours ago, yossarian247 said:

The first time I changed the oil on my Auris I found the plastic filter housing so tight I was worried that I was going to have to break it to get it off. Fortunately I didn't, but it wasn't easy. The job wasn't helped by the fact that the garage who had changed the oil previously had apparently not used the correct tool and chiselled the thing off, breaking off most of the plastic lugs in the process, which meant that the proper tool no longer gripped it properly! Replacement filter housings are available at quite a reasonable price online so next time I changed the oil I changed the filter housing too. 

This is one reason why I prefered to do the oil change myself, or go to a Toyota specialist who should have the proper tool. Some garages don't have the proper tool, and you end up with a damaged filter housing. 

While viewing the various Youtube videos on Toyota oil and filter changes, I came across this video where the owner changes the filter only, after having a stuck filter housing, and not have the correct tool. He decided to change the oil, then do oil filter later when he had the correct tool -  

 I found that backward thinking because when I got my car, I researched what tools were needed before tackling the job. I bought the tool months before the oil change time. Anyway the owner got away with only losing the oil in the filter and not from the engine, because of the valve system of the filter housing. He only had to top up a small amount of oil.

Good to know if you had an oil change by a garage, and suspect the filter may have not been changed. 

[Harry Carri]

Good work Konrad. 

By coincidence I changed the oil and filter in my mk1 Avensis just over a week ago for the princely sum of £16 and some loose change using an ECP discount voucher ( 5L of Gulf 10W40 and a Bosch filter).

Are the later Avensis petrol engined cars any harder to service at home.

Do you have to remove or work around plastic undertrays or remove filter from underneath ? for example

The oil filter on mine is easy to get at but a bit too close for comfort to the exhaust manifold when removing or refitting after the engine has been running.

 

[Konrad C]

On 7/21/2018 at 5:26 PM, Harry Carri said:

Good work Konrad. 

By coincidence I changed the oil and filter in my mk1 Avensis just over a week ago for the princely sum of £16 and some loose change using an ECP discount voucher ( 5L of Gulf 10W40 and a Bosch filter).

Are the later Avensis petrol engined cars any harder to service at home.

Do you have to remove or work around plastic undertrays or remove filter from underneath ? for example

The oil filter on mine is easy to get at but a bit too close for comfort to the exhaust manifold when removing or refitting after the engine has been running.

 

The actual oil change is as easy on the 2ZR engine as the 7AFE engine. The difference is you need to undo 3 clips, to open the access panel of the under tray. Then you need the Toyota specific oil filter tool - 

Without this tool, getting the oil filter could be difficult if tight, plus can be damaged. The tool is fairly cheap and easy to get, so no excuses.

The oil filter location is close to the sump drain plug under the car, so when the access panel is opened everything are there - 

The cost of the oil is not as cheap being 0w-20 instead of the 10w-40 of the older engine. Some or may be a lot of garages would probably put in 5w-30 grade, instead of the preferred 0w-20 as stated in the handbook. I think the 2ZR engine is easier on the oil, because I use less revs in most situations - 5th gear at speeds of 30 mph on light throttle, 6th gear over 45 mph. The upshift indicator calls for it if I don't go into the higher gear. Car didn't need topping up between oil changes and I average 8000 miles a year.

Some ways this car is cheaper to service compared to mey old Avensis - no cambelt, the spark plugs are cheaper even though they are the same Denso Iridium brand and need a smaller socket, only one drive belt on the 2ZR compared to the three on the 7AFE, and the cabin filter is far cheaper. There is no power steering fluid to check.

Not touched the coolant (long life), and the water pump looks easy to access if need changing!    

I recommend to those out of warranty, want to save a bit, and handy with tools.