qnlx470

1) Oil filter: There is a steel, oval-shaped access port held on by (IIRC) two 12mm bolts. Remove the bolts and the filter is right there (just to the driver's side of the bottom of the radiator).

2) Get underneath the car on the driver's side. You will see the large, secondary (plastic) skid plate. In that skid plate is a small, oval-shaped access port slightly to the driver's side. That is the bolt (IIRC, 14mm). Alternatively, you can remove the entire huge skid plate. Don't get the oil drain bolt mixed up w/ the transmission drain bolt. The oil drain bolt is on the bottom of the oil pan, which is on the bottom of the lower engine block! As an aside, if you look up (DS, rear part of engine near an engine mount), you will see a little elbow/metal tube w/ bolt near it. That drains the coolant from the left bank of the engine.

3) Don't remember. Most are around 30 ft-lbs. I just use a longer handle open-ended craftsman wrench. Make sure to use a new gasket (the old one sometimes gets stuck/baked on there, so don't forget to remove it first; I've heard of Toyota dealers forgetting to do this and the oil leaked out, burning up a few engines!)

4) 5w30 in the USA since it was the oil that gave the least emissions during CAFE testing, 10w30 overseas where engine life is more important. I use Mobil 1 Delvac 5w40 and Mobil 1 0w40. I don't like Mobil 1 10w30 (D1 and 0w40 give me the most mpg's).

5) Filter: OEM Toyota: 909215-YDZZ3 (best is the made-in-Japan factory 909215-20004, only sold overseas now)

6) How much oil? More than 7 qts, less than 8 qts. I'd guess about 7.3 qts, then run engine and check the level.

This is wonderful. Thanks for taking the time and write this up. Hopefully someone else will find this informative as well. I'll print it out and keep in around for future reference. :)

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QN

I have a few questions about oil change on an 2003 LX470. My wife drives it and usually we have it done at the dealer. But since I usually change oil on our cars I might as well do it for the LX. I'd like to use Mobil 1, probably 5-30W since the SUV has low mileage.

I'm looking for some hints and tricks on doing an oil change on this particular vehicle. Some questions:

1. Looks like the oil filter is on the front driver side of the engine. How do you get access to it?
   
2. Where is the drain plug?
   
3. What's the torque for the drain plug?
   
4. What type of oil filter is recommended for this vehicle? Bosch OK?
   
5. How many quarts of oil if filter is replaced?
   

Thanks,

QN