How do you change oil Toyota Corolla?

Answer 1

There are different approaches. The one I follow is as follows:

First off, be sure to purchase the correct oil for the car (5W-30 iirc) and have a new crush washer for the drain bolt. Purchase the correct oil filter and be sure you have a drain pan on hand with some paper towels just in case. Corollas may differ so be sure you get the correct information prior to buying and ask for some help if you're not sure.

Park car on a flat surface. Place the emergency hand brake on the car and you can block the rear tires for safety jic. Jack car up from the front tow point on the car. Place two jack stands (one on each side) to hold the car up and remove the jack.

Remove the oil cap from the top of the engine, should be clearly marked. This will help have a clear airflow leading to an easier draining of the old oil.

Correctly place the oil pan under the car (located near the passenger's side). Remove the drain bolt on the car (99 Corolla has a 14mm bolt). The oil will then begin to drain from the car into the pan. Be sure not to lose the bolt when removing it from the car. Replace the washer on the bolt with the new one purchased and place on the side to be reinstalled later on.

Once a lot of oil has drained then I pour in a little bit of new oil to help catch and push out any left over junk/oil that may not have simply drained. This is optional but it helps imo since I always see some crud come out while draining and I do this.

On the 99 Corolla the oil filter is located right by the oil pan itself so makes for super easy access opposed to my Acura TSX. Remove this filter while the pan is under it and prepare for some possible excess oil to come out. It may be very hard to remove so you might want to look into buying an oil wrench to help make the removal easier. A lot of places (dealerships, gas stations etc) tend to over torque the filter and drain bolt. Allow the oil filter to drain itself as well over the pan.

I usually let the oil drain for 10-15 mins depending on what I feel like but that is usually more than enough time. Once the oil is done draining I put back in the new bolt. I first wipe down the oil pan to make sure no dirty oil is just sitting there. When putting back in the bolt be sure to not apply too much pressure in closing it off as not much is needed.

For the oil filter I usually pre-fill it. This means placing some oil into the filter itself prior to installing it and allow the filter to suck it up. I also put my finger into a little bit of oil and rub it around the seal on the filter. This helps to secure it in place. For the filter you just put it back on and tighten it with your hand. Again, no need to over tighten this as a good hand tightening is more than sufficient. Pre-filling the oil filter is optional but I recommend doing it just because it doesn't take any extra effort on your part.

Once the bolt and filter are back in you just need to put in the new oil. Be sure to use a funnel that is specifically used for oil changes only. Put in the new oil little by little and make sure you're not putting in too much or too little. The owner's manual should tell you how much you should put in. After putting some in I always check the bolt and filter to make sure it's not leaking or anything. If it is then you may just need to tighten it more. 99% of the time you will be fine. If it is looking like it's leaking just make sure you don't have any old oil just dripping around since that could be the cause.

Once about half the oil is in I check again and if no leaking I lower the car off of the jack stands and pour in the rest of the oil. Put back on the oil cap and start up the car. The check oil light should come on but then go away within 2-3 seconds. You are now done.

Be sure to dispose of the oil properly. I usually pour it back into one of the empty oil bottles and then take it to the proper area for disposable. Gas stations and some other places dispose of them for a small charge or even for free. You can Google a site that will show you where you can dispose of oil that is near you. It will tell you what they accept, usually oil and filters. They will take it off of your hands or have you pour it into a big barrel and then you're done. The entire oil change process should be around 30 mins if you know what you're doing and have everything. If not then it may take longer. I suggest having a knowledgeable friend help you out if it's your first time.