You remove the screws that hold it in place.
Yes it will give you room to get arm up in there to work.
bottom of the motor. if you have a custom skid plate you may need to take it off and cut a hole in it.
under the skid plate take it off and all will bee seen?
no it does not come with a skid plate
You have to hold the trans in place to remove the skid plate.
near the 4 corners of the skid plate are 12mm bolts,(one at each corner) remove the bolts and unhook a hook arm (by slightly lifting up on bottom of skid plate) from the center bottom of skid plate and lower skid plate to the ground. skid plate removed. <these directions were done by me to remove the skid plate from my 1994 4runner.>
Take the plastic skid plate off the bottom and you will have easy access.
Not if it's a factory installed skid plate. But you may have to be a double jointed contortionist to do the job. Take it to your nearest quick lube and for about $19.95 ask them to let you watch them do it the first time. If they refuse, take it elsewhere. Someone will show you how it's done.
on the bottom of the engine there is a drain plug just like a car if you have a skid plate you might not be able ti see it but its there you do not have to take the skid plate off there is a hole and the oil filter is on the side of the engine usually three 8mm bolts just that little cover comes off
Unbolt it. It may be held up with "Torx" head type bolts.
The skid plate does not have to be removed in order to access and change the filter.