Oil & Filter Change — 3rd Gen Tacoma
The 20k-mile service you can do in a driveway. Covers the 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS): drain, filter housing, torque spec and what to check afterwards.
Warm the engine and lift the truck
Run the engine for five minutes so the oil drains fully, then shut it off. Chock the rear wheels and raise the front on ramps or stands — you need about a foot of clearance to reach the drain plug comfortably.
Drain the oil
Slide the pan under the plug on the driver's side of the pan. Break the 14mm drain plug loose with a box wrench, then back it out by hand. Let it drain for a full ten minutes — the 2GR holds a surprising amount in the heads.
Swap the crush washer and refit the plug
Remove the old crush washer and fit a new one. Thread the plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading, then torque to 30 ft-lb. Wipe the area clean so you can spot leaks later.
Replace the filter cartridge
The 3.5L uses a cartridge, not a spin-on. Remove the housing cap with the 64mm wrench, pull the old element, and swap the two O-rings from the kit. Lube them with fresh oil, seat the new element, and torque the cap to 18 ft-lb.
Fill, run, and verify
Add 6.0 quarts, run the engine for a minute, shut it off, and wait five minutes. Top up to the upper mark on the dipstick (6.2 qt total). Check for drips at the plug and housing, then reset the maintenance reminder in the cluster.