Decided to make my oil changes a bit easier....

Access hole cut into the factory skid plate. Doesn’t look great....but it’s easy to do and effective. I did not measure the cutout....but it’s approximately 7” square. Make sure to use a file on the edges, unless you like tetanus.

Sorry about the crappy pics...

CORRECTION: The cutout is 5” square. I just measured it.

 

Nice work, one thing I liked about my e53 BMW X5 with 4.8 V8 was the easily accessible oil filter canister that was under the hood, had a screw in cover that allowed the filter to drain into the engine and pull the filter easily.

 

I'm going to do this to, was wondering what size hole to use. Are you going to make a cover plate?

 

Good idea. Maybe some type of swivel plate.

 

Good idea. Would a 5 inch hole saw be big enough?

 

I think a 5” hole would work but is a little on the small side IMO. However, keep it as small as you are comfortable with given the fact you are removing metal from the skid plate.

The cutout in the picture looks much larger than it really is...the hole might he closer to 6”...I did not measure it.

 

I have no plans for a cover plate...I rarely go offroad and when I do it’s really tame. For heavy offroad use...a cover plate might be a good idea.

 

Not sure what it's called but there is a flexible trim type material that's designed to cover cut sheet metal. I know you filed it down but that would give you a little more insurance for your wrist when you go to spin on the canister.

 

Can you use the cut plate, fab up something where you can secure back and release when ready?

 

Why in the hell didn’t Toyota engineer a drop down cover plate? My wife’s Highlander has an opening.

Nice job. I may consider doing the same.

 

Thanks.

I agree...Toyota missed on this one.

The Highlander is a good design...my wife has one too.

 

CORRECTION: The cutout is 5” square...I just measured it.

 

Cool. This has been done, except an access plate was utilized with hinges and quick disconnect...

 

Resurrecting an old post. I am going to be changing my oil in the next week or so. I got oil today and a filter from my dealer. I am so ordered a fumoto valve and a new aluminum filter housing.
I really wanna cut a hole in my skid plate for easy access in the future. I will try to figure a way to rivet a hinge and latch in place too. Has anyone who had cut a hole and left it open had any issues with the hole? I do not offroad at all and figured adding the aluminum housing add some protection, if for some reason I can't get a cover fabbed up.

 

@CMB did this.....

 

I plan on doing this without any type of door. No offroading we should be fine.

Thinking of trimming the hole out with door edge trim, something like this:

 

I wouldn’t worry about it. Quite a few Tundras don’t even have a skid plate. The Platunim my buddy just bought doesn’t have one so I don’t think you risk anything leaving a hole there. I was going to get mine cut and covered by a fab shop but they wanted 200 bucks so I just ordered a RCI.

 

That I can do. Thanks Jim!

 

I had the same problem on my 2015 4Runner. And it had that crappy plastic housing for the filter can. I lived with the plate and dropped it when I needed to change it. But, I changed out the housing cover for an aluminum one (because I cracked it). That (swap it out for the aluminum housing) is the first thing I am doing when I do my first oil change.

 

Here’s my version.

Door is 1/16” steel, 7 x 8”, bent and painted black. Opening is 6 x 6.5”. Door opens by removing (2) 10mm bolts from clip nuts and is held open with a spring clamp when working.



My thanks to ideas posted previously in this and other threads.

 

Waited many years for this. Makes changing oil very easy.

 

Very appropriate photo.

 

Nice!!!!! I'm envious!!!!!Nice!!!!!

 

nice shop

 

Yes

Man cave

 

I hope no one is actually making these holes or hatches any more. Just get yourself a nice RCI skid plate, it comes with the hatch. And it's a much nicer plate, very heavy duty.

The Tundra TRD skid plate has this. Toyota didn't miss it.... they left it out so you could upgrade.

 

I upgraded. To an RCI skid.

 

I just ditched mine on my last oil change. Before that I used an old paint tray to catch the oil draining from the filter. It was as big a PITA as removing the skid plate. The oil filter change was so easy without that @#$% skid plate.