TRD Oil Filter Ques. Plus Skid Plate Removal Woes

Just finished the first oil change in my new to me 13' Tundra SR5 with the 5.7 L motor. I opted for the slightly better TRD oil filter part PTR4300081. First off, who the hell was in charge of designing the skid plate? It's beefy but it was quite a challenge removing it and getting it back on. The stupid J hooks threw me off ...wasn't sure how to pull it down with those in place. Kinda manhandled it sideways and it finally came free but that was quite a waste of time playing around with that for awhile. Couldn't get it off, came in side and bitched to my wife about it for a bit, then went back out and finally got it off.

So upon removing the oil filter canister small cover, I realized I was going to need the canister removal tool, which I did not have. Thought maybe my strap type removal tool would work but there's not enough clearance to use that. So I ran to the parts store and got a Pennzoil version of that tool. Removed the canister and that was fine but when I popped off the existing filter (not a TRD one) and then slid the new TRD filter onto the downtube, it fit rather loosely, which is different than how the existing one fit. I tried to press it down to see if it would catch or fit into place but it wouldn't. For those of you that use the TRD filter, is it correct to just place the filter over the downtube, fill the assembly with some new oil, replace the 2 O-rings and lube them, and then screw the entire assembly back up into where it screws into? Why didn't Toyota just use the traditional type oil filter that all other cars use? It would be way easier with that type.

 

Yup, terrible design on the skid plate. RCI makes a skid plate with a door for the oil filter.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/rcimet...works.com/07-19-tundra-engine-skid-plate/amp/

Tell the wife it's for maintenance, and your sanity.

 

You'll find this interesting......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VIpu0J2ow4

 

Eh, the skid plate gets easier each time you do it. Helps with seeing if there are any other issues at each oil change. I'm at a 10K OCI. I also drain half the coolant every 30k miles so it doesn't bother me much to take it off every 10k miles.

 

Interesting is not the word I would use. But what do I know

 

It was just "ONE" example, of some very creative ways that some tundra owners have dealt with filter access.
(a quick Google search will you a number of very creative and cost effective solutions)
Next time I change my oil, I'll post a pic of my "mod" - a 6"x6", hinged panel, made from the piece I removed, access the filter in 30 seconds.

 

I'm wondering why toyota engineers thought it would be a good Idea to aim the oil pan drain plug towards the right tire on the 5.7?
Messy people like me end up with oil on the tire.

 

This drove me nuts. Loved dumping the first few quarts of oil off the tire sidewall.

Installed a fumoto valve and stopped the twitching during an oil change.

 

I was also a bit thrown by the filter being floppy when you put it on. I went with the Amsoil one that seems awfully close to the TRD version. I looked at some YouTube videos and could see it flopping around when the person when to screw it on and took it as normal. I was hoping for a satisfying seating of the cartridge like on other vehicles I've changed. I'm sure it's nothing and when it's tightened down to spec it's wedged at the top and bottom. I like the rubber seal top and bottom the TRD and Amsoil filter cartridges have over the standard OEM too.

 

After I did my first oil change (and realized how messy those first few quarts were) before I bought (or even heard of) a fumoto valve, I cut the bottom off of a milk jug at an angle to use as a funnel into the pan. It actually worked really well.

 

The suspense.....come on man, crawl under there and snap a pic! I'm curious what you used for hinges and locking tab. A great idea!

 

OK, so it's not just me. Thanks for the link to the RCI plate. I might add this to my list (quickly becoming lengthy) of upgrades I want to do. I bitch about quite a bit of stuff I work on to my wife and I think she's just pretty much done listening.

Yes, I realized after most of the oil had drained that some had splashed onto the right front tire and wheel. I bet the same Toyota engineer who designed the skid plate attachment also designed the oil pan drain plug to angle towards the tire. At least this one is not as bad as the one I had on a previous Cadillac Escalade. That one faced completely sideways and so you had to be real careful about where you placed the catch pan and you had to stay underneath and watch it drain so you could slide the pan over as the oil flow would change.

OK, great. I couldn't find any videos of someone changing the filter and using the PTR4300081. I did look up into the filter placement void and saw a shortish tube that drops down about 1.5-2 inches and so when you insert the cartridge assembly that filter fits right into that and you're right in that it has the rubber seals on both ends so all should be good but thanks for your feedback on this.

 

His wood ramps scare me lol

 

It worked for me.

The OEM skid is shit anyway. It’s a no brained to me to upgrade.

 

I cut out the a square and put a removable door on the plate to get to the filter, 4 stainless steel bolts keep it in place. Do a search on it and you will see what other guys have done to the plate.

 

Here are a couple of pics

 

This ^^^. When either or both ramps fail it will be a failure that structural engineers call: explosive buckling.

 

Yep you ain't the only one, he doesn't even have the rear wheels chocked. and I would bet that the emergency brake isn't even set. Asking for trouble.

 

Oil on the tire? Never had that happen, as for fit it seems some sit better than others , I uses Wix XP filters (comes with the new seals and drain tool) and a new crush washer picked from from the dealership (I bought bulk since they're so cheap and to have on hand) but with the Wix I haven't had a fitment issue.

 

What motor are you running?

On the 5.7, some kind of shield has been necessary to prevent the oil from "roostertailing" out of my blow molded catch can/container and onto the passenger, front tire.

Glad I happened to be wearing gloves for the first oil change, as I was unprepared, and just had to use my hand as a shield while the oil drained.

Last change I was at the end of the shop rags and was able to use the empty tube to funnel the oil into the container without mess.

Dont really want to do a fumoto for the oil pan because Id probably just tear it off on a trail somewhere and become sad... Tho I do have one for draining the filter housing, which I appreciate having.

 

I dumped my skid plate a long time ago... its a continuous trip hazard and snitch at night in my garage, where I hide things...

 

You must have a very deep/high walled catch container.

I've changed a lot of oil on a lot of different vehicles. I've never seen another motor spew oil at quite the angle or rate of the Toyota 5.7

 

Great ideas all around!!!!