2004 Toyota Sienna oil change

Where are the key parts located?

Oil cap and dipstick:

The red arrow points to the oil cap and the yellow arrow points to the oil dipstick.

Enginer oil drain plug:

That is located at the bottom of the engine block, marked up with a red arrow. For your reference the tire you can see in the background is the left front tire.

Oil filter:

It is very difficult to see it from above. The oil filter is located right underneath the metal cover, in the direction, where the red arrow points to.

A very interesting and positive design implementation from Toyota is the plastic cover, that supposed to collect the dripping oil when you remove the oil filter. This black plastic part (see red arrow) is right under the oil filter - top view:

Looking at the same location but from underneath the vehicle:

green arrow: vent on the front of the vehicle

blue arrow: the metal cover that was hiding the oil filter looking from the top (see picture for oil filter location above)

red arrow: the oil filter

yellow arrow: oil filter drain

Tools you will need:

- 14mm wrench to loosen the drain plug

- Oil pan

- Paper towel

- maybe an oil filter wrench => I do not have any recommendation as in my case there was no need for any tool to loosen the oil filter.

- oil funnel => to avoid oil getting all over the engine block... :-))))

- you might need to raise your vehicle, but in my case it was not necessary. I could reach the drain plug very well, so no need to raise the vehicle. One step less :-)))

Parts:

- 5 quarts of 5W-30 => probably you will not need to use all the 5 quarts. In my case, I chose synthetic oil. Bit more expensive, but best for the engine.

- oil filter => I chose from the FRAM catalog in the store. I have picked the one for extended lifetime as using synthetic oil, I will not plan on replacing the oil in every 3000 miles, but only at every 5000 miles.

Here are the steps, how I changed the engine oil:

1. Locate all the key parts you will have to work with (see the pictures above for reference)

2. Prepare all the tools you will need as well as oil and oil filter

3. Start the engine for a short time, until it warms up and warms up the engine oil as well => Be careful with any parts as well as with the oil itself as things might get very HOT!!! Always act very carfully!!!

4. Place the oil pan underneath the oil drain plug => I try to position the drain plug to be above the middle of the oil pan

5. Remove the drain plug with the 14mm wrench => you have to turn it counter-clockwise!!!

6. Wait until most of the oil is out and the used engine only is only dripping

7. Move the oil pan as much as to cover the area underneath the oil filter => make sure that it will still capture the dripping oil from the oil tank

8. Loosen the oil filter => you have to turn it counter-clockwise!!! Despite it is difficult to see from above, there is a fairly easy access to it. Be careful, as the metal cover above the oil filter is going to be HOT!!!

9. Slowly remove the oil filter => slowly is very important, to let the oil drain while you are slowly removing the filter.

10. Clean the parts: remove any smudges from the oil cap, clean the drain plug as well as the location where you removed the oil filter from.

When you clean the drain plug, please make sure not to loose the sealing ring!!! The below picture is from another vehicle, but still perfect for reference, the ring is marked up with a red arrow:

11. Put the oil drain plug back in place => you have to turn it clockwise!!! First tighten it by hand, then use the 14mm wrench to tighten it a little bit more (in general a 3/4 turn with the wrench is sufficient).

12. Have the oil filter ready for installation: put some of the new engine oil onto the rubber sealing of the oil filter. I missed to take a picture of this step, but found on the internet an excellent picture showing this step (source is http://www.renault4.co.uk/technical/oil-filter.jpg):

13. Put the oil filter back in place => you have to turn it clockwise!!! First the oil filter will go in very easy. Once it stops, tighten it by turning another 3/4 turn, to make sure it is tightened properly.

This is where the oil filter will have to go (bottom view of the engine block, marked up with red arrow):

14. Remove the oil cap and through the oil funnel, start pouring the new engine oil. => I usually pour 3/4 of the amount defined in the vehicle manual and then I wait for a short time, before I check with the dipstick.

BE CAREFUL, YOU DO NOT WANT TO OVERFILL, therefore check the oil level with the dipstick frequently.

15. When the oil level is reaching at least the minimum, I start the engine for a few seconds, to make sure the oil will get everywhere inside the engine. It is normal that after the first startup of your engine it will take 1-2 seconds, until the oil pressure will get back to normal.

16. Check the oil level again and adjust add oil as needed. I always fill up until the middle point between the minimum and maximum mark on the dipstick.

Once you are done with the above steps, your oil change process is still not 100% completed!

- Please make sure you clean up any spots you might have left on the floor/ground.

- Please always recycle the used engine oil, protect your environment!!! Usually stores, where you purchased your new engine oil will take in the used one for free. Wal-Mart, Autozone, Advanced Auto Parts are all taking used engine oil.

I hope this description will help you through the engine oil change and you will also realize how easy it is. :-)

Good luck and please let me know in case you think any improvement is needed in this description.