When changing the oil filter is there a short cut to gain access to the filter or do you have to remove the metal guard to get to it? I got an oil change the other day and the garage charged me an extra $15 to change the filter "due to the labor involved".

On my last DIY oil change, I used a long extension on a socket wrench to remove the oil filter from the side of the skid plate and hence avoided removing this dreaded part. It made a bit of a mess on the skid plate, but I had a homemade plastic plate and a straw to collect it under one of the skid plate holes. But I don't think this is a very viable option for a shop. I think the only option is really to remove the skid plate in order to access the oil filter.

You can do it without removing the plate, as said it makes a mess if your not careful or rig something up. Just depends if you'd rather clean or take the guard off. I had a tundra and the plate was twice as heavy and I always took it off and put it back on with no issue. For whatever reason I have struggled with the GX plate these first couple oil changes...dunno if im getting slower or I just havent got the hang of it yet, but its annoying so far.

when i do it, i just remove the back three bolts and let it hang on the plastic "hinge" in the front. I dont take the entire skid plate off.

My 06 4Runner has the same setup (same V8 engine) and I ended up using the K&N HP-2009 (regardless I would have used a K&N filter here) simply because it has the 1 inch notch on top for a wrench. When we originally bough the vehicle and I went to do the first oil change, it was a major PITA in part because the dealer where we had bought it from had overtightened the filter (despite removing the metal guard). I just changed the oil it in a few weeks ago and it was a piece of cake to get the old filter off and a new one on.

As states before, there is no really easy way to get the filter out without removing the skid plate.

Personally, I prefer to remove the plate than deal with the clean up.

I have a 2004 GX470. I was able to reach down from the top past the fan blades with my hands and simply unscrew the filter.

Like changing a light bulb.

What did you do with the oil that dripped out afterwards? Left it pooled up on your skid plate?

Turby

Seriously its four - five extra bolts to take off. All that oil that drops on to the skid plate will later make more of a mess if its on the driveway floor or all over the underneath the truck. If that garage is charging an extra 15 dollars go some where else if that bothers you.

$15 is pretty reasonable amount, i paid $15 labor to change my GS oil too sometimes when i'm just too lazy to jack the car up and go underneath.

Of course, it keeps the undercarriage properly lubricated!!!

once you've put your new filter one and it has stopped dripping onto your skid plate, get some brake cleaner and shop towels to clean it up on the skid plate and where ever else it has landed.

My point originally was if taking the guard off is a necessity, I dont mind the extra $15 obviously Im driving an expensive Lexus(hahahah) I just wanted to know if It was a common charge for an oil change(charged under misc. labor) I would love to see how long the arms are on the guy who can reach down there and unscrew it (He must be 6'10")