How to Change the Oil in a Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla has a regular oil changing process. The manufacturer recommends changing the oil every 7,500 miles. Depending on whether your car is new or used, there may be a skid plate on the bottom. Remove this plastic cover for easy access to the oil filter.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Prepare the Toyota Corolla for an Oil Change

   • 1

     Lift your Toyota Corolla with a jack, and then place the car on jack stands. If you don't have jack stands, drive the car onto a set of wheel ramps.

   • 2

     Pop the hood and remove the dipstick and oil filler cap. The dipstick has a circular handle, and the oil fill is on the valve cover.

   • 3

     Gather an oil drip pan, socket wrench, strap-type oil filter wrench, cleaning cloths and a new oil filter. Slide under your Toyota Corolla.

   Change the Oil

   • 1

     Locate the oil filter and oil drain plug underneath your Corolla. Look at the bottom rear of the oil pan to find your oil drain plug. The filter is on the side of the engine block.

   • 2

     Remove the oil drain plug with the socket wrench. Pull the plug out and let the oil drain for 10 to 15 minutes into a drip pan. Check the gasket and threads for damage. Replace these components, if necessary.

   • 3

     Take off the oil filter with an oil filter wrench. Dump the old oil into the oil drip pan and put on the new oil filter. Tighten the oil filter by hand and apply the oil drain plug with the wrench. Clean off any excess oil.

   • 4

     Drive your Toyota Corolla off the wheel ramps, or move the jack stands and lower the jack. Go under the hood and add oil. Turn on the engine and check that the oil pressure gauge rises. If it doesn't, turn the car off and add more oil.

   • 5

     Turn off the engine. Take an oil reading on the dipstick. If the oil level isn't at full, add oil.

Tips & Warnings

• Put the used oil into old plastic containers and take it to an auto parts store or a gas station. Most of these places provide oil disposal containers for customers.