How to Change the Oil in a Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander has a similar oil changing procedure to the Toyota Tundra. The Highlander takes approximately 5 quarts of oil. Refer to the owner's manual for the correct type of oil for your particular model and with a few simple steps, you can save some money by doing this routine maintenance yourself.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Prepare the Toyota Highlander for an Oil Change

   • 1

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

   • 2

     Pop the hood and remove the dipstick and oil filler cap. The dipstick and oil fill cap are on the sides of the engine.

   • 3

     Gather an oil drip pan, socket wrench, oil filter wrench, cleaning cloths and a new oil filter. Slide under your Toyota Highlander.

   Change the Oil

   • 1

     Locate the oil filter and oil drain plug underneath the truck. Look at the bottom of the oil pan to find your oil drain plug. The filter is on the front of the engine block, under the exhaust manifold.

   • 2

     Remove the oil drain plug using a 14mm 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 and replace them, if required.

   • 3

     Take off the oil filter using 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 then replace the oil drain plug using the wrench.

   • 4

     Move the jack stands and lower the Toyota Highlander, or drive it off the wheel ramps. Get under the hood and add oil. Turn on the engine and check that the oil pressure gauge rises. If it doesn't, turn your SUV 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 more oil.

Tips & Warnings

• There may not be a skid plate on the bottom of your Toyota Highlander. Remove this plastic cover for easier access to the filter.

• Never throw old oil into the trash. Deposit it into used plastic containers and drop it off at an auto parts store or gas station that takes used oil.