09/27/2025
One of the tasks I planned to accomplish today was replacing the old engine oil with new, replacing the dirty oil filter with a fresh unit, and giving the daily driver a little TLC before the weekend.
I started by checking the condition of the oil that’s currently in the oil pan. I raised the dipstick and am greeted with what I expected, dirty oil. It feels as it should and doesn’t smell as if any fuel is leaking into it. I wipe the stick off and place it back into the dipstick tube.
Next I pull the oil cap to inspect the inside for any signs of condensation. As I flip the cap over I am greated by the reflection of dirty oil, no milky condensation to be found
The air filter housing is my next step, I remove the wing nut and place the cover upside down on the strut tower, placing the wing nut inside a little indentation in the air filter cover that seems perfectly shaped for it. The air filter seems to be doing its job. It is slightly dirty but tapping it a few times on my knee seems to be enough cleaning to satisfy my needs.
I crawl under the car, its ride height is high enough that I am able to remove the drain plug without the aid of a jack and jackstands. The drain plug comes off with an expected amount of torque. Not so much that I required a breaker bar but enough to warrant the need of a wrench (spanner).
The oil is drained into a newly purchased drain bucket. It is dark, as expected, and shows no signs of metal flake, no signs of foreign material, and does not smell as if it were mixed with fuel.
As I let the engine oil drain I move my attention towards the oil filter, which is accessed from the passenger side engine bay. Being that I am in the middle of moving all of my things into a new house, I do not have my filter wrench. A quick “aha!” and a quick run into the bedroom I find myself a belt. Wrapping the belt around the filter gave me enough torque to break it free.
Once the filter and oil pan are adequately drained I replace the oil pan drain plugs washer with a new one and reinstall the drain plug using my elbow torque checker. A “click click” indicates proper torque.
I add oil to the new filter and filter o-ring and again use my elbow torque checker to secure the filter in place. I then add the require amount of oil for my vehicle, double checking the level is correct. The air filter and cover go on and I make my way inside to grab my keys.
As I sit in the drivers seat I place the key in the ignition then wiggle the shift k**b to ensure the vehicle is in neutral, I then pull on the choke k**b and press down on the brake pedal and clutch. I turn the key in the ignition and use my right foot to give the throttle a few pumps. The engine roars into life as the choke raises the engines RPMs.
As the vehicle warms up I tidy up the interior and put air in the tires. My passenger side rear has had a slow leak for several months now. The tire shop that did the work has been unable to fix the problem, and I have been much too busy to do it myself.
I shut the car down and after a few minutes I check the oil level again; good. Once everything checks out I take the car for a test drive and feel out how it shifts and how the brakes operate.
1-2 shift feels good, 2-3 shift feels right, 3-4 shift feels fine.
Brakes work as intended.
4-3 downshift feels good, 3-2 downshift feels good, I do not downshift into first gear.
I pull into my driveway and creep the car back into the second garage stall. There I let it idle for a minute before shutting it down.
I open the hood a final time and re-check my work, the oil level, and clean up any missed spills.
Toyota, 44yo 62k miles, size 1.2L 4spd, newly found passion for long drives but has always hated music, modern technology, and air conditioning
