Toyota RAV4
2.5L I4 Engine Oil Change Guide
How to change the motor oil and filter in
a 4th generation 2013-2016 Toyota RAV4 with the 2AR-FE 2.5L I4 engine.
2013 RAV4 2AR-FE 2.5L |
Front End Jack Point |
Raise With Floor Jack |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the fourth generation (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and maybe
also the refreshed 2017 model year) Toyota RAV4 SUV in changing the
motor oil and replacing the cartridge style oil filter in the 2AR-FE
2.5 liter inline four cylinder engine. Owners of other Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicles such as the Yaris, Matrix, Prius, Camry, Corolla, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, FJ Cruiser, Venza, Highlander, Avalon, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, IS 250, ES 350, GS 350, tC, xB, xD, iQ and FR-S may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The items needed to complete this procedure include a floor jack, two jack stands, a used oil catch container, a 14mm socket, a 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench, a 64mm oil filter wrench with 14 flats (AST # TOY 640), a 24mm socket, a 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench, a new cartridge filter and 5 quarts (5L) of new SAE 0W-20 (or SAE 5W-20). |
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A few compatible replacement cartridge style oil filters with their part numbers include the following: Purolator L25608, K&N PS-7020, Mobil 1 M1C-251, Pennzoil HPZ-161, Toyota 04152-YZZA1, Beck Arnley 041-8190, Pentius PCB9972, Hastings LF607, Valvoline # VO-84, Bosch 3972, Fram CH9972, Fram XG9972 and Wix 57047. |
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Oil Filler Cap SAE 0W-20 |
Twist Off Counterclockwise |
Pull Out Dipstick An Inch |
The first steps are
to warm up the engine for a few minutes, park the SUV on a level surface and
then turn off the ignition. Engage the emergency / parking brake and chock both sides of the rear wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving. Locate the front end jack point under the center of the engine bay. Carefully raise the SUV with the floor jack and securely support it with the two jack stands. Open the hood, twist off the oil filler cap in the counterclockwise direction and pull out the yellow plastic handled dipstick an inch or two. Removing the oil filler cap and pulling up the dipstick will help prevent a vacuum from forming and allow the old oil to drain out more quickly. |
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Black Metal Oil Pan |
Oil Drain Bolt - Rear of Pan |
Oil Filter Housing |
Slide under the
engine bay and locate the black metal oil pan. The silver metal oil drain bolt is located on the rear edge of the oil pan with the bolt head facing towards the back of the SUV. The cartridge oil filter housing is located in front of the oil pan. It is mostly composed of black plastic with a round metal plate on the bottom edge. |
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Used Oil Catch Container |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Drain Out Old Oil |
Slide the used oil catch basin to just below the drain bolt. Loosen the oil drain bolt in the counterclockwise direction with the 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench. Be careful when you remove the oil drain bolt. The old oil might still be hot enough to burn your skin depending on how long you warmed up the engine. Allow the old oil to drain out for at least a few minutes or until the flow slows to just an occasional drip. If the oil drain bolt is equipped with a crush washer, inspect it and replace it if necessary. You can purchase a new crush washer at your Toyota dealership's parts counter or at most auto parts stores. Wipe the oil drain hole with a clean rag or paper towel. Re-insert the oil drain bolt and spin it in a few turns by hand in the clockwise direction to prevent it from becoming cross threaded. Tighten the oil drain bolt in the clockwise direction with the 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench to just past hand tight or about 25-30 ft-lbs of torque. |
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TOY 640 - 24mm Socket |
Loosen Oil Filter Cap |
New Cartridge Oil Filter |
Slide the used oil
catch container to just below the oil filter cap. Attach the 24mm socket and Assenmacher Specialty Tools # TOY 640 oil filter wrench to the 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench. Carefully loosen the oil filter cap by turning it counterclockwise. Allow the old oil to drain out from the oil filter housing for at least a few minutes. Pull the old cartridge filter element out of the filter cap and discard it. Pry the old black rubber o-ring gasket off the threads on the filter cap and discard it. I'd recommend buying the OEM Toyota 04152-YZZA1 oil filters since they have the best reviews on Amazon. |
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Dip Pinky Finger In New Oil |
Lubricate Rubber O-Ring |
Twist On Oil Filter Cap |
Dip your pinky
finger in to some new SAE 0W-20 oil and lubricate the new rubber o-ring
gasket that was included with the new cartridge oil filter element. Lubricating the rubber o-ring will help it form a better seal, prevent oil leaks and make it easier to remove the filter cap during the next oil change. Push the new o-ring on to the bottom of the threads on the filter cap. Push the new cartridge oil filter in to the filter cap. Re-insert the oil filter cap in to the housing and rotate it a few turns by hand in the clockwise direction to prevent it from becoming cross threaded. |
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Tighten Clockwise |
Tighten 14mm Oil Drain Bolt |
Lower From Jack Stands |
Tighten the filter
cap in the clockwise direction with the AST TOY 640 attached to the 24mm
socket and 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench to just past hand tight or about 18
ft-lbs of torque. Double check that the oil drain bolt and oil filter cap are tight before moving on to the next steps. Remove all of your tools, the used oil catch basin and any other items from underneath the SUV. Carefully lower the car from the jack stands by using the floor jack. |
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Insert Automotive Funnel |
Pour In New SAE 0W-20 |
Replace Oil Filler Cap |
Insert the
automotive funnel in to the oil filler hole. It is far better to have slightly less oil than necessary in an engine than to over fill it. Running an engine that has been over filled with oil may cause damage to seals, gaskets or other components. The 2AR-FE 2.5L I4 engine's total capacity for an oil change with filter replacement is 4.6 U.S. quarts (or 4.4L, 3.9 Imp. Qt.). I'd recommend at first only pouring in about 4 U.S. quarts of new SAE 0W-20 oil. Then temporarily replace the oil filler cap by twisting it on the clockwise direction and push down the oil dipstick. |
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Pull Out Oil Dipstick |
Upper Dot - Full Line |
Oil Change Complete |
Run the engine for
a few minutes, turn off the ignition and then allow the oil to drain down to
the oil pan for at least 5 to 10 minutes. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, re-insert it and pull it out again to check the oil level. If necessary, slowly pour in more oil while repeatedly checking the level on the dipstick until it reaches just at or below the upper dot at the end of the dipstick which indicates the "Full" or "Max" line. You may not need to pour in the entire 4.6 U.S. quarts of new SAE 0W-20 oil to reach the maximum level on the dipstick depending on how long you allowed the old oil to drain out. Once the oil is at the correct level, replace the oil filler cap and re-insert the dipstick. To reset the "Maintenance Required" (MAINT REQD) warning light, follow these steps: 1. Switch the LCD display to "Trip Meter A" and then turn the ignition switch to the "Off" position. 2. Press and hold the "DISP" (Display) button and turn the ignition switch to the "On" position but do not start the engine. 3. Continue holding the "DISP" button until the trip meter displays "000000". 4. The "Maint Reqd" light should no longer be displayed on the LCD screen. Be sure to record the oil change in your vehicle's service records and check your driveway, garage or parking spot for fresh oil drops during the next few days. Oil drops might indicate a loose drain bolt or filter housing. For more,
check out my other
2013-2016 Toyota RAV4 DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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