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Autopapyrus · Toyota Highlander 2.0 (XU70, 2022)
https://autopapyrus.com/guides/toyota/highlander/engine-oil-and-oil-filter-change/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

Toyota Highlander 2.0 (XU70, 2022): Engine Oil and Oil Filter Change

Change the oil and filter every 10,000 km or once a year, whichever comes first. Under severe use (city driving, heavy traffic, short trips), shorten the interval to 7,000-8,000 km. The correct filter type depends on your vehicle's engine code, so before buying, compare the old filter with the new one for thread and size.

Difficulty: Easy Time: 40-60 minutes Steps: 14 Tools: Drain plug wrench or socket (usually 14 or 17 mm, check against your plug), oil filter wrench (strap type or cup type sized for your filter), torque wrench, funnel, drain pan of 6-7 L (6.3-7.4 qt), rags, lift or inspection pit, jack stands if needed

Parts

2
  • 🔩 Full synthetic 0W-20 engine oil meeting API SP / ILSAC GF-6 (or newer), as recommended by Toyota for this generation. Fill capacity with filter is about 4-5 L (4.2-5.3 qt)
  • 🔩 check the exact figure in the owner's manual for your trim. Oil filter: genuine Toyota for your engine, or an aftermarket equivalent such as Denso, Sakura, Mann, etc. New drain plug washer (gasket)

Step by step

14 steps
  1. Warm up the engine for 3-5 minutes so the oil becomes thinner. Do not bring it to full operating temperature: hot oil can burn you.
  2. Park the car on level ground, set the parking brake, and shut off the engine. Raise the car on a lift or drive it over an inspection pit. If you use a jack, always place jack stands.
  3. If an engine undercover (skid plate) is fitted, remove it. It is usually held by a few bolts or screws.
  4. Place the drain pan under the drain plug on the oil pan. Unscrew the plug and let the oil drain completely, usually 5-10 minutes. While it drains, open the oil filler cap under the hood; the oil flows out faster.
  5. Inspect the plug and its threads. Replace the washer with a new one. Screw the plug back in. The tightening torque for drain plugs on these engines is usually 35-45 N·m (26-33 lb-ft); check the exact value in the manufacturer's specifications for your engine.
  6. Place the drain pan under the oil filter and unscrew it with the filter wrench. Remaining oil from the housing will drain down. If the filter is a cartridge type (a paper element in a plastic or aluminum cap), remove the cap and replace the paper element together with the sealing rings.
  7. Clean the mounting surface of old oil. Make sure the old gasket has not stuck to the housing, otherwise the new filter will leak.
  8. Lubricate the rubber seal of the new filter with a thin layer of fresh oil. Pre-filling the filter with oil is not required.
  9. Screw the new filter on by hand until the gasket touches, then tighten it as directed on the packaging (usually about another 3/4 turn). For a cartridge housing, tighten the cap with a torque wrench to the specified torque (usually 20-30 N·m (15-22 lb-ft)).
  10. Reinstall the engine undercover if you removed it.
  11. Lower the car and pour the new oil into the engine through the filler neck. First add about 4 L (4.2 qt), then top up gradually. Do not add the full amount at once; fill by checking the dipstick or the level indicator.
  12. Start the engine for 30-60 seconds. The oil pressure light should go out within 1-3 seconds. Check the drain plug and filter for leaks.
  13. Shut off the engine and wait 5 minutes for the oil to drain back into the pan. Check the level on the dipstick: it should be between the MIN and MAX marks. Top up if necessary.
  14. Reset the maintenance interval indicator using the procedure in the owner's manual (via the trip computer or the instrument cluster menu). Take the used oil to a recycling point.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • Do not overtighten the drain plug or the filter: stripping the threads in an aluminum oil pan is costly to fix. Do not fill oil above the MAX mark, because excess oil foams and impairs engine operation. Do not use oil with the wrong specification or viscosity, which is especially critical on turbocharged engines. If the oil pressure light does not go out after the change or a leak appears, shut off the engine immediately and take the car to a repair shop.