Toyota RAV4 2.0 (3ZR-FE) (2017): Checking the Oil Level and Changing the Engine Oil

Part numbers are from the manufacturer's original catalogue. Check them against your VIN before ordering.

• Jack and two jack stands (or ramps/pit)
• socket or wrench for the drain plug (check the size against the plug)
• oil filter wrench (strap or cup type)
• torque wrench
• drain pan of at least 6 L (6.3 qt)
• funnel
• gloves
• rags

1. Check the level. Park the car on level ground. It's best to check with a cold engine or 5-10 minutes after shutting it off: with a warm engine, the dipstick reads slightly low. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it with a rag, insert it all the way, and pull it out again. The level should be between the lower and upper marks. While you're at it, look at the oil itself: if it's very dark, thick, or smells of gasoline, it's time to change it.
2. Warm up the engine for a few minutes so the oil thins out and drains better. Shut off the engine.
3. Set the parking brake and put the car in first gear (in P on an automatic). Raise the car with a jack at the factory jacking points and always place it on jack stands, and chock the wheels that remain on the ground. Work under the car only when it is supported by jack stands or on ramps.
4. Open the hood and loosen the oil filler cap so the oil drains more easily.
5. If the car has an engine undercover (skid plate), remove it.
6. Place the drain pan under the oil pan drain plug. Unscrew the plug counterclockwise, turning the last few turns by hand so you don't drop it into the oil. Remove the old washer. Let the oil drain completely, 5-10 minutes.
7. Loosen the oil filter counterclockwise with the filter wrench. Keep the pan underneath: some of the oil in the filter will spill out. Wrap the old filter in paper and take it in with the used oil.
8. Wipe the filter mounting surface. Coat the rubber gasket of the new filter with a thin layer of fresh oil and thread it on clockwise. First tighten it by hand until the gasket touches, then tighten further as specified on the filter body or in the service manual (usually about 3/4 turn; torque guideline 12-15 N·m (9-11 lb-ft)). Do not overtighten.
9. Clean the drain plug, fit a new washer, thread the plug in by hand, then tighten it with a torque wrench: approximately 30-40 N·m (22-30 lb-ft) (verify the exact value in the service manual).
10. Make sure no tools or pans are left under the car, then lower it to the ground. Do not start the engine yet.
11. Pour in fresh 0W-20 oil through a funnel. The fill capacity of the 3ZR-FE with a filter change is about 4-4.5 L (4.2-4.8 qt) (verify the exact value in the service manual): first add slightly less, then top up using the dipstick. Close the filler cap.
12. Turn the ignition on, then start the engine and let it run for 1-2 minutes until the oil pressure light goes out. Inspect the drain plug and filter for leaks.
13. Shut off the engine, wait 5-10 minutes, and check the level with the dipstick on level ground. The level usually drops slightly after the engine has run. If needed, top up to the upper mark, but not above it.
14. Reset the oil maintenance reminder on the instrument panel following the owner's manual. Take the used oil and filter to a collection point.

• Work only on jack stands or ramps: a jack alone is not a safety measure
• Hot oil and the drain plug can cause burns, so let the engine cool down a little after warming it up
• Using the wrong viscosity or overfilling above the upper mark is harmful to the engine
• If you have no experience working under a car, have the oil change done at a repair shop