This AI-generated draft has not been independently verified for your vehicle. Confirm engine, trim, build date, tool fitment and torque specifications against the relevant service information before buying tools or starting work.
On the 3rd-gen Tacoma this is one of the easiest jobs on the truck, with one twist: the 3.5L 2GR-FKS uses a plastic cartridge filter housing low on the front of the engine instead of a screw-on can. It has its own little drain plug, and if you skip that step the housing dumps a quart of hot oil across the front crossmember. Get the right 64.5 mm 14-flute cap wrench and it takes two minutes.
Both engines take 0W-20 full synthetic, about 6.1-6.2 quarts with the filter. The things people get wrong are reusing the aluminum drain plug crush washer (slow weep afterward), reusing the old cap O-ring from a bare cartridge instead of buying the kit with new O-rings, and cranking the plastic cap down with a strap wrench until it cracks. Torque it to 18 ft-lb and walk away.
| Item | Type | Product search |
|---|---|---|
| Floor jack 2-ton minimum, lift at front crossmember/frame Raises the truck for access to the drain plug and filter housing. | Required | search retailer |
| Jack stands 2-ton pair, frame rails behind front wheels Supports the truck safely while you are under it. | Safety | search retailer |
| Wheel chocks Keeps the truck from rolling while raised. | Safety | search retailer |
| Socket wrench 3/8 in drive ratchet Drives the drain plug and skid plate sockets. | Required | search retailer |
| Socket set 12 mm and 14 mm 6-point, 3/8 in drive 14 mm for the oil pan drain plug; 12 mm/14 mm for the front skid plate bolts on off-road trims. | Required | search retailer |
| Oil filter cap wrench 64.5 mm, 14 flute (Toyota SST 09228-06501 equivalent) Removes the plastic cartridge filter housing cap on the 3.5L (and cartridge-equipped 2.7L). | Required | search retailer |
| Filter housing drain tool Toyota-style cartridge drain plug tool with hose Opens the housing drain valve so the filter housing empties into the pan instead of over the crossmember. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Oil filter strap or cup wrench For spin-on canister (2TR-FE trucks fitted with spin-on filter) Needed only if your 2.7L uses a spin-on filter instead of a cartridge. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Drain pan 8 quart low-profile Catches the roughly 6 quarts of used oil. | Required | search retailer |
| Funnel Long-neck Pours new oil into the valve cover fill port without spilling on the intake. | Required | search retailer |
| Torque wrench 3/8 in drive, 10-80 ft-lb range Sets drain plug and filter cap torque; the cap is plastic and easily cracked. | Required | search retailer |
| Nitrile gloves Used oil is a skin irritant. | Safety | search retailer |
| Shop towels Cleaning the filter housing, sealing surfaces and spills. | Consumables | search retailer |
| Brake/parts cleaner or degreaser Cleans oil off the crossmember and skid plate area after the filter change. | Consumables | search retailer |
| Engine oil 0W-20 full synthetic, API SN/SP; 6.1 qt (2.7L) or 6.2 qt (3.5L) with filter Factory-specified viscosity for both 3rd-gen engines. | Parts | search retailer |
| Oil filter Cartridge: Toyota 04152-YZZA1 kit (with O-rings) for 3.5L; spin-on 90915-YZZF2/YZZJ1 if so equipped The cartridge kit includes the housing and drain-plug O-rings that must be replaced. | Parts | search retailer |
| Drain plug gasket Aluminum crush washer, Toyota 90430-12031 (M12) One-time-use washer; reusing it is the usual cause of a weeping drain plug. | Parts | search retailer |
| Fender cover or cardboard Catches the drip from the filter housing over the front crossmember. | Recommended | search retailer |
Both engines use a 14 mm hex drain plug, 0W-20, and roughly the same capacity (2.7L ~6.1 qt, 3.5L ~6.2 qt). The 3.5L 2GR-FKS always uses the cartridge filter with the 64.5 mm 14-flute cap wrench; 2.7L 2TR-FE trucks vary by market and year between the same cartridge setup and a spin-on canister, so look under the truck first and buy the matching filter and wrench.
| Oil pan drain plug (M12) | 30 ft-lb (40 Nm) |
| Cartridge oil filter housing cap | 18 ft-lb (25 Nm) |
| Filter housing internal drain plug | 9 ft-lb (13 Nm) |
| Spin-on oil filter (if equipped) | Hand tight per filter instructions, approx. 18 ft-lb (25 Nm) — verify in the service manual |
| Front skid plate bolts | verify in the service manual |
About 6.2 US quarts with a new filter on the 3.5L 2GR-FKS and about 6.1 quarts on the 2.7L 2TR-FE. Add 5.5 quarts, then top up to the upper dipstick mark rather than dumping the whole jug in.
14 mm, 6-point, on a 3/8 in drive. Torque it to 30 ft-lb with a new 90430-12031 aluminum crush washer.
A 64.5 mm, 14-flute cap wrench (Toyota SST 09228-06501 equivalent) for the plastic cartridge housing. A 65 mm 14-flute cup will also fit; avoid strap wrenches on the plastic cap.
Toyota specifies 0W-20 for both the 2TR-FE and 2GR-FKS in this generation and it is what the oil-life and fuel-economy calibration assumes. 5W-30 can be used as a temporary top-up in an emergency, but go back to 0W-20 at the next change.