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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Floor jack 2-ton minimum, lift at front crossmember/frame Raises the truck for access to the drain plug and filter housing. | Required | shop |
| Jack stands 2-ton pair, frame rails behind front wheels Supports the truck safely while you are under it. | Safety | shop |
| Wheel chocks Keeps the truck from rolling while raised. | Safety | shop |
| Socket wrench 3/8 in drive ratchet Drives the drain plug and skid plate sockets. | Required | shop |
| 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 | shop |
| 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 | shop |
| 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 | shop |
| 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 | shop |
| Drain pan 8 quart low-profile Catches the roughly 6 quarts of used oil. | Required | shop |
| Funnel Long-neck Pours new oil into the valve cover fill port without spilling on the intake. | Required | shop |
| 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 | shop |
| Nitrile gloves Used oil is a skin irritant. | Safety | shop |
| Shop towels Cleaning the filter housing, sealing surfaces and spills. | Consumables | shop |
| Brake/parts cleaner or degreaser Cleans oil off the crossmember and skid plate area after the filter change. | Consumables | shop |
| 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 | shop |
| 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 | shop |
| 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 | shop |
| Fender cover or cardboard Catches the drip from the filter housing over the front crossmember. | Recommended | shop |
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 |
Drain plug (14 mm), 64.5 mm 14-flute cartridge cap, 0W-20 and ~6.1-6.2 qt capacity are solid for this generation; the 2.7L 2TR-FE is the one to double-check — inspect under the truck before buying parts to confirm whether yours has the cartridge housing or a spin-on canister.
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.