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Toyota RAV4 2.5L Engine Oil Change Guide
How to change the motor oil & replace the filter in a 3rd generation 2006-2012 Toyota RAV4 with the 2AR-FE engine.

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2012 RAV4 2AR-FE
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Oil Cap 5W-20 / 0W-20
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Twist Off Oil Filler Cap
This automotive "how-to" guide was specifically written to assist owners of the third generation (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012) Toyota RAV4 in changing the motor oil and replacing the oil filter on the 2.5L 2AR-FE L4 engine.

Owners of other Toyota or Scion vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter 2AR-FE engine such as the Camry and tC or other models with similar motors such as the Yaris, Corolla, Prius, Sienna, Avalon, Venza, and Matrix, Tacoma, Highlander, and 4Runner, may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The items needed to complete this procedure include a floor jack, jack stands, a 14mm socket, a 64mm oil filter wrench with 14 flats or "flutes" (AST # TOY 640), a 24mm socket, 3/8" and 1/2" ratcheting wrenches, a used oil catch container, a new cartridge filter and 5 U.S. quarts of new SAE 0W-20 or 5W-20 oil.

A few compatible oil filters include the following with their part numbers: Fram XG9972, Toyota 04152-YZZA1, Purolator L25608, K&N PS-7020, Wix 57047, Pennzoil HPZ-161, Beck Arnley 041-8190, Pentius PCB9972, Hastings LF607, Valvoline VO-84 and Mobil1 M1C-251.



 
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Raise Front Passenger Side
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Oil Pan, Drain Bolt, Filter
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14mm Oil Drain Bolt
The first two steps are to warm up the engine for a few minutes and park the vehicle on a level surface.

Warming up the engine will help suspend any contaminants within the old oil and allow it to drain out more quickly.

Then engage the emergency / parking brake and chock the rear wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving.

Raise the hood and twist off the oil filler cap in the counter clockwise direction.

Removing the oil filler cap will prevent a vacuum from forming and allow the old oil to drain out more quickly.

Raise the front passenger side of the vehicle with the floor jack and securely support it with two jack stands.

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Remove Oil Drain Bolt
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Used Oil Catch Basin
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Replace Oil Drain Bolt
Gather together the 14mm socket, ratcheting wrench and used oil catch basin before sliding underneath the front passenger area of the engine.

Locate the black metal oil pan and the silver metal oil drain bolt at the back of the pan facing the rear of the vehicle.

The black plastic cartridge oil filter cap is located just in front of the oil pan.

Move the used oil catch container to below the drain bolt and remove it with the 14mm socket by turning it counter clockwise.

Allow the old oil to drain out for a few minutes, replace the oil drain bolt, and tighten it to just past hand tight or about 30 ft lbs of torque.



 

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Cartridge Oil Filter Cap
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Assenmacher # TOY640
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24mm Socket
To remove the oil filter cap, you'll need a 64mm oil filter wrench with 14 flats (also called "flutes") such as the Assenmacher tools TOY 640, the Toyota SST ("Special Service Tool") # 09228-06500-02, or # 09228-06501.

Attach the 64mm oil filter wrench to the 24mm socket and a 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench.

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Remove Oil Filter Cap
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Drain Oil From Filter
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Replace Filter & O-Ring
Move the used oil catch basin to just below the oil filter cap.

Place the oil filter wrench on the oil filter cap and rotate it counter clockwise to remove it.

Discard the old cartridge oil filter and the old rubber o-ring at the base of the threads on the oil filter cap.

I recommend buying the genuine OEM Toyota 04152-YZZA1 oil filter since it has excellent reviews on Amazon.

Lubricate the new rubber o-ring with some new 5W-20 or 0W-20 oil before installing it on the oil filter cap.

Insert the new cartridge oil filter in to the oil filter cap and twist it on to the engine a few threads by hand to prevent it from becoming cross threaded.

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Twist On Oil Filter Cap
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Insert Automotive Funnel
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Pour In New 5W-20 Oil
Attach the oil filter wrench to the oil filter cap and tighten it to just past hand tight or about 18 ft lbs of torque.

Do not over tighten the oil filter cap to avoid damaging the rubber o-ring which could result in an oil leak.

Double check that both the oil drain bolt and oil filter cap are tight before moving on to the next steps.

Lower the vehicle from the jack stands by using the floor jack.

Insert the automotive funnel in to the oil filler hole and pour in about 4 quarts of new SAE 5W-20 or SAE 0W-20 oil.

The engine's total capacity for an oil change with filter replacement is 4.7 U.S. quarts (4.4 L, 3.9 Imp. qts.).

Temporarily replace the oil filler cap, run the engine for a few minutes, shut if off, and allow it to rest for 5 minutes so that the oil drains down to the oil pan.

Pull out the yellow handled dipstick, wipe it clean, re-insert it and pull it out again and check the oil level.

If necessary, slowly add more oil until the level on the dipstick reaches at or just below the upper dimple on the dipstick.

You may not need to pour in the entire 4.7 quarts of new oil depending on how long you allowed the old oil to drain out.

It is far better to have a little less than enough oil in an engine rather than too much.

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Replace Oil Filler Cap
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Yellow Handled Oil Dipstick
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Check Oil Level
Once the oil level is correct, replace the dipstick and twist on the oil filler cap.

To reset the maintenance required light, first turn the ignition to "On" but don't start the engine. Press the trip/odometer/reset button on the gauge panel until the "Trip A" odometer is displayed. Turn the ignition to "Off". Press and hold the reset button before switching the ignition back to "On". You'll see some blinking dashes and then "000000" displayed on the screen. Release the reset button. The "MAINT REQD" light should no longer be illuminated on the instrument panel.

For more, check out my other Toyota RAV4 Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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