Hello, All. I only found one video on YouTube that wasn’t really complete. Anyone have a good video or document showing how to change oil on the 7th Gen ES350?

Thanks!

 

The video explains that the splash shield must be removed to access the filter and drain plug. After removing the shield you can either remove the small cap at the bottom of the filter housing to drain the filter, or what I do, remove the entire filter housing and drain the entire contents of the filter housing into your bucket. Then you can remove the oil pan drain plug to empty the rest of the oil. After the oil is drained replace the plug. The rest is oil change 101. remove the filter cartridge from the housing along with the "O" ring around the top and replace with a new "O" ring and filter cartridge. Run some oil around the "O" ring with your finger for next time so that it's easy to turn the housing off. Spin the filter housing back on, snug, but not too tight, and you're finished except for replacing the splash shield and bolts. Fill the reservoir with fresh oil and you're finished. Takes about 30 minutes... GOOD LUCK!

 

The procedure I follow is a bit different. Start the engine, drive to the dealer which in my case is roughly two miles away - hand off car to valet, head inside, check out the new cars in the showroom, head over to the waiting room for a coffee and bagel with cream cheese. About 30 minutes later, part with $90 and head home! Alternatively, I can request a loaner but that sometimes seems like a bigger pita once I have to go back to pick it up.

 

Like your way much better Mike. Use to change my own oil but those days are long gone. Trip with the recycled oil to Advance Auto, the time cleaning up the mess etc no thanks. My local Lexus or Toyota dealer charges me $30 labor. I like you checkout all the new and used cars.

 

Well boys, some people like to DIY. not a matter of money but just the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

 

Yep I totally understand that. But then you have to pay for your bagel🤣🤣

 

Glad you reminded me Mike forgot about that... And the coffee too... LOL

 

Completely agree. I also want to make sure mine is done correctly. As a mechanic for years, the stories about oil filters not changed, wrong oil, drain plugs either not tightened or put on with a impact etc.

It does not matter if it is a Chevrolet or a Lexus, the beginners in the service dept. always start on the lube rack.

 

Exactly right, and the reason for my question in the first place.

 

When I took my 7ES to the dealer for something days after taking delivery, the gal threw a plastic cone on my roof to ID my car and I cringed when I saw her do this knowing when she removes it, she would drag it off the paint. Sure enough this is what she did when she brought the car back (she looked nice driving my car though..) lol. So sure enough I go home and there's drag marks on the roof from where she took the sandy magnetic cone off. i had to polish it out. it was fairly nasty too. the lines were all squiggly like she dragged and ground it into the paint.

you just never know what they will do to your car seen and unseen. don't believe that because it's the dealer, nothing will happen. these people are usually not car people and definitely won't care about your car like they would their own.

As far as changing the oil on the 350 and hybrid, relatively similar. undo plastic panel on bottom with 10mm socket, drain oil w/ 17mm wrench/socket, replace o ring on drain plug and use special tool for the oil filter. pour in new oil like any other car.

 

Just to add to what rmak which is a mechanic said. At almost all dealerships an oil change can result with no oil put into the engine. It is rare but does happen. The customer picks up the vehicle drives a few miles and engine locks up. It is not done on purpose but for various reasons like a mechanic with too many jobs at once is distracted or forgets to add oil after installing the filter. The dealer always fixes the problem but you now have a remanufactured engine which is nothing like factory. I have also seen many oil drain plugs over tightened and ruined the threads which results in a later leak. I did let my dealer do the first free oil change but I marked the filter and checked oil level when picked up. I try to do everything myself just to make sure it is done correctly.

 

While you wait in waiting area and checking out new cars, some idiot that is not even a mechanic is changing your oil….

 

I also own a 2015 4Runner and have changed the oil since new. The skid plate has to be removed to get to the filter. On the 4Runner forum there are many reports of dealership oil change issues

- Stripped and missing bolts for the skid plate
- Oil filter not being changed at all (removing the skid plate takes time)
- Plastic oil filter housing cracked and leaking (I upgraded mine to metal like the Lexus)
- Wrong oil used
- No oil in engine, locked up a couple miles from dealership

I am sure that these occurrences are a small percentage based on the number of oil changes. I just do not want to chance it. I also understand that most folks do not have the tools/space/time as well.

 

A couple months after the second free oil change I looked under the car to see what was involved with doing it myself. I read about having to take off the cover. Well, I looked and there was the oil filter housing right out in the open. I checked the parts website and sure enough the passenger undercover was missing! The service manager refused to believe one of his mechanics left the cover off. It wasn't like I had them on video and I really wished I had checked right after the oil change. So, the second "free" oil change cost me $70 to buy a replacement undercover. No thank you to future oil changes - I'll take care of it myself!

Another thing, I bought the undercover on line from parts.lexus.com, but I sucked up my pride and went to the dealer parts counter to be sure I got a genuine OEM filter. Then I bought another filter at Walmart. I looked these two filters and the packaging over very, very carefully. Either they are both genuine OEM, or both are counterfeit. They are exactly the same.

 

I'm going to skip the 2nd free oil change @ 10k and DIY. First one was horrible experience at the dealer and I will not come back and let them touch my car again. I was wondering where you guys usually get the oil filter from? Toyota/Lexus Dealer or Walmart? Anyone have the part or model number for the filter on 2020 ES 350?