How to Change the Oil in a Toyota Camry
Changing your Toyota Camry's oil at regular intervals is an important factor in keeping your engine healthy and helping it last for a long time.
Always check your user manual for the recommended Toyota Camry oil change intervals as well as the correct oil weight and type for your car. Camry models that use synthetic motor oil can usually go every 5,000 miles or eight months.
If your car uses conventional or semi-synthetic, then the oil change interval might be more like every 3,000 miles or every six months. Again, go by your user manual and/or any oil change indicator that your car might have.
Using a Toyota Camry oil change kit from Power Oil Center is a great way to make oil changes simple and convenient. Power Oil Center offers oil change kits for the 2007-2017 Toyota Camry with L4 2.4L Engines. This engine requires 4.5 quarts of SAE 0W-20 conventional or synthetic oil.
Before You Start
A Toyota oil change kit from Power Oil Center will contain the primary items used to change your oil, including the correct amount of oil, a new filter, and a funnel. However, you'll want to have some other tools on hand as well.
- Car jack or lift
- Jack stands
- Oil drain pan
- Closed-end wrench or metric socket
- Toyota oil filter wrench
- Disposable towels or rags
- Latex gloves
- Drain hose
As long as you have enough room in your garage or driveway, you can do an oil change at your house. You should have enough room on all sides of your vehicle before you work.
In order to change the oil on a Toyota Camry, you'll need to lift the car with a jack and then support the front end on two jack stands.
Check your owner's manual for the proper lift point. Never go under the car when it's only supported with the jack. It's also a good idea to place blocks behind the rear tires to prevent any rolling.
You can change your oil if the car is completely cold, or you can warm it up for a few minutes and then change it. Warming the vehicle up allows the oil to drain faster.
The following are the oil change steps to follow after you have your Toyota Camry lifted and supported.
Step 1 - Pop the hood and prop it in the upright position. Find the engine oil cap and remove it. Removing the cap will allow the oil to drain faster.
Step 2 - Locate the drain plug beneath your vehicle and place the oil drain pan directly beneath it. Be aware that the oil will shoot out quickly if the vehicle is warm.
When it comes to removing the drain plug, find a position beneath your car that will give you the most leverage in case the plug is tight.
Make sure your wrench is the correct size and seat it properly on the bolt. Once you get it loose, you should be able to remove the plug by hand.
The oil might take up to ten minutes to drain. Clean any splashes from the oil to avoid a burning oil smell the next time you start your car.
Step 3 - Move your drain pan beneath the oil filter. Use a 3/8" ratchet to remove the drain cap. Removing the cap reveals a threaded port where you can put the drain hose. Direct the end of the hose into the oil drain pan.
Step 4 - The Camry oil filter is located on the passenger side of the engine bay above the oil pan. Remove the oil filter with the oil wrench and a 27mm socket. The filter might be really tight, so you might have to use both the 27mm socket and breaker bar to get it loose. Once it is loose, you can usually spin it the rest of the way off by hand. Wipe the housing clean with a rag or disposable towel.
Step 5 - Prepare your new filter by applying fresh oil to the large o-ring. Spin the new filter on by hand and tighten it by hand. You can use the filter wrench to ensure that it's snug, but it's important not to over-tighten it. Replace the small o-ring before putting the metal drain plug back on.
Step 6 - Now it's time to refill the engine oil. Double-check that you've replaced the drain plug before filling. Place the funnel included with your Camry oil change kit into the area where the engine oil cap threads on. Pour the oil through the funnel and then tip the bottle upside down in the funnel to let it all drain out as you open the next bottle.
Step 7 - Replace the engine oil cap and after the car has run for a few minutes and the oil pressure is normal, check the dipstick to confirm the correct amount of oil was added. Wipe the area off with a rag to avoid getting a burning oil smell when you start up the engine.
Step 8 - Start your Camry and let it build oil pressure and fill the oil filter. Once you've confirmed that it's reached the proper oil pressure, you can shut it off and close the hood.
Step 9 - Reset the oil light in your dash by pushing and holding the odometer button. Turn your key to the second position. Keep holding the odometer button for about 10 seconds. The oil light should start to flash, then the light should go out.
Rely on Power Oil Center for DIY oil kits for the Toyota Camry as well as other Toyota models. An easy and convenient oil change kit from Power Oil Center has everything you need to change your oil in your garage or driveway.