Toyota Engine Oil

Did what trick, breaking loosen the old washer? I find a slim, flat-bladed screw driver blade, tapped in with a hammer, jars it loose. Typically do that as soon as the drain bolt is backed out a few turns, less messy.

removing drain bolt and using an oil extractor seems a little belts-and-braces. Still, interesting experiment, seeing how thorough it was. If anything having the front raised should improve drain, due to drain bolt being at trailing edge of oil pan.

myself, I’ve made it this far just removing drain bolts on cars, so I’ll stick with that. I can see it being very handy though, say for partially extraction, due to overfill.

 

Anyone got any tips on where to buy a bunch of oil plug washers for Gen2 and Gen3?

 

Our dealership used to charge about $2 CDN per. Last time they just threw it in without mention, change in policy I guess. Their Mazda dealership (right next door) has adopted the same policy. The two locations are handy; I typically park at the Mazda dealership (better odds of finding a spot), pick up oil filter for son's Mazda, then 'round the corner to Toyota for our Prius. Oh, and next to the Toyota place, Lexus, all under the same umbrella.

 

You're looking for Part # 90430-12031
Toyota MSRP is $1.64 as of today - Gasket #9043012031 | Autoparts.toyota.com
So that's like $16.40 for 10 gaskets.

If you do an internet search for "Toyota 90430-12031", you'll get a bunch of hits on 10-packs for slightly cheaper (maybe $10-ish). Those items' pics show the plastic bags with official looking Toyota logos (which look like the bag that I purchased when I bought a bunch during a Toyota sale).
If you don't care about using genuine Toyota parts, I'm sure you can opt for the much cheaper generic stuff that pops up in the search.

 

I got one of those aftermarket packs one time, they had shards on the edges, looked rough. I returned them, not worth the suspense.

 

I just buy a stack of the blue Lexus/Toyota oil plug washers off Amazon...probably due to restock since I change so many vehicles these days..$6.99 for 24 of them so that's just 30 cents each.

 

For stuck washers I use an old/dull flat blade screwdriver, and try to place it on the edge of the washer above the metal so that it won't scrape when it moves. Flat of blade parallel to the metal surface. Push on the washer lightly with the screwdriver until it grips and then with one finger underneath apply a tiny bit of outward (with respect to the metal) force. Usually the screwdriver hangs up on the washer and doesn't actually move at that point, but it is primed to. Finally a very light tap with a hammer or the side of a wrench with the other hand on the back of the screwdriver and the washer always flies off while the tip of the screwdriver moves away from the metal at the same time due to that preexisting force.

It is amazing how little impulse is needed to remove a washer this way, whereas pushing on it with a finger almost never makes the washer release.

 

So what do you open up on top to access the oil? The dipstick hole? Such a tiny hole must take a long time?