How to Change the Oil in a 2007 Toyota Camry

Keep your car's insides in check.

Recent gas pedal issues aside, Toyotas have historically been very reliable cars. But even reliable cars require regular maintenance. Keeping your oil properly changed is crucial to extending the life of your car.

Things You'll Need

• Wheel ramp
• Jack and jack stands
• Gloves
• Oil pan
• Disptick
• Work lights
• Oil filter wrench
• Cleaning rag
• Oil filter gaskets
• Torque wrench

Instructions

Prepare Your Car and Change the Oil Filter

1. Raise your car. It will be much easier to work under your car if it not flat on the ground. You can simply drive your car up a short wheel ramp and brace all four tires so that your car does not roll backward. Or you can jack your car up and then secure it with jack stands.

2. Open the car hood and loosen the oil cap. This will release the vacuum in the system and allow the oil to drain with ease. The black oil cap is in the crook made by the gray, covered engine block.

3. Remove the oil filter. You will find the round oil filter housing under the car. Use the oil filter wrench to loosen the housing and free the filter.

4. Catch the draining oil. When you remove the oil filter housing, some oil will immediately start to flow out from the car. Position a pan to can or drum to catch the oil underneath the filter.

5. Remove the gaskets and the filter and clean the filter housing. Carefully take off the two gaskets that are on the oil filter. The bigger gasket is under the threading on the filter. The smaller gasket is on the inner cylinder at the bottom of the filter. Remove the dirty oil filter from the filter housing. Use a clean rag to wipe down the filter and remove the oil.

6. Reapply new gaskets. It may be necessary to slick over the new gaskets before you put them into place.

7. Place a new oil filter into the filter housing.

8. Put the filter housing with its new filter back in its place under the car. On the bottom of the filter housing, you will find instructions for how tightly the housing needs to be secured. Screw the filter housing back into place as tightly as possible and use a torque wrench to ensure that the filter housing is secured per its specifications.

Change the Oil

1. Unscrew the oil cap. The oil pan is right next to the filter. Use a wrench to unscrew the bolt on the oil pan. Oil will immediately drain out, so have a pan or bucket ready to catch it. When the oil stops draining, replace the bolt, making sure to tighten it.

2. Refill the oil tank. Place a funnel into the oil tank and fill it with 6 quarts of 5w30 oil. Put the cap back on the oil tank when you are done filling.

3. Lower your car. If you have used a jack to raise your car, remove the jack stands, then lower your car to the ground. If you have used a wheel ramp, remove the tire bracings and slowly back your car down the ramp.

4. Let the car idle and check for leaks. Turn the car on and let it run for a few minutes. This pushes the oil through the system and allows you to check for leaks. Look under the hood and underneath the car to see if oil is seeping or flowing out.

Tips & Warnings

• Be very careful when working with heavy machinery like cars. Make sure that your area is well lit and that you can see clearly. If you jack up your car to work underneath it, be certain that the mechanism is secure and that your car will not fall on you. Do not put your hands in and around the engine when the car is on.

References

• Edmunds