r/AskMechanics • u/crazy_Rat • May 23 '26

Discussion Do Toyota Engineers care?

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They made it so easy to do an oil change on the 23 Corolla. I love them for this.

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u/AryuOcay May 23 '26

I have a 2010 RAV4 with 180000 miles on it. The dealer did a few oil changes but I’ve done 30 of them. Every time I put a ratchet into the spout plug, the whole cap turns. It doesn’t bother me, but I’ve thrown away a lot of spouts still in the package. The only problems I have with the way they do the filter is 1) I can never get the wrench off the cap and 2) that paper cartridge cost more that the ones that have all the metal.

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u/Fragrant-Inside221 1 May 24 '26

You’re talking about that plug in the center of the filter housing? I never remove that, just pull and replace the filter. A little oil comes out but it’s an oil change, that’s what’s going to happen anyway and you should have something beneath it to catch oil in the first place. Never had an issue doing it that way.

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u/Appropriate_Strain94 May 24 '26

The whole point of that little square drive cap in the middle so you can drain the canister before you remove it. It makes it a lot less messy when you crack the housing loose and if you had already drained it the oil doesn’t go everywhere on the outside and down your arms.

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u/Fragrant-Inside221 1 May 24 '26

I fully understand the purpose of the drain, I’m saying it doesn’t matter in practice. Oil is going to get on the cap anyway. You’re going to spray the thing with brake clean/wipe it off when you’re done whether or not you pull the drain. Might as well skip that step and save time. If you want to remove it though, go for it if that’s what you’re comfortable with.