Where is the oil filter in a 96 Toyota Avalon?

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Ted Swirsky - 28 Apr 2006 22:39 GMT

This is embarrassing. My daughter acquired a 1996 4 door XLS Sedan.

I was going to change the oil, but neither I nor my neighbor can find the
oil filter! Where is it and is there anything special I should know? I
hear I should install a new oil bolt gasket, but, other than that, I don't
know of anything else to be aware of.

It is a 3.0 liter, V6, Four-Cam, 24 valve 4 speed automatic.

So where is the oil filter??? Any web sites with a picture? I'm nowhere
near a mechanic, but this is ridiculous!

Thanks.

Ted

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Ray O - 28 Apr 2006 22:58 GMT

> This is embarrassing. My daughter acquired a 1996 4 door XLS Sedan.
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Ted

Open the hood, stand slightly to the left (passenger side) of the center of
the car and look down. It will be on the side of the engine block facing
the front of the car, to the left of where the exhaust manifold joins the
exhaust pipe. Genuine Toyota oil filters are black so they don't catch your
eye like some orange-colored ones do.

Some Toyota dealers will toss in a free drain plug gasket with each OEM
filter you purchase, or at least the one near my house does. I do not
change the drain plug gasket each time I change the oil because the gasket
does not deteriorate that quickly and I forget most of the time.

On the other hand, the gasket on some oil filters will stick to the engine
block when you remove it, and if you install an oil filter on top of the old
gasket, you can lose massive amounts of oil and seize the engine. Always
make sure the surface of the block where the oil filter mates is clean and
with no old gaskets stuck.

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Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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Ted Swirsky - 28 Apr 2006 23:11 GMT

Ahhh. I think I see it. Yes it is black and doesn't catch your eye. If I'm
correct,
it is in the front of the engine compartment (kind of near the hood latch)
and partially hidden
by something above it. That's why it was hard to see. You have to look down
and under...

It LOOKs like an oil filter and has the 'ribbed' top like an oil filter.
You said it is on the SIDE of the engine block but I might
be misunderstanding the terminology.

Thanks for the quick reply and advice.

Do you know if there is any way to catch the oil running out of the old
filter
when it is removed since it's almost horizontal. Looks like it will make
a small mess
in there.

Thanks again!

Ted

>> This is embarrassing. My daughter acquired a 1996 4 door XLS Sedan.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> and
> with no old gaskets stuck.

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qslim - 29 Apr 2006 00:17 GMT

Yeah, those V6 oil filters always make a mess. Grab a can of brake cleaner
from the auto store, put a pan under the car to catch the oil from the old
filter. Take off the old one, make a big mess down the side of the engine,
put the new one on, and spray down the area with the brake cleaner. You may
also want to spray under the car on the exhaust pipe (make sure it isn't
too hot). Sometimes oil will collect there from the old filter and start
to burn off when you drive.
Oh, and when Ray was correct when he refered to the "side" of the
engine. The classic setup for an engine is a rear-wheel drive
configuration, where the belts face forward and the transmission toward
the rear. In your front drive Camry the engine is turned sideways, so now
the "front" of the engine points toward the passenger fender, and the
"side" faces the bumper.
And kudos for doing your own maintenance.

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Ted Swirsky - 29 Apr 2006 02:41 GMT

Thanks for the additional info. I did notice the belts were on the
passenger side but didn't
realize that means you say the "front" of the engine is the "side".

Do you have to wash/wipe off the brake cleaner or does it evaporate?

And thanks, I try to do what I am capable of doing. Unfortunately, in cars
that means
only changing batteries, (some) light bulbs, air filters and oil/filters.
Except for the
darn 2001 VW Passat. I didn't know when we bought it that there is a giant
plastic shield
that needs to be removed to access the oil pan. Tough to do without a lift.

Ted

> Yeah, those V6 oil filters always make a mess. Grab a can of brake
> cleaner from the auto store, put a pan under the car to catch the oil
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> "side" faces the bumper.
> And kudos for doing your own maintenance.

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Ray O - 29 Apr 2006 03:01 GMT

> Thanks for the additional info. I did notice the belts were on the
> passenger side but didn't
> realize that means you say the "front" of the engine is the "side".
>
> Do you have to wash/wipe off the brake cleaner or does it evaporate?

Brake cleaner evaporates without leaving a film. Some of it might pool in
the nooks and crannies under the oil filter so you can stick a paper towel
in there to sop it up.

Brake cleaner is also useful for getting grease and oil stains out of
clothes (take the clothes off before spraying because it turns your skin
white and is probably not too healthy).

> And thanks, I try to do what I am capable of doing. Unfortunately, in cars
> that means
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Ted

The Lexus also has an under-engine shield - it's there to lower the
coefficient of drag on the car.

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Ray O - 29 Apr 2006 02:34 GMT

> Ahhh. I think I see it. Yes it is black and doesn't catch your eye. If I'm
> correct,
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> You said it is on the SIDE of the engine block but I might
> be misunderstanding the terminology.

That's it!

As qslm mentioned, the engine is turned sideways so the front of the engine
is facing the passenger side fender and the left side is facing the front of
the car.

> Thanks for the quick reply and advice.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Ted

Again, follow qslm's advice. Unfortunately, it's a mess and there is no
easy way around it.

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Ray O
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