Most people who import a used Toyota van buy the vehicle primarily for transporting people or goods. After all, the HiAce has all the qualities that make it an efficient workhorse. That said, your van’s engine may be doing a lot of extra work—from carrying heavy cargo, idling at stops, and quick acceleration and deceleration.

Thankfully, a Toyota van is designed to have a long lifespan, especially when it is maintained properly. Of course, you always have the option to visit an expert mechanic to perform maintenance procedures like oil changing. However, since your HiAce is subjected to heavy use, you might need to flush its oil more frequently than your regular car. Consequently, the trips to the service center can rack up your operational expenses.

So, it is always best to learn how to change the oil of your Toyota van to save money. In this article, we are going to show you the tools you’ll need, as well as the steps you have to follow.

What You’ll Need for Draining the Oil:

1. Floor Jack
2. Two one-ton jack stands
3. Closed-end wrench
4. Oil filter wrench
5. Oil funnel
6. Oil drain pan

What You’ll Need for the Oil Change Itself:

1. Several rags
2. New drain plug gasket
3. New oil filter
4. New engine oil

How to Change the Oil in your Toyota HiAce Van

Ideally, you should perform the following steps while the engine is still a bit warm, but not immediately after you drove the vehicle heavily. It is worth noting that you can use the instructions below for any type of vehicle—with slight differences.

Step One: Prepare the Vehicle

Set your parking brake and remember to put your Toyota van in 1st gear or Park. Once you’ve done that, remove the oil fill cap which can be found under the driver’s seat. You can also check your manual to know how you can get under there.

Step Two: Jack up the Van

Take the jack stands and jack up the front of the van. Do not attempt to go under the vehicle without using the jack stands.

Step Three: Drain the Old Oil

Now, use the closed-end wrench to loosen the drain plug for about half a turn. After doing that, slide the drain pan under the drain plug. Make sure you unscrew the plug, and once it is ready to come out, pull it out quickly. Remember to hold onto the plug so it won’t drop into the pan. Let the old oil drain for about five minutes before reinstalling the plug.

Step Four: Remove the Old Oil Filter

Take the oil filter wrench, and carefully unscrew the oil filter. Once the filter gets loose, you can use a rag to unscrew it by hand. However, you need to be careful because the filter may still be full of oil. So, remember to place the drain pan below it. Make sure to get rid of any dirt or old oil, and ensure that the ring gasket has not stuck to the engine.

Step Five: Mount the New Oil Filter

Take your clean oil and smear a few drops on the ring gasket of the new filter. Carefully wind the new filter on by hand. You can also use your wrench if you’re having trouble getting your hand around it firmly.

Step Six: Add Fresh Oil

Look for the engine oil fill hole, and ensure that the area around the fill cap is clean. Use the funnel to pour in fresh oil, and ensure that you won’t spill any on the engine. If this happens, you need to wipe it off immediately. Use the dipstick to check the oil level. Let the oil sit a little over the mark until you run the engine.