Toyota has always been known for their dependability and reliability. The 2013 Toyota Highlander is no different, but it does require an oil change every 7500 miles. If you are wondering how to change the oil in a 2013 Toyota Highlander, you’ve come to the right place! We will discuss all of the steps that are required to complete this task with ease!
2013 Toyota Highlander Oil Change Guide [hide]
2013 Toyota Highlander Oil Type
Make sure to use a high-quality oil. This will help to protect your engine and keep it running smoothly for many years. You can find the right type of oil by looking in your owner’s manual or on a sticker under the hood. If you do not know what kind of oil should be used in a 2013 Toyota Highlander, then check out this website where they have done some research for you!
VISCOSITY GRADE
Toyota recommends using engine oil “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” of viscosity SAE 5W-20 or SAE 0W-20. However, SAE
0W-20 is the best choice for good fuel economy and good starting in cold weather.
CAPACITY
The oil capacity with the filter of 2.7 L 4-cylinder 1AR-FE engine is 4.6 quarts (4.4 liters), whereas, 3.5 L V6 2GR-FE engine the capacity oil is 6.4 quarts (6.1 liters).
SPECIFICATION OF OIL
The 2013 Toyota Highlander was designed to run on a variety of different types of oils. The type that is recommended for your vehicle will depend on the engine, which varies based on the model year and trim level you have purchased.
If you have a V-shape engine, then you’ll need to use a synthetic blend. However, if it’s a 2013 Toyota Highlander base model with the L-shape engine, then normal will be fine for this application.
You can use oil from this list of brands to change your engine oil in 2013 Toyota Highlander:
- CASTROL
- PENNZOIL
- VALVOLINE
Here is important to know that all oils from these manufacturers have the same quality and specifications. You just choose what you like more price or brand name.
2013 Toyota Highlander Oil Change Intervals
The recommended oil change intervals for a 2013 Toyota Highlander is every eight thousand miles or twelve months.
However, if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions and drive at high speeds often then the best way to maintain this vehicle over its lifetime is to change your SUV’s oil more frequently than recommended by the manufacturer. You can also consider using synthetic motor oils that have higher thermal stability which improves their viscosity index–reducing friction but still being capable of protecting engine parts during periods when it gets very cold outside. This could be helpful especially during times of harsh winters where there are frequent temperature changes from day to night inside a short period of time because these types of climate fluctuations might cause water vapor to seep into regions surrounding moving components inside the engine and freeze them over. This could be very dangerous because it may damage those parts or even cause a major accident if they malfunction while you are behind the wheel of this car.
Best Oil for 2013 Toyota Highlander
When it comes to changing your Toyota Highlander’s oil, the type of oil you choose is very important. Not all oils are created equal and using a lower grade could have long-term effects on your vehicle. Here we will discuss some tips for choosing the best 2013 Toyota Highlander Oil plus where to get cheap deals on high-quality motor oil!
Oil (By Manufacturer) – Toyota recommends using “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” of viscosity SAE 0W-20.
Oil (Our Choice) – Castrol Edge 0W-20 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil. Engine oils need to be able to constantly respond to the ever-changing environments in your engine. Every second of the drive your engine oil needs to be able to react to the needs of different metal-to-metal contact points in your engine each with different demands, pressures, and temperatures. Castrol EDGE provides the highest level of protection for critical engine parts helping your car to perform at its maximum. Castrol EDGE is an advanced full synthetic motor oil with a unique and proprietary formula that reduces volatility and provides superior protection for critical engine parts helping your vehicle operate efficiently at power.
Oil Filter (By Manufacturer) – Toyota recommends using a Bosch Premium FILTECH Oil Filter. Bosch Premium FILTECH Oil Filter provides superior oil filtration for increased engine protection. This oil filter, featuring Bosch FILTECH, utilizes an exclusive blend of natural and synthetic materials to provide superior oil filtration and increased engine wear protection. The Bosch FILTECH filtering area is up to 42 percent larger than conventional filters and the filter media is close to 30 percent thicker and can screen out more harmful contaminants than a conventional filter.
How to Change Oil By Yourself – Step by Step
Step by Step instructions for how to change oil yourself. As long as you have the right equipment and supplies, it’s doable! Just be sure and read all of these steps before changing your own oil so that nothing gets missed.
The tools required for this job are:
- torque wrench
- 3/8 ratchet
- 14-millimeter socket
- pic of funnel
- special QID oil filter housing removal socket
- motor oil
- oil filter
- oil drain pan
Steps to change oil by yourself, you need:
STEP 1: PREP
Check the oil level and make sure your engine is off. Open up the hood and position a few rags underneath to catch any stray drips or spills. Place an old towel on top of your 2013 Highlander’s radiator in order to avoid getting it oily.
STEP 2: REMOVE THE COVER
Unscrewing drain plug, use an adjustable wrench for this task as it may be difficult since the drain plug can get very tight, so you don’t want to apply excessive force because that could result in stripping out/warping the bolt head causing more problems later on down the road.
STEP 3: DRAINING THE OIL
Drain the old oil. Once drained place a new washer on then screw back into place by hand until fully tightened.
STEP 4: REPLACE THE OIL FILTER
Now that you’ve removed your 2013 Highlander’s drain plug it is time to remove its old dirty oil filter, in order to do this simply use a wrench and rotate counterclockwise until it comes off. Make sure not to get any dirt or debris on exposed parts of the engine after removing the paper gasket from around the base of the new oil filter cartridge because can cause leaks later down the road so clean up any dirt with rags before installing a new replacement part by hand all way till snug fit.
STEP 5: ADD THE NEW OIL
Finally, add fresh brand-new high-quality motor oil into your Toyota Highlander (see owner manual for recommended viscosity grade, for 2013 Highlander it is recommended to use SAE 0W-20 motor oil with a maximum of five quarts).
STEP 6:REPLACE THE OIL CAP
Replace the oil cap and screw it on all the way. Make sure you check that the drain plug and filter are tight before starting up your engine.
The oil change is finished.
