How to Service a Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla has a specific service schedule that must be adhered to in order to maintain your factory warranty, and to ensure the vehicle lasts as long as possible. Two common services that can be performed at home are a basic oil and filter change and spark plug replacement. Toyota recommends an oil change at every 7,500 miles, and replacement of the spark plugs every 30,000 miles. Both of these tasks are relatively easy to complete, and will help prolong the life of your Corolla.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Masking tape
• Permanent marker
• Ratchet
• Spark plug socket
• 4 spark plugs
• Torque wrench
• Floor jack
• Jack stands
• Drain pan
• Combination wrench
• Oil filter wrench
• 5W30 engine oil, 4 quarts
• Oil filter
• Funnel

1. Spark Plugs

   • 1

     Open the Corolla's hood, and look at the center of the top-portion of the engine. Pull the four wires plugged into the top of the engine out one-by-one, labeling each one with masking tape and a marker as you remove them. You will want to reinsert them in the same position later. These wires are the spark plug wires.

   • 2

     Loosen and remove the spark plugs beneath the spark plug wires, using a ratchet, 6-inch extension and spark plug socket.

   • 3

     Insert a new spark plug, and tighten it to 11 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench, 6-inch extension and a spark plug socket. Do this for each spark plug wire.

   • 4

     Place the spark plug wires on the new spark plugs in the exact position they were prior to removal. Listen for the slight clicking sound indicating the wires are fully seated.

   • 5

     Plug the spark plug wires back into the engine. Close the Corolla's hood.

   Oil Change

   • 1

     Start the Corolla, and run it for two to five minutes before shutting it down. This slightly warms the oil, allowing it to flow easier.

   • 2

     Open the Corolla's hood, and remove the oil filler cap on top of the engine.

   • 3

     Raise the front of the Corolla using a floor jack, and place jack stands under the vehicle's sub-frame. Lower the vehicle until it rests only on the jack stands.

   • 4

     Crawl below the Corolla and locate the oil pan, the large metal pan on the underside of the engine. Place the drain pan under the drain plug on the oil pan.

   • 5

     Loosen and remove the oil drain plug using a combination wrench. The oil will drain from the pan until only a few slow drips remain; then hand-tighten the drain plug. Tighten the drain plug the rest of the way with a combination wrench, but do not over-tighten and strip the drain pan.

   • 6

     Slide towards the front of the vehicle, and locate the oil filter on the front portion of the engine. The filter is a cylindrical object that is about four inches long. Place the drain pan below the oil filter, and loosen the filter with an oil filter wrench. Allow all of the oil to drain from the filter, and remove it from the engine.

   • 7

     Rub a thin coat of new oil around the rubber gasket on the base of the new oil filter. Hand-tighten the new oil filter onto the engine. Tighten the filter a quarter of a turn past had-tight using the oil filter wrench.

   • 8

     Pull the drain pan from under the Corolla. Raise the vehicle off of the jack stands, using the floor jack, and pull the stands from under it. Lower the Toyota to the ground.

   • 9

     Place a funnel in the oil filler hole on the top of the engine, and pour in approximately 3-1/4 quarts of engine oil. Pull out the oil dipstick, and wipe it clean with a shop rag. Reinsert the dip stick, pull the dipstick out again, and check the oil level at the end of the stick. The level must fall between "L" and "F" lines; add oil as needed.

   • 10

     Reinsert the oil dipstick, close the oil filler cap and close the Corolla's hood.

   • 11

     Pour the oil from the drain pan into the empty oil containers, using the funnel. Take this old oil to a local auto parts store for proper disposal.