Performing regular oil changes on your 1994 Toyota Camry is an important maintenance measure and helps keep the vehicle running efficiently for a long time. Without oil changes, debris that accumulates in the oil continues to circulate through your engine, which can cause serious engine damage. Changing the oil should take less than half an hour and is cheaper than having a professional do it.
Turn the engine on and let it run for a few minutes to circulate the oil and any sediment that may have settled in the oil pan. Drive the front tires of your Camry onto wheel ramps. Turn off the engine. Set the emergency brake. Place tire chocks behind your back tires. Use a regular car jack to raise the vehicle if you prefer.
Open the hood. Locate and remove the oil filler cap and dipstick and put them aside on a piece of newspaper. This helps reduce the air pressure so the oil can drain out.
Crawl under the car with your supplies within reach. Locate the drain plug near the back of the oil pan and the oil filter cylinder.
Position the oil drip pan below the drain plug. Loosen the drain plug with a socket wrench, and pull it out quickly. Allow the oil to drain for at least 10 minutes. Fill the new oil filter with fresh 10W-30 or 5W-30 oil while the filter is still sitting in the box. Place the filter aside until it is needed.
Replace the drain plug. Position the oil drip pan under the used oil filter. Loosen the filter with a filter wrench. Turn the filter over to drain the oil into the drip pan.
Dip your finger in the new oil in the new oil filter. Rub a thin layer of oil on the rubber gasket that lines the top of the oil filter to create a seal. Position the new filter in place. Screw it in and tighten it until snug. Turn it one-quarter turn more to ensure a secure grip without tightening it too much.
Pour the remaining five quarts of oil into the hole that had been covered by the oil filler cap. Use a funnel, if needed. Put the filler cap back into place and tighten until snug.
Turn the engine on and let it run for a couple minutes to circulate the oil. Check the oil level on the oil dipstick. Add oil if needed. Remove the chocks from behind the wheels. Lower the car off the jack or wheel ramps.
