Oil Change Guides for America’s 5 Best-Selling Vehicles: Drain Plug Locations, Filter Access & Specs

America’s most popular vehicles include the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Ram 1500. This guide explains how to change the oil on representative versions of each vehicle, including the drain plug location, oil filter access, tools, torque specifications, and refill details.

The exact location and specification can vary by model year, drivetrain, engine option, and oil-pan design. Always compare these figures with your owner’s manual or factory service information before beginning.

Visual note: The images in this guide are location-reference illustrations. Use them to understand the general layout, but confirm the exact components on your vehicle before removing anything.

Quick comparison chart

Vehicle and engine	Oil type	Approx. capacity with filter	Drain plug size	Filter location	Drain plug torque
Ford F-150 5.0L V8 Coyote	5W-20	About 7.7 quarts	13–16 mm, depending on year	Low front/passenger side of engine	19–25 ft-lbs
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8	0W-20	About 8 quarts	15 mm	Front of engine block, near oil pan	Verify by year; commonly about 18 ft-lbs
Toyota RAV4 2.5L	0W-20 full synthetic	About 4.6 quarts	14 mm	Front passenger-side filter housing	About 30 ft-lbs
Honda CR-V 1.5L turbo	0W-20 full synthetic	About 3.7 quarts	17 mm	Engine/oil-pan area near passenger side	39 N·m / 30 ft-lbs
Ram 1500 5.7L HEMI	5W-20; newer applications may use 0W-20	About 7 quarts	13 mm	Passenger side above front axle	25 ft-lbs

Tools and safety equipment

Before you start, gather:

• Correct engine oil and replacement filter
• Large drain pan
• Ratchet and correct sockets
• Oil-filter wrench
• Torque wrench
• Funnel
• Gloves and safety glasses
• Wheel chocks
• Jack stands or ramps, if necessary
• Shop towels and brake cleaner

Work on a level surface. Let the engine cool enough to avoid burns, but warm oil drains more easily. Never work beneath a vehicle supported only by a jack. Recycle used oil and filters at an approved collection location.

1. Ford F-150 5.0L V8 Coyote

Locations and specifications

The drain plug sits at the rear or lowest section of the oil pan, near the crossmember. Depending on the year, the plug may use a 13 mm, 15 mm, or 16 mm hex head. Some F-150 versions use a twist-lock plastic drain plug instead.

The spin-on oil filter is low toward the front/passenger side of the engine. It may be easier to reach from underneath, although some owners access it from above near the airbox. A molded drain tray may direct oil toward an opening in the splash shield.

Steps

1. Warm the engine briefly and park on level ground.
2. Position the drain pan beneath the rear/bottom of the oil pan.
3. Remove the drain plug with the correct socket and let the oil drain.
4. Inspect the plug and integrated seal or washer.
5. Remove the old filter. Confirm its gasket came off with the filter.
6. Lubricate the new filter gasket with fresh oil.
7. Install the filter by hand until the gasket contacts, then tighten approximately three-quarter turn more.
8. Reinstall the drain plug and torque it to the specification for your exact year, typically 19–25 ft-lbs.
9. Add approximately 7.7 quarts of 5W-20, then verify the dipstick level.
10. Start the engine, check for leaks, shut it off, and recheck the level after several minutes.

2. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8

Locations and specifications

The Silverado’s drain plug sits on the bottom of the oil pan toward the passenger side. A 15 mm wrench typically fits the plug. The spin-on filter mounts near the front of the engine block, close to the oil pan, and is accessed from below.

The 5.3L V8 commonly uses 0W-20 oil. Many applications require approximately eight quarts with a filter change, but confirm the capacity on the oil fill cap or in the owner’s manual.

Steps

1. Raise and support the truck safely if additional clearance is needed.
2. Place the drain pan beneath the oil pan drain plug.
3. Remove the 15 mm plug and allow the oil to drain completely.
4. Inspect the sealing surface and washer.
5. Move the drain pan under the oil filter and remove the old filter.
6. Check that the old filter gasket is not stuck to the engine.
7. Apply fresh oil to the new gasket and install the filter by hand.
8. Tighten the drain plug to the specification for your model year. Some guides list approximately 18 ft-lbs.
9. Refill with 0W-20. Start with less than the full capacity, then adjust using the dipstick.
10. Check the oil-pressure warning light and inspect both service points for leaks.

For an additional reference, see this Silverado oil-change procedure from 1A Auto.

3. Toyota RAV4 2.5L

Locations and specifications

The RAV4’s drain plug is located on the rear edge of the oil pan and normally uses a 14 mm socket. The cartridge-style filter housing is at the front passenger-side corner of the engine and requires a 64 mm, 14-flute filter-housing wrench.

Use 0W-20 full synthetic oil. Capacity is approximately 4.6 quarts with a filter replacement. Replace the drain-plug gasket and lubricate the filter-housing O-ring with fresh oil.

Steps

1. Park level, set the parking brake, and remove the underbody cover if necessary.
2. Place the drain pan beneath the rear edge of the oil pan.
3. Remove the 14 mm drain plug and install a new gasket during reassembly.
4. Drain the filter housing using its small drain port, if equipped.
5. Remove the housing cap with the 64 mm, 14-flute wrench.
6. Replace the cartridge filter and both required O-rings.
7. Lubricate the O-rings and reinstall the housing cap.
8. Torque the filter housing to approximately 18–19 ft-lbs and the small housing drain plug to approximately 9 ft-lbs.
9. Torque the oil-pan drain plug to about 30 ft-lbs.
10. Refill with approximately 4.6 quarts of 0W-20, start the engine, and verify the level.

A detailed photo guide is available from Paul’s Travel Pictures.

4. Honda CR-V 1.5L turbo

Locations and specifications

The CR-V’s oil filter and drain plug are located together near the front/passenger-side area of the engine oil pan. Some models require removing the lower engine cover first.

The drain plug normally uses a 17 mm socket and should be tightened to 39 N·m, or approximately 30 ft-lbs. Use 0W-20 full synthetic oil. The OEM filter reference supplied for this application is Honda 15400-PLM-A02.

Steps

1. Remove the lower cover if it blocks access.
2. Locate the oil-pan marking or arrow identifying the engine-oil drain plug.
3. Remove the 17 mm drain plug and replace the crush washer.
4. Remove the old spin-on filter with an oil-filter wrench.
5. Make sure the old gasket came off with the filter.
6. Apply a light coat of fresh oil to the new filter gasket.
7. Install the filter by hand until the gasket contacts, then tighten approximately three-quarter turn.
8. Torque the drain plug to 30 ft-lbs.
9. Add approximately 3.7 quarts of 0W-20, then check the dipstick.
10. Start the vehicle, inspect for leaks, and reinstall the lower cover.

See the Honda CR-V oil-change guide for additional underbody reference photos.

5. Ram 1500 5.7L HEMI

Locations and specifications

The drain plug is on the underside of the oil pan, facing toward the rear of the truck. It commonly uses a 13 mm socket and is torqued to approximately 25 ft-lbs.

The spin-on oil filter is mounted on the passenger side of the engine block. On many trucks, it sits horizontally or at an angle above the front axle or differential.

Most 5.7L HEMI applications use 5W-20 meeting Chrysler MS-6395. Some newer configurations specify 0W-20, so confirm the oil cap and owner’s manual. Capacity is commonly about seven quarts with a filter.

Steps

1. Warm the engine briefly and place the drain pan beneath the rear-facing drain plug.
2. Remove the 13 mm plug and allow the oil to drain.
3. Reinstall the plug and torque it to 25 ft-lbs.
4. Move the pan beneath the passenger-side filter.
5. Remove the old filter and verify that its gasket is not stuck.
6. Lubricate the replacement gasket with fresh oil.
7. Install the filter hand-tight.
8. Add approximately seven quarts of the specified oil.
9. Start the engine and wait for oil pressure to build.
10. Shut the engine off, wait several minutes, verify the dipstick, and inspect for leaks.

For another visual reference, review this Ram 1500 HEMI oil-change guide from 1A Auto.

Do more than an oil change

A professional oil change is the right time to check other wear items. Ask about:

• Engine air-filter replacement
• Cabin air-filter replacement
• Windshield-wiper replacement
• Battery health testing
• Brake-system inspection and replacement

These checks help identify small problems before they become inconvenient breakdowns.

Prefer to have us handle it?

DIY maintenance can be rewarding, but you do not need to spend your weekend under a truck or SUV. MOMS Mobile Oil Change provides professional, on-site oil changes for Ford F-Series trucks, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ram 1500, and many other vehicles.

Our certified technicians come to your driveway, office, or fleet location with premium oil, OEM-quality filters, a vehicle inspection, and a clean-up process. Schedule an oil change or explore our full synthetic oil-change service.

For businesses, parked trucks do not make money. MOMS provides on-site fleet maintenance, including mobile fleet oil changes, scheduled preventive maintenance, reporting, and service at your yard or office.

Important disclaimer

This guide is for general educational purposes. Oil capacity, filter design, drain-plug size, torque, and oil grade can vary by model year, engine, trim, drivetrain, and market. Always confirm the correct specifications in your owner’s manual or factory service information. If you are not fully confident lifting or servicing your vehicle, let a qualified technician handle the work.