Switched to aluminum oil filter housing, oil all over?

Switched to an aluminum oil filter housing last oil change and when changing my oil today for the first time since, oil just poured out all over the place as I unscrewed the oil filter housing with my oil filter wrench. I recall my shitty plastic oil filter housing utilizing that plastic plug that you stick in and it pours most of the oil out in a nice stream. Is this feature lost with the aluminum housing or did I do something wrong?

 

Isn’t their a drain plug on the aluminum housing as well.

 

Some pics I find online of the aluminum oil filter housing look different than mine.
Some have that threaded circular drain piece (?) and other like mine just have a 1/4” square for a socket. Did I buy a cheap one without the drain, wtf am I missing here? Here’s 2 pics that show different bottoms...

 

my guess is the filter drain plug on your new one is over torqued and you just ended up taking the whole thing off...

 

Did you not swap the bottom plug off your original plastic housing to the aluminum housing?

I’m guessing you forgot that part. The aluminum housing doesn’t come with a plug.

 

Yes! I attempted to turn the 1/4” square counter clock wise and the entire unit unscrewed and spewed oil all over. I couldn’t remember for sure what I was missing. I’m guessing no harm other than the mess on my garage, right? I ended up just swapping a new TRD filter in there and replacing the rubber gasket and re-installing...

 

No, that square plug was there, just turned the whole unit...

 

Ahh. I misread your post. Yeah you would need that plastic piece to insert after removing that plug or one for the adapter tools they sell with the hose extension for draining it.

 

This is right ^^^. The 1/4" square is the PLUG. It comes out and exposes the one way valve port for draining the aluminum oil filter housing.

You have the Mama Toyota aluminum oil filter housing. Correct??

 

I do, but when the 1/4” square started turning the whole unit I just went with it and kept unscrewing. This whole post can likely be traced to the amount of beer I drink during oil change sundays.

 

just the mess, if the square was overtorqued you didn't really have a choice besides taking the whole thing off anyway

 

Did you swap the center aluminum filter ring and spring from original to the new aluminum. If not, that is required.
Also, what did you torque everything to?

 

18 ft lbs on housing.
9 ft lbs plug.

 

That’s different from what I have, I got the one with center plug like the oe plastic one to drain the oil in the housing. The one you have is more for top/side mount filter system. No harm as long as no leak, just a messy oil change every time.

 

If he has the one in his picture it’s correct. He has the 3/8 cap that comes off to expose the point of drain before housing removal. It’s not a top mount filter. I’m not sure what your picture is showing?

 

My bad, my housing came without the center drain cap. So it’s obvious that I need to reuse the one from the oe plastic housing. The picture on his post was blurry. It looked one piece to me. The pic on my post was a example of a side mount corolla filter housing.

 

On my Rav4 there's a piece that prevents the outer housing from turning. You must release it. When I first got it I didn't realize it was so when you went to unscrew the plug the outer housing couldn't unscrew so I disabled it. But I have a large mouthed funnel on my waste oil can so I never use the plug. Once the housing starts to turn easy I just go slowly so oil just leaks down the side in a somewhat controlled way. I haven't changed the oil in my Tundra so I don't know if it's set up the same way.

 

So THAT'S what that troublesome little piss-ant clip was for...I thought it was to prevent the housing from unscrewing during service. I figured that has never happened in all my years with spin-on filters, and it wasn't likely with a separate housing properly torqued.

What I found from my second oil change was even IF you properly torque the housing at 18 ft-lb, and the drain plug at 9 ft-lb, when you try to loosen the plug on the next change, the whole assembly is going to turn unless you have the clip @Dr_Al references. I don't know if vibration and heat makes the o-rings swell or what, but that is the truth. Do what Dr_Al and I do, loosen the housing up, and let the oil run down the sides in a controlled manner...no big deal. If you have a strap wrench, you can try to keep the housing from turning while loosening the plug, but that plug is gay anyway...fagettabotit.

Edit: The housing drain plug IS unnecessary, but it MUST to be installed with a fresh o-ring. Otherwise, your housing will leak.

 

@Jrharvey02 You DID hear that, didn't you??!! MANDATORY!!!

 

I torque to 18/9 and never have an issue with both spinning so listening to your advice doesn’t seem “mandatory”.

 

@Jrharvey02, changed my wording from
“mandatory” to “required”.

Did you swap those when you went aluminum?

 

You correctly said 18/9, but not in the post I quoted. I do not consider the torque values "mandatory" but certainly "advisory".

The exchanging of the center tube is what you said to be "mandatory" (refer to quoted post). Exchanging the center tube definitely is mandatory, or the longer Tundra filter can collapse above the shorter center tube that comes with the aluminum housing. I have read an unfortunate thread about this happening to a novice doing first oil change and following incomplete information found on forums.

Edit: By definition, none of my advice is "mandatory"...not even for myself.

 

I did, I torqued the housing to 22lbs but had no idea drain cap housing was only 8lbs...

 

Yes

 

What I said was “mandatory” was changing the center out. I didn’t say anything about the torque being “mandatory”.

 

4 oil changes to date following all specified torques and haven’t had an issue. I think it’s a wise idea to use the torques as everything comes off very easy.

 

I've agreed with and endorsed everything you've said up to now, and I'm confused as to why you have an issue with me. Did you think I was dissing you for using the word "mandatory"?...You were correct in the usage...it IS mandatory.

The only thing I see is that you've had no problem removing the drain plug first, and then the housing if they are properly torqued. In this instance, you and I have had a different experience: Your drain plug (and others) have unscrewed fine, but mine (and @Dr_Al ) did not. I properly torqued to specified torques. Strange things happen.

What is un-necessary is thinking you're always right when your experience doesn't include the same result. What is un-necessary is arguing with someone on forums when they think they're always right. I can do without that.

 

Make sure to lube all O-rings up during installation. This will help with proper install, seating off the O-rings, and proper torque. Helps as well with disassembly.

 

Yes, you’re original quote of my post was taken as ridicule to my usage of wording.
So, if you don’t like arguing on forums don’t quote guys posts and CAPATAlLIZE words used and then act all innocent.

I was being helpful to the OP with valid info and accurate info.

Have a nice day!

 

I apologize for your misinterpretation of my support by quoting you. Whenever I insult someone, I make an effort to not be subtle.

Have a nice one.