Why does toyota use canister oil filter?

Just did a oil change and i really dislike the canister oil filter what is wrong with a spin on filter?

I don't get the point of the drain plug on the canister itself, mine was stuck and i just left it in will this really matter? I turned the canister up-side down to get all the oil out.

Wondering how many people don't even bother with that plug on the canister? I get it's to not make such a mess.

 

Probably some shit about being more environmentally friendly since you only have the filter element and no disposable housing.

Guaranteed you'll get a storm of comments about how to use the drain plug or how to modify. Personally, I do the same as you, just unscrew the entire thing and flip it upside down.

 

I don't see the point of that extra drain plug sure it would make less of a mess when you take off the canister but who doing a oil change expects to stay clean.

 

One of the schools of thought is by moving more components of the filter to the canister the quality control is in the hands of the OEM. Spin on filters have killed engines with poor quality materials you can't see, bypass valves that don't work right, or double gasketed installs by installer error.

That said, if they would have put the canister up top like the spin-on was on the 2nd gen Tacoma, none of us would really care. But they didn't. So we toil..

 

Also the motivx drain tool will make you like that plug a whole lot more, if you can get it unstuck. It makes a zero mess change possible.

Edit: link

$30 Motivx Tools Oil Filter Drain Tool Compatible with Toyota, Lexus and Scion Vehicles with Cartridge Style Oil Filter Systems

https://www.amazon.com/Motivx-Tools-Filter-Drain-Toyota/dp/B087QQW3S8

I'm not kidding I've done three consecutive oil changes now with nary a drop hitting the concrete between this and the valvomax

 

The drain is just as much of a mess as unscrewing the entire housing, and you have to put an o-ring on it. It's a bad design and if you take it to a oil change shop, they over torque it and you will have hell getting the filter cap off and you know the next oil change shop won't even bother replacing the filter if it is on too tight.

 

Not a huge fan of it either, but it makes inspection of the used filter element really easy. I think there is a spin modification available if you want to tinker.

 

I love them. Since I inspect my filters it's much easier.

 

Yeah mine is stuck and i am scared of breaking the housing trying to get it off so i just left it. Figured it was not worth the risk.

Maybe next time i will try the impact wrench while the housing is still on the truck.

 

Buy the Motivx kit and you will find the oil changes are pretty easy and mess free. Spin ons are obviously easier but this is what we have. I cursed it the first time I didn't oil change but once you get used to it it's really not bad at all. When you buy a Toyota filter it comes with a new o-ring for that drain plug. Yours is probably stuck because somebody tightened it back on with the canister in place. It should be put on with the canister removed Just holding it with your hand as to not over tighten it. Some people that are not educated think that it's to be used to tighten the filter back on and that's how they end up over tightened.

 

Just did my first oil change on my new to me Tundra and the damn filter housing was on there way too tight from the previous owner or from CarMax
This is exactly why I'm going to DIY my oil changes going forward.

 

I'm sure they did that canister is not cheap.

Is this the tool? looks like it screws in

$30 Motivx Tools Oil Filter Drain Tool Compatible with Toyota, Lexus and Scion Vehicles with Cartridge Style Oil Filter Systems

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087QQW3S8

 

Get the whole kit. Has the screw on funnel and housing wrench tool

$75 Motivx Tools Oil Filter Wrench, Drain Tool, and Advanced Engine Oil Funnel Set for Toyota & Lexus 2.0L - 5.7L Engines With Cartridge Style Systems

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0791MWXDC

 

Get the whole kit.I finally broke down and got it. I have 3 Toyotas that use the same canister system.

 

I read that it's lighter to improve fuel economy...

 

I agree. Just did mine today and it was a little bit of a hassle because of the drain out on the filter housing but I used an impact and it came out easy. The Fumoto drain is a game changer because I overfilled the oil and was able to drain some out. Doing my own oil changes from now on as the Jackasses at the dealership messed up so many times. Thanks to the amazing community here everyone for me pointed me in the right direction.

 

A Fumoto valve on the bottom of the engine oil filter housing is The Bees Knees.

 

My 2 cents: half the time the drain plug on the cap doesn't come off and the other half I use it to loosen the entire thing. When it does come off, I hardly get much to drain out so it still requires me to spin the housing off to the point it all starts to ooze out the sides long enough to spin it off without gushing (which happens anyway).

 

Ha! I installed my @Jowett housing yesterday. Sweet stuff!

 

Those who don’t want warm oil running down their arm

 

I have been using @Jowett setup on my 2018 Tundra and my 2021 4Runner for many years and have never complained. I hate getting any oil in the skid plates because when I check for leaks after wheeling that always throws me off and I end up pulling the skid to check. I have a lift in my future so that should be much easier moving forward

 

I just use the factory composite housing. Don’t seem to have any trouble with it since I’m the one who tightened it last time. They really don’t need much torque. The bottom plug with O ring doesn’t need to be super tight either. I spin it off, put the little clear spout piece in there to drain the oil out, then spin the filter housing off using the adapter tool I bought on Amazon for $15. No problemo. BMW has been using canister filters for decades. My 2000 Tundra is the only vehicle in the fleet with the old metal can spin in filter. It’s the messiest one to change too.

 

I've never not had it not come off, if you're able to take the entire can off with it then it was put on way too tight. What are you using to drain it? I use the Motovx drain tube and it empties the entire canister. It doesnt just drain by removing it, it needs to he depressed by something, thats what the little plastic nipple included with the filter is for but most prefer the Motovx tube instead since its less mess.

 

Originally I hated canister filters until I realized it affords me the opportunity to inspect the filter substrate for contamination (like metal shavings) and potentially catch a catastrophic failure before it happens.

 

Nah I hardly put the bottom plug on tight. It just makes a good seal with the O ring on mine.

 

Do you put oil on the o-ring before putting it on? I simply snug it on with the canister in my hand so it's impossible for me to over tighten.

 

Yep. On both of them.

 

Do any of the auto parts stores like O'Reilly or Napa sell the OEM filter housing?

 

Had it on my Tundra, and when I traded the truck I removed it and now it's on my Taco. LOVE the Jowett housing. Sure, it's pricey, but billet aluminum ain't cheap, and as long as it's not a short term vehicle ownership, it's worth it for the easy and clean DIY oil changes.

 

No, they will have cheap knockoffs which should be avoided. Im sure any Toyota dealer would have on in stock though.