Toyota Oil Filters???

[Jim F]

Well it's time for the first oil change on my wife's 2002 Solara SLE V6. I went to Toyota to get a "Geniune Toyota filter" and they basically had 2 types on the shelf. The parts guy pointed to the V6 one and rang me up. I get home and compare the numbers from the new filter with the original filter that came with the car new and they are different. I also noticed that the new filter is not as tall. I haven't changed the oil yet, so I don't know if it will fit. For reference the original filter number is 90915-20003 and made in Japan. The new filter is a 08922-02011 and made in USA.

Since it's Saturday evening and the parts department is closed and I would like to change the oil tommorrow when they aren't open, could someone on this board shed some light on my confusion?

I guess if I had taken it to Toyota for it's first oil change, none of this would crossed my path. But since I have never had anyone change oil in my cars, I couldn't get myself to turning the car over to someone else.

Anyway, thanks in advance for the help.

[ericatdallas]

Does it have Toyota written on the filter they gave you? If not, it might be another brand or no name. I'm not really sure. Mine had it, but i don't use the OEM filter anymore. I use Bosch or STP (no particular reason except Autozone has better hours and there are two around two different corners from me).

But the 4 cylinder has a different filter than the 6 cylinder.


http://shop.store.yahoo.com/romaniatoyotaparts/5sfeengine10.html

[ericatdallas]

Okay, did a quick search just because I was curious. Enter the part number into Yahoo! and a few links appear. The most interesting ones I found are

http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/parts/toyota_filter/
http://home.attbi.com/~SupraTurbo/Toyota/OilFilter.html

The one you have is the American made version while the one you originally had is the japanese version. The above links compare it to a different Toyota filter but I think we still get the same idea.

I'm guessing if the dealer gave it to you and it fits it should work.. <shrug> no clue. Now I'm curious...

[Vampire]

I noticed the same thing and was wondering about that. I actually cut open the old one (my life is boring) and it looks the same as the cut-away version I saw in the parts dept. at Toyota. I ended up using the same filter the Toyota parts dept gave you. It works just fine. I use it on my Camry and Solara.

[impactX]

(my life is boring)

Hehehe gotta love that line! but hey, you learn something new by observing which is always good!

[Cyanide41]

Take the old one off. if the overall diameter of the O-ring on the filter is the same and the diameter of the inside threaded hole are the same it will work. If it doesn't match up, then take your car to the nearest parts store and pick up the right filter.

[Jim F]

Thanks for all of the info. I ended up using the filter Toyota gave me. After getting the old one off, the diameter and height were the same.

Oh by the way, on my 2002 the bracket for the engine mount has a drain hole in it directly under the oil filter. The oil will pool in the bracket and drain out the hole straight down to the ground. Well it probably would have if I didn't do like everyone was telling me and put paper towel under the filter. After about an hour of cleaning old oil from everywhere including the exhaust pipe, I was installing the new filter and fill it with oil. I should have gone with my first thought and try the hole, but with the filter in place it was hard to see what the bracket looked like and where the hole was located. I think I got all of the oil off, but I (oh yeah it's my wifes car) she'll be smelling oil for a while until it the residue burns away. Next time will be much easier now knowing how the hole works.

Thanks again

[Flipside909]

Wow you live in Martinez!? Right on. I used to live in Hercules.

BTW, for the Toyota Oil Filters...here's a brief background on them:

Original Toyota Denso (Made in Japan)
Newer Toyota Oil Filter (Made in USA by Purolator) with ZZ in the part number.

Best way to distinguish the two, the Toyota Denso filter from Japan has Japanese characters printed on the box and on the filter itself. Also the filter comes pre-greased with a cellophane cover on it. The newer cheaper version is not greased. Also the filter element on the Japanese one is much more dense than the Purolator made one.

Damn, I wish I can replace my engine mount to the revised one! I wouldn't mind switching that out on the 95 Avalon as well.

[NASTY]

Damn, I wish I can replace my engine mount to the revised one! I wouldn't mind switching that out on the 95 Avalon as well.

when did they revise the mounts, and what was wrong with the old ones?

[Flipside909]

Damn, I wish I can replace my engine mount to the revised one! I wouldn't mind switching that out on the 95 Avalon as well.

when did they revise the mounts, and what was wrong with the old ones?

Oil pools up after you spin off the filter no matter what you do. It pools up on the mount the way it's currently designed...from 94 when it was first introduced...to 2001 if things are correct. I need to go inspect a 2002 version to see it for myself.

[JMSinMaryland]

So is the Toyota one not considered quality anymore? When I was at the dealership I saw 4 1MZ's come in all sludged up. The dealership obviously takes the angle that it is the customer's fault, but Im sure these same type of customers are buying other vehicles and you don't hear about these, even though they should be sludging, so just to be safe Im going back to 3000k changes. Anywho I'm not going to use a $13 Mobil 1 filter for every 3k so what are some other good ones? Toyota still good? Know that Fram, etc are still bad and Mobil 1 and KN are too expensive to be worth every 3k, so what are some good brands out there? Also what are some good oils? Quaker State offers a 10yr/250k engine warranty if you use their oil before you reach 30k, but is it quality oil? Mobil 1 standard oil? Made by the same company that makes the synthetic or do you think it's sourced out? Any recommendations? Jon.

[Missay]

Know that Fram, etc are still bad

is Fram bad?? i always use that brand and haven't had any problems

[Yanks0114]

So is the Toyota one not considered quality anymore? When I was at the dealership I saw 4 1MZ's come in all sludged up. The dealership obviously takes the angle that it is the customer's fault, but Im sure these same type of customers are buying other vehicles and you don't hear about these, even though they should be sludging, so just to be safe Im going back to 3000k changes. Anywho I'm not going to use a $13 Mobil 1 filter for every 3k so what are some other good ones? Toyota still good? Know that Fram, etc are still bad and Mobil 1 and KN are too expensive to be worth every 3k, so what are some good brands out there? Also what are some good oils? Quaker State offers a 10yr/250k engine warranty if you use their oil before you reach 30k, but is it quality oil? Mobil 1 standard oil? Made by the same company that makes the synthetic or do you think it's sourced out? Any recommendations? Jon.

Sudge doesn't really occur on cars that are well maintained. It has become a HUGE problem on leased cars because people don't change their oil if they are giving the car back. Toyota has been gracious enough to cover almost all newer cars that sludge up, when in reality most of this is the consumers fault. Change your oil at a regular interval and try not to change the interval too much. Stay constant at 3k miles, but if you don't drive hard then you can stretch it to like 5k if you really want

[ericatdallas]

Know that Fram, etc are still bad

is Fram bad?? i always use that brand and haven't had any problems

yeah, supposedly they are suppose to be a bad brand but I read a review that said some of their filters are good/okay. My reseach (net only) showed that there are only about 2-3 major filter companies that produce all the varying brands. The company that produces STP also produces Bosch filters. To me they look the same except for the color and I bet they have the same filter element. I dunno though.

[Flipside909]

So is the Toyota one not considered quality anymore? When I was at the dealership I saw 4 1MZ's come in all sludged up. The dealership obviously takes the angle that it is the customer's fault, but Im sure these same type of customers are buying other vehicles and you don't hear about these, even though they should be sludging, so just to be safe Im going back to 3000k changes. Anywho I'm not going to use a $13 Mobil 1 filter for every 3k so what are some other good ones? Toyota still good? Know that Fram, etc are still bad and Mobil 1 and KN are too expensive to be worth every 3k, so what are some good brands out there? Also what are some good oils? Quaker State offers a 10yr/250k engine warranty if you use their oil before you reach 30k, but is it quality oil? Mobil 1 standard oil? Made by the same company that makes the synthetic or do you think it's sourced out? Any recommendations? Jon.

Jon, the Toyota Oil Filters made by purolator are fine. The Original Japanese Toyota Denso filters will outperform it. Another good alternative I use is Purolator Pure One (blue filter). I've always used Castrol GTX 10w30 in all the cars i've been driving.