Is this a legitimate OEM filter?

I ordered a bulk package of oil filters on Amazon listed as Genuine Toyota (link below) but I am not so sure. I've included pictures of both the box and the filters themselves.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007OW6LGO?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

I'm suspicious of these for a few reasons. First, the color seems off. My old Tacoma filters were always a super light tan/off white color. That also seems to be the case for the 4runner filters I have seen on here. Additionally, these filters are not marked with the filter part number. They are only printed with "Toyota"... Again, my tacoma filters were printed both with Toyota and the part number of the filter and that seems to be the case for the 4runner filters I have seen on this site.

Opinions?

 

I don't know myself but don't buy parts from Amazon. Their de-emphasis of seller (changing quantity can swap out the seller and you have to look closely to see) and co-mingling of inventory makes their warehouse system faster but ripe for counterfeits to get in and hard to figure out from where as buyers. I'd rather get a bunch of aftermarket filters off RockAuto or on the shelf than OEM on Amazon.

If you have a dealer near you and insist on OEM, I'd just go there - maybe they participate in the Costco 15% off discount if you're a member. Some might also sell and ship online, but make sure it's actually a dealer on the other end too!

As for eBay and specific Amazon sellers, that depends on the seller and how much you trust their supply chain upstream.

 

Yeah idk but since they're from Scamazon I'd bet they're counterfeit.

Amazon has turned into a clearing warehouse for China.

 

Bonus points if the seller is a mix of letters like BSTOEM.

I see the listing defaults to "DaytonaToyota" which searching it up is indeed a dealer at that address on the seller's page so if that's the seller you bought from, I'd lean towards it being legitimate unless it's some elaborate scheme.

But "Northern Lights Auto Supply" or "Royaron USA" I know nothing about. Too much effort and worry for me though when I can give my dollars to others and get a good filter.

 

Yeah they're eligible for return so I am just going to send them back to be safe. Too many red flags. I will utilize the search feature too but feel free to provide input on the best filters for the 4.0. I typically default to OEM but the nearest dealership is a 40 minute drive way out of my way so I am open to others.

 

Best video I've found to spot counterfeits. Scroll to 14 minutes to see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVA4RYql9KU&ab_channel=TheCarCareNut

 

Fair enough. They are a slightly different color and I see some of the reviews show filters with a printed part number on them. Which is different from the ones you received.

I usually stick with OEM Toyota filters. I pick up 5-10 of them if I am passing by a dealer.

Out of curiosity, is there any consensus on who makes good filter kits for this? Older style filters I always used Wix... But the rebuildable filters still make me nervous lol.

 

^It cute you're still nervous about a 14 year-old oil filter design, when the mere presence of a combustion engine is in jeopardy in many vehicle models.

I use Denso 1503020. Not the same design as OEM but good enough.

 

Yes... It cute.

The filter design doesn't make me nervous. Me accidentally cutting a cheap o-ring and causing the filter to fail or leak makes me nervous.

I prefer the older style filters because its simple and fast. But I'm hesitant to use a cheap filter rebuild kit and cause an issue. Hence why I was talking about the quality/ brand of filters.

Do the filters you mentioned come with O rings?

 

If your box doesn't have one of these hologram stickers on the top flap, it's counterfeit. Without question.

 

Yes the Denso aftermarket filters come with the same quality O-rings as the OEM filters Denso makes for Toyota.

One time I bought the cheapest filter on Rock Auto ("Champ" branded) at less than $2 to harvest its O-rings. To my surprise, the filter was decent quality too, made in USA.

 

The counterfeiters have been duplicating the hologram sticker for years unfortunately. Only reliable way of buying online is to buy from a Toyota dealer. Otherwise it's safer to go with an aftermarket brand like Denso.

 

The Car Care Nut confirms this, but there is a definite difference in the stickers. The real one has the very distinct, brightly colored hologram, whereas the counterfeits do not. And you're right. Buying from a Toyota dealer is the only way.

 

I buy mine straight from the dealership and they always have a shiny Toyota sticker somewhere on the box denoting their genuine. Also that price is really no different than the dealer anyways. I would rather support my locally owned dealer than some shady Amazon vendor who is likely selling counterfeit items.

 

It’s not legit. This is an OEM filter/box.

 

I bought an oem plastic filter from the stealership and it came with a filter the same exact color as the op has

 

Filter medium color is too orange for OEM. They’re more light yellow.

 

^This.
Just bought 6 filters 2 days ago from the dealer. All had that holographic sticker.

 

The last filter I bought from the parts counter at the dealer, the medium was pretty much orange.

 

Maybe the dealership is having a hard time getting filters, and they're ordering from Amazon...

We're talking about a disposable oil filter here, that gets tossed every 6 months, not a new transmission.

 

Irony here: we are pouring non-OEM oil into our's T4R, not questioning the content of the oil can, not questioning property or additives, buying only well marketed brands and trying to find cheapest one. and yet - worrying abt counterfeit filters. Humans ...

 

I just bought two from my dealer yesterday. Look just like the OPs.

 

You should always think Amazon = fake just like EBay always = fake.

the only time you can maybe trust Amazon is if the part is sent directly from the dealer.

If it comes from a Amazon warehouse there is always a good chance it will be fake even if the the seller is a dealer because Amazon mixes their inventory and they just pull what’s on top of the pile they combined regardless of who sent it to them.

 

As did I. Ditto the OP questioning the color. Highly doubt the dealer is selling knock-offs.

 

As long as it meets ILSAC GF-5 standards or better, and those on shelves ranging from Supertech to Kirkland Signature do, mass-market oil is just fine. (not saying that oil that doesn't meet standards doesn't exist)

Counterfeit filters meet no standards except looking as close to the original as it can and being cheaper.

If counterfeit Mobil 1 motor oil popped up or worrying oil analyses popped up with a specific oil then I'm sure we'd be promoting buying in-store, from reputable sources, or another brand too but that's a little bulky for shipping.

 

and how do you know it meets standards, from cdc testing?

 

Any reputable oil will either meet, or exceed OE specifications. The same cannot be said for counterfeit Chinese oil filters. Do you actually believe someone counterfeiting a product gives a shit about quality?

 

Not sure if your logic flows correctly here. There is no irony here. People can want the best prices for parts/products that meet certain standards, and also worry about getting counterfeit parts that aren’t actually real parts.

Maybe you think “counterfeit” means same thing as “aftermarket”?

 

The Engine Oil Licensing & Certification System.

https://www.api.org/products-and-services/engine-oil

"API’s Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS) is a voluntary licensing and certification program that authorizes engine oil marketers that meet specified requirements to use the API Engine Oil Quality Marks. ... The Engine Oil Program is backed by a monitoring and enforcement program that ensures licensees adhere to program requirements. This includes running physical, chemical, and performance tests on licensed engine oils and verifying that the API-registered Marks are properly displayed on containers and convey accurate information to consumers."

They also have a list of motor oils that display the symbol without authorization.

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This raises another host of questions as this is a big Pandora's Box.

Do you test your fuel every time you fill up and measure the gallons that go in? Or do you trust both the gas station and your (assuming USA) state's office of weights and measure? Maybe someone accidentally put diesel in the 87 tank!

How can you verify nobody stepped in your burger's lettuce in the back of the restaurant that morning?

How do you know your over-the-counter store-brand medication truly has what it says it does? (OK, you can send them to a lab but will you? And how often?)

If you are hooked up to a municipal water system, do you test your home water supply weekly?

No human has the time or resources to chase down and verify the quality everything they touch in a day. Society is built on delegating trust, establishing regulations, punishing violations of that trust/regulations and you personally have to pick and choose what you spend your energy on.

I may not trust my utility's cybersecurity but while I never met them, I trust the utility to monitor and adhere to water standards. (and if you choose to drink bottled water instead, what about the company, the bottling plant, and where they got their water?)

There's certainly things to be cautious and wary of, such as a liability loophole meaning store-brand OTC medications can be to a lower standard than the name brand. Or that supplements and olive oil can be tough to verify as pure. But motor oil on a shelf so far has been up-to-snuff and are also formulated by relatively few companies. Toyota certainly doesn't make their own motor oil.

That's not to say bad things can't happen - I bought a Kia expecting security in-line with the industry but nope! But at least we know now. Fool me once and all that.