Does everyone use the oil filter housing drain?

For those who use a MotivX type filter cannister drain tool and have an aftermarket skid plate with the removable access panel, how much room to you have to get in there with your hand to attach the drain tool? Doesn't look like much room on my RCI skid's small rectangular opening...I was under there yesterday doing something else, and removed the access panel, and it looks pretty tight to get your hand in there.

 

I have RCI skids and the access hatch for the oil filter is big enough for me to easily remove the filter housing using a Motivx filter tool. It’s a bit tight for me to get a good grip to remove by hand but is easy using the Motivx tool.

Also, I have a Fumoto oil valve and the access hole in the skid gives me adequate room to open the valve to drain the oil…

Cheers,
Bob

 

Good to know the RCI skid somewhat restricts reaching up around the oil filter housing with your hand. After installing the filter housing and adding the 6.6 quarts of new oil, I like to wipe around where the large O-ring on the housing fits, so that after running the engine for a minute, I can wipe around that O-ring area again to see if any oil has leaked. It sounds like the RCI skid would make that difficult.

 

I don’t think wiping the oil canister is difficult with RCI skids.

My earlier comment that removing by hand was difficult was not due to difficulty in getting my hand on the filter housing but that getting a strong enough grip was a challenge. Particularly if the housing is on tight enough to require the additional leverage of the Motivx tool on a socket wrench.

You can easily get your hand in to wipe the canister…

Cheers,
Bob

 

Thanks Bob. I have been considering getting the RCI skid and it sounds like it will work fine, and make the oil change go faster.

 

Agreed! Those ones that just pop in always seem to fall out. You pretty much have to hold it the whole time, so I kinda gave up on it also.

But, I was impressed that the Walmart brand filter housing drain tool actually threads into the housing and works pretty well! I don't know why other brands are giving us those shitty ones.

 

First I've heard of a Wal-Mart brand filter housing drain tool...got a link?

 

It came with the filter. It's similar to those crappy push in ones that come with the filters, but it's threaded.

I believe it was this one;

https://www.walmart.com/ip/SuperTec...dge-Oil-Filter-for-Lexus-and-Toyota/748396821

 

Gotcha. So the little white doodad on the right is threaded?

 

Yup! I meant to take a picture of it, but I must have forgotten to.

 

Makes sense. Looks like it would work so much better. Thanks.

I have some clear plastic tubing that might just fit over that drain tool to direct the oil into a container.

 

Seriously, so much better! You're welcome.

 

Have you been using the Super Tech filters for a while?

 

No. This was the first one, just a few weeks ago. I had been using Wix, but I just started whatever was available where I bought the oil the last few times.

 

I have the TRD skid on now, so it has to be removed to change the oil anyway and there is no need to drain the filter, even with the metal housing I have. My RCI skid is supposed to arrive today and my next oil change is in a week, so hopefully it will make oil changes a bit quicker.

 

I use the plastic one that comes with the filter. I think it's the best thing about the filter housing design, and there's almost zero oil mess when I take off the canister.

 

I run RCI skid plates, with a Fumoto, and I don’t drain the housing, I use a paper plate behind the filter and loosen and drain. 98 percent of the oil runs down the paper plate and into my drain pan. Also run Archoil 9100 every oil change.

 

Do you use the Fumoto with a nipple for a drain hose, or just let it drain straight down?

 

Someone needs to sell that drain tool, so you could use it with any other filter instead of the ones that just press in that come with other filters.

 

toyota lube tech here. we don't use it at our dealership. that's for the sake of speed though and it's easier to stay clean if the vehicle is in the air. we don't change the housing drain oring either, i see many with original oring there with over 75k and no leak so far. seems like many of these housings, housing drain, and the pan drain plugs come over torqued from factory so that first oil change takes a bit more elbow grease. just easier for us to go straight to housing.

 

I ended up buying a supertech filter just for this threaded drain piece. Cheaper than buying some specific tool, as long as I don't lose it lol. It has a spot in my toolbox now.

Works well, especially now that I have more limited access since installing my skid plates.

 

Did you attach any tubing to direct the oil into a container?

 

All I had was a rubber hose that was slightly too big around, and only long enough to clear the skids…so I had to hold on,and made a little mess. But at least no mess behind the skid plates! I’ll eventually find a hose that will fit snugly and reach the drain pan.

 

I'm going to tackle my first time changing the oil coming up, and am trying to see what I need at a minimum. I figure the Supertech filter with that drain tool, a drain pan, crush washer, and a filter housing wrench, i.e. MotivX would get me by. Wouldn't hurt to find some tubing to fit that tool. I may have some in my shed.

And some oil, of course. If I was really motivated, I'd get a Fumoto type valve to install while the oil is drained.

 

skip the motivx…it only grabs the housing from the bottom. You need something designed for these housings with slots that will also hold on to the tabs. NAPA sells a good one, but it’s on the expensive side. You want a wrench that will grab that housing all the way around and up, so it distributes the torque over all the plastic. Sometimes those things are on tight!


Edit: GOOD LORD! They got expensive!!!! https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/SER61040

edit #2. Not advising this, but my crush washers on all my toyotas have always been stuck on the pan. I never bothered changing it on the sienna I had for 14 years, or my current Highlander or 4runner. No leaks

 

I've had issues reusing the crush washers after enough use. But when I bought a new doorman drain plug, it came with a silicone gasket instead of a crush washer, and that I've been able to reuse dozens of times.

 

Not an expert on this, but I’d worry about getting a proper torque on the threads just because of how silicone interacts friction wise on the bolt when tightening. Indon’t bother with a torque wrench for this, but I’m used to the resistance I feel with factory crush washers. Also, is there any squish with the silicone washers? Might be ok if the material is hard.

 

Tell me this isn't the exact same wrench at less than half the cost:

Amazon:


NAPA:

 

Sure looks it to me! And that’s about what I paid for my Napa one back when I bought it for our highlander back in 2018. Coincidence? You be the judge

 

Walmart is out of stock on the Supertech filters.