This can't be one of Toyota's brightest ideas.

Why not use a regular cartridge oil filter rather than that stupid plastic housing that you have to clean and reuse? BTW, what do you do with that metal clip on the plastic housing? If you switch to the aluminum housing, it doesn't come with that clip.

 

I switched and the one I received did come with the insert. On the other ones, like you received, the directions say to take the insert from the original and install in the new metal replacement cap. Check Youtube.

 

Ignore that clip. There is no documentation on how it is to be used anyway. Torque the plastic housing to the spec value. Also torque the oil filter drain plug to spec.
If you install the metal housing, it just snugs up solidly to the engine. Leave the skid plate off for a day or two to verify no leaks.

 

Will go ahead and ignore the clip.

 

Definitely not bright but, definitely bean counter related.
Dealerships lose out on the ease of spin-on filters but , count the cash when customers bring in their canister type filter service.
Either way, I do my own. Hand tools only, no electric or air with this type of maintenance, equals no wtf moments.

YMMV

 

I don't actually think it's that bad. It takes a bit longer, but replacing the element instead of the whole housing is less wasteful.

I have never torqued my housing or the little drain plug. The O-ring seals it. I haven't had any leaks.

 

I was a little apprehensive doing my first oil/filter change with the canister filter element. But it turned out to be no big deal. Plus I like the fact that you can inspect between the pleats of the removed filter element.

 

Being able to inspect the pleats is a great way to monitor your engine health. I just did my first oil change at 522 miles/6 months. It was parked for the winter. I was surprised how much metal I saw in the pleats from break in. Not a lot by any account but it was there. I threw the filter out then thought damn I should have posted pics cause no way would I have wanted it there for 10,000 miles. Don't listen to the dealers folks change your oil and filter after the break in period say 1,000 miles tops and go from there.

 

They being using this for decades and I don't see what is the big deal. I understand it is convenient example of 4th gen top of the block cartridge oil element. I wouldn't get worked up about new set up in 5th gen. More steps to change it but far less wasteful.

 

I love being able to drain the housing rather than pull a canister and dump hot oil on everything and I’d much prefer to be able to see into the used filter element and check it for metal and signs of elevated wear.

 

Exactly. Take a magnet each time and see if the drop in is filtering metallic debris.

 

In addition, think about all the oil inside a canister thats not being recycled plus all the plastic not going into landfills. You can argue that you "empty yours" but what about all the douchey dealer and grease monkey techs who don't give a flying F?

 

only if I could see the look on my granddaddy’s face if I could show him all the special tools, pieces, and parts needed just for a “simple” oil change on my 4Runner lol it’s ridiculous

 

So I guess I had it backwards and it's a popular idea. Do most of you switch to the aluminum housing?

 

From the factory aluminum housings tend to come on the vehicles without skid plate protection. Unless you’re a caveman that can’t seem to snug a plastic housing without destroying it, there is no actual benefit to the aluminum housing.

 

I had planned on it, but haven't done so. The more oil changes I do, the less I mind the plastic housing. I'm sure the aluminum one is nice, though.

 

I bought an aluminum one but will just keep it as a backup.

 

Mine came with skid plates and a metal housing Between the skid plates in the complicated oil change it’s a pain

 

I should be able to roll under there take out the drain plug drain the oil unscrew the oil filter screw a new one back in and be done

 

I have the stock plastic on the 4Runner with 85K on it and Tundra with 40K on it and zero issues.

 

I think it's nice to have some protection down there. Skid plates are a necessity for off-road use.

The replaceable element is less wasteful than an old fashioned self contained oil filter. It might be more time consuming, but it's better in some ways.

 

Get a filter relocation kit with the disposable filter.

 

Just don’t let the dealership change your oil. The techs may over tighten it as most don’t care enough to do the job right.

 

Swapped in the metal housing right off the bat. Plastic doesn't cut it for something that important

 

Plastic vs. metal
Canister vs. housing
P-rated vs. LT
AT vs. MT
Pro vs. Off Road vs. SR5 vs. Limited
KDSS vs. not
Scoop vs. no scoop
Cloth vs. pleather (Softex)
TSS vs. paying attention
Toyota connected vs. me and my 4R all alone in the world
Oem vs. blacked out vs. naked
Moon roof vs. none
3rd row vs. more cargo space

How am I supposed to sleep at night??

At least we can be thankful the AT vs. MT in a 4R died out years ago...or did it?

 

You forgot 3k, 5k or 10k mike oil changes, how do you sleep at night?

 

I try not to base my opinions of what we have today on what old people would think. Not a great measuring tool. They also had an entire generation of bad ideas. It is what it is so if you hate the canister to much then move to a vehicle with a spin on and problem solved!

 

Lol yes. I still laugh at people trying to preach to me the evils of the voodoo sunroof/moonroof and how they leak. Been hearing this crap for almost 30 years now and how evil they are. Air conditioning also adds quite a bit of complexity to a vehicle yet you don't hear the continual gripe concerning that tech.

 

Way they make a new forerunner with a MT? Where is it at I’ve got cash?