OEM Oil Filter @ 6k Miles W/ Pics

So I changed my oil today and went a little over the recommended interval. I decided to see how the filter was holding up at 6,000 miles and I was quite surprised by the shape the filter was in at 6k. The filter was in great shape with all key components still going strong. The actual filter element its self held up great with very little wear, along with the glue that holds the element together at the top and bottom of the filter. The check valve and diaphragm was also in good shape with plenty of life left in them.


Here are a few pictures of the Element, and check valve.









Anyways, my conclusion after taking the filter apart at 6K is that the OEM filter is definitly worth its money. I would say it is right up there with the Napa Gold filter (wix).

 

Nice; glad I use the Toyota filter also.

 

I use the napa gold filter. So based on your pics where is the best place on the filter to install magnets on the outside of the filter?

 

If you were going to install magnets on the outside of the filter to help stop metal particles that are flowing into the filter element, I would install them about a quart to half inch from the top of the filter (top being where the filter mates with the housing). That way the magnets would theoretically stop the contaminates before it went into the element. Albeit, in normal circumstances the amount of metal contaminates that will go into the filter in the first place is quite low.

 

Awesomely detailed post!!

thanks for breaking it down and taking pics...ive always wanted to see that but have been too lazy to search for it...

 

Thanks for posting this SC4333. I was a little worried because I changed my last OEM filter at about 4100 miles. Looks like I'll be ok.

 

Hey no problem, guys. I just found it interesting that it was holding up so well at 6k so I thought I would snap a couple pictures and post them up.

If anyone is wondering what oil was being run through the filter, it was Mobil1.

 

I'm not trying to deflate your efforts.....cuz they are good.

But for me...that's only information about how well the filter holds up and it obviously holds up well. But again, that doesn't really tell me anything unless you have 6 different filters, all having the same mileage and all taken apart to show the differences. How do we know how well it holds up when you have nothing to compare it to?

(sorry, I'm technical like that)

And not only that...I'm surprised the oil filter gods haven't requested an oil sample test. Afterall, just because a filter looks like it can HOLD UP, doesn't mean it filters properly.

 

I hear you, and you have valid points. My comparison that I have made is from many oil filters that I have dissected in the past. Now I didn't make a photo journal, or take any scientific tests, but visual proof can go pretty far. As for the filtering capabilities, we'll find out soon enough. I have took an oil sample that is being sent to a laboratory for analysis. Whenever I get the results back, I'll post them up.

 

I hear what you saying Janster, I'm just glad the OEM does look this good at 6K.

 

The point was that the filter was physically intact after a long interval, Geez!

What does one have to do with the other, the filter held together with no noticable degradation after 6000 miles. The oil filter itself was the point of reference.

Are you seriously suggesting the Toyota oil filter might not filter properly?

 

Did you guys expect it to just start falling apart after 5k or what? I bet most any filter will 'appear' in good condition (eg. still incact, glue all there, and everything) after a very long duration, but that doesn't tell me anything. You don't see pieces of oil filter floating around from it breaking apart in peoples engine who forget to change after 10k or people who use different oil and go way past 5k just because the oil can. Some guy's opinion of how it looks doesn't tell me anything about the filter except maybe that he didn't get a dud....

And yes I realize my argument is also opinion, that's half the fun

 

Some filters do come apart and one way to find out is what this guy did. I put a lot of weight to the visual inspection. Some times you dont need an oil sample to satisfy your curiosity. I dont think he was giving his stamp of approval, just that he was curios and took the thing apart and this is what he found.

 

Exactly

You might be surprised. My past oil analysis' with the Toyota OEM filter have been excellent, although this was the first time I actually pulled the filter apart. I have dissected plenty of other filters on my daily drivers, and there are a hand full of filters that simply do not last. Now the filter isn't going to just suck right through the housing and shoot into your engine per say, buy you can expect it to have zero filtering capabilities once the element breaks apart from its self.

Next time I make a post like this I'll have to attach a .pdf file of my PE stamp... Apparently my generalizations were not quite scientific enough this time.

 

Hey I have the 4 banger also. I use the K&N pn2009. Im going to take mine apart when I get home. I also have a filter magnet that I use and want to see exactly how much it does.

 

x2

 

All these filter & oil posts make me laugh....

Everyone is soooo hell bent on showing & trying to convince other people about oil filters & different oils - which are better, yadda yadda yadda.
Everyone thinks they could design a better quality filter without having an skills or Engineering background.

It's an endless circle of bashing of eachother over a product that gets removed after 5,000 miles anyway. I feel sorry for people who constantly get bashed for a certain filter they use.

 

I'm glad the Toyota filter is a good one because it is much cheaper than the mobil 1 filter that I would buy otherwise...

thanks for the write up Sir

 

well, with your typical oil change being anywhere from 3-5k miles Janster has a point.. there are too many variables to consider when recommending to someone what "they" should use. I use Mobil 1 oil and filter because it seemed best for my driving habits and style. Yeah getting all worked up over something that your replacing so frequently is kinda funny. It does give us something to write about though lol My wife's BMW had its first service/IE oil change at 12k.. I almost freaked out when the dealer told her that. Nice post BTW!