Japanese Oil Filter - Much Nicer

(If this has been covered already, my apologies - but get over it )

Change the oil filter on my 09 for the first time and noticed that the original oil filter marked "Made in Japan" was of much nicer construction than the "Made in Thailand" replacement I bought from my local Toyota Dealer. Admittedly, my observations are relatively subjective, but you will notice that the bottom plate is machined and was of heavier construction. In addition, it appeared that the silicone check valve was of better design not to mention the design of the o-ring / bottom plate meeting surface.

Does anyone know where they stock the "Made In Japan" filters? If one could easily obtain these I would rather stick with them, cost prohibiting of course.



Top filter "Made in Thailand', bottom filter "Made in Japan":

 

I cant remember exactly where they were being sold, but someone had them for sale a few months back. They are quite pricey though at about $10 bucks a pop if I remember correctly.

 

Cant beat mobil-1 filters

 

mobil 1, purolator gold, or napa gold for me. just depends which one is on sale.

 

Don't turn it into another FILTER FIGHT people!! y'all have fun elsewhere

His only point is the first filter compared to the normal oem, I think he has a valid point.

 

Thats a terrible choice, sir. The Filter Gods would be ashamed of you..

 

i wish i could afford the Japanese filter. i like the foam/fabric media inside it much more than paper.

 

i don't suppose you have the part numbers for them both?

 

should be on the side of the filter. i have it wrote down at home somewhere from previous search efforts. IIRC the only place i could find it wanted $12.xx/ea out of them.

 

fixed it for you

 

if you havent opened it up and done an analysis, i personally dont care....

the outside might be different, but its the inside filter media that counts...who knows, the japan filter might be inferior to the dealer filter....you just cant go on looks...also, i belive that i read from chris4x4 recently that people have actually taken the two filters apart and there was no difference found...

 

Here you go. The upside down filter is the "Made in Japan" filter.

 

The Japanese one is of sturdier construction cause it's put on by a machine.

 

There is there a Chinese part number too, think its heavier due to the lead.

 

huh? what does that have anything to do with it?

 

didnt you notice that the origional filter was torqued to 935 ft/lbs? They use a high speed machine to spin them on

 

\/ That.

 

yea, that.Thy tighten it until the car turns with the filter lol.

 

Thank God somebody FINALLY started a thread about oil filters!