3rd Gen Oil Filter Removal

I just watched about six oil change videos on You Tube. On removing the new cannister oil filter on the 3rd gen, there is a metal clip on the side of it. Some guys say you need to remove this clip and other guys just wrench the cannister off without touching it. Is it necessary to remove this clip?

 

I’ve never touched the clip. Just turn it off.

 

What he said ^^ I’ve been able to remove the canister without removing the clip and I’ve changed my oil 3 times. It is not necessary to remove the clip

 

What's the clip for?

 

Decoration?

 

The clip keeps the filter from spinning off if it becomes loose. There's a tab on the cannister that will stop it from spinning. I removed the clip before removing the filter, then reinstalled it after I was done.

 

When u use the tool to pull the canister off, it pushes the clip back so it’s not in ur way.

 

if the canister somehow got loose it acts as a 'keeper' to keep it from turning and falling off.

 

Still getting my free oil changes so haven't had to deal with it yet. Does the clip just pull straight down for removal? Can't tell from the photo.

 

No it is made from something like spring steel and has a slight amount of pressure on, it's no big deal when you are removing the canister.

 

It does... Maybe it's weak enough to just pry sideways when removing the housing and spring back when done. But it needs to be strong enough to keep the housing from spinning of if it becomes loose.

 

No need to worry bout the clip. But i tell you what mine took some damn elbow grease and a large cheater bar to break loose.

 

Ahh, thanks for the illustration. It must flex back to spin the housing off then return to where it was when done..

 

IIRC the clip looked like it would get in the way, so I just pulled it off with a pair of pliers and reinserted it when I was finished. No problem, but next time I’ll try (gently) to turn past it. I have an aftermarket aluminum filter wrench ... maybe it’s bigger.

 

***
How did you remove the clip? Soon will install a Baxter oil can adapter and need to remove that clip to install the adapter. Is it hard? special tools?, cut the engine in half?

 

I just pulled the clip straight down. It uses friction similar to an electrical spade connector.

 

Get this wrench/tool to remove the filter canister. It has more engagements tabs and distributes the torque on more surfaces.
GOOD


BAD

 

I don’t have a 3rd gen but by the picture it looks like it slides up and out the way and you slide back down when done. ‍

 

That illustration is from a 2016 tacoma FSM and looking at it again I noticed the bracket looks like its connected to the filter cap (this is how it was on my 13 4runner) so IDK if it applies to the bracket as pictured.