Can anyone give me a reason not to install the Metal oil filter cap assembly 15620-31060

Can anyone give me a good reason not to change this part???
Thanks

 

The only reason you would need it is you have a propensity to over torque things. I changed mine out just because I could. It's a cheap item so there's no huge decision about it. I dunno.

 

Lol i definitely do that lmao...
Picking up a torque wrench next time i find a good sale lol.
Its a really cheap mod which will probably give me some piece of mind knowing its not plastic. I plan on keeping the truck a long time so wtf not?

 

Sheared off the head, hoping I can thread it out the other side easily. So I do have the new filter ready when I do my 1st oil change

 

There is NO reason unless you prefer plastic parts that typically don’t perform well under high temperatures.

 

I grabbed a husky torque wrench at Home Depot just to put in the truck- mainly for the lugs and spacers

 

Lmfao
Ya this

 

Fml
I broke a bolt off in the aluminum block of my atv last oil change.
I paid honda to deal with.
Semi expensive lesson lol...
Note to self....remember to get that torque wrench. .

 

Plastics are not all equal and the cap isn't cheap ABS. The only way you'll screw up the polymer cap is if you cross-thread it or over-torque the shit out of it. You'll have the same issues with an aluminum cap only with the polymer, you know which side is going to be damaged if you cross-thread. Good luck if you fuck up the threads on the engine side with an aluminum cap.

I did a lot of oil changes with caps like these when I wrenched and not once have I seen a polymer cap replaced that wasn't due to colossal user error that would have just as easily damaged an aluminum cap.

 

Granted not a cap, but a dealer tech once installed a top loading filter in a GTI for me during included service that was on so damn tight I had to use a set of channel locks to remove.

Both caps are fine. Wish they loaded up top.

 

I can see your point but most people should be able to hand tighten these caps close to the block prior to using the wrench. By that point you would know if there was a cross thread issue before final tightening.

 

Right. My point is that I've only seen polymer caps damaged in scenarios that would have equally damaged an aluminum cap (or worse, engine side threads due to a metal cap). With the slightest of due diligence, neither cap will give you problems and people trying to swap one for the other are just wasting money "because metal is better"

My greater point is that depending on application, polymers are capable of being much stronger than aluminum and are stronger than some steel alloys. This is a non-load-bearing part in a scenario where it will never see anything near its melting temperature.

 

Well ... Decisions decisions...lol

 

The carbon impact to make the plastic cap is already done, use till it fails.

 

and get a bolt extractor kit and a drill and do it yourself.

 

The plastic caps are fine. The thin aluminum caps have the same issues if installed incorrectly or severely overnighted.

 

I made the exact same mistake. I was able to get it out through the tail light access without a ton of trouble. Bought a 5-pack of OEM replacement screws from the dealer for $7, and did not over-torque it.

As far as the aluminum cap goes, I’ve got one waiting for the 15k oil change. I paid the dealer to change the oil at 5k, and they’ll change it “free” at the 10k interval. I’ll do it myself at 15k, and make the switch then. I’ll keep the plastic cap as a backup.

 

Galvanic corrosion due to dissimilar metals could be a reason not to replace the plastic one? I don’t know if this would really be a big deal on a truck. On a boat we wouldn’t put aluminum to steel without insulation. Also the filters on our marine engines use the same type of filter cartridge and housing only much larger. We are seeing composite housings on newer marine diesel engines, which see more heat and pressure and abuse than your Tacoma.
FWIW I have an aluminum one on my wife’s Rav4, and a plastic one on the Tacoma. The Rav4 has aluminum because the dealership damaged the original and that’s what they had in stock to replace it with. If I thought the aluminum one was better I would have swapped them by now.

 

The short answer is no there is no reason not to replace Plastic with cast Aluminum. The Aluminum this is made from is probably 356-T6 same as the block so there is no tangible reason not to replace it and the possibility of Galvanic corrosion? No.

 

I did not know the block was aluminum, if it is we are assuming the filter mount also is. If this is true and everything is aluminum, galvanic corrosion is no longer an issue. If the filter mount is steel there certainly can be galvanic corrosion between the steel and aluminum, however if the block is aluminum and the filter housing is aluminum, most likely the mount is as well. Of course normal corrosion can still occur with aluminum if you are in a climate prone to it, this would make it harder to remove the filter and over time may make it harder to get a good seal. On my wife’s Rav4 I haven’t seen any corrosion of any type, but my 12 year old 4Runner has no rust either, my vehicles are garage kept in FL.
I’m not saying the aluminum can’t be better. But since OP asked if there is any reason not to do it, I’m throwing one out there. Personally I just don’t think there is enough benefit either for or against it, so I plan on keeping what I have where I have it, and I personally wouldn’t spend the money there.