Toyota OEM Oil Filter: Subpar Performance?

For two decades, I've used K&N oil filters. I'm trying to decide which brand to use on a new Tacoma and I was leaning towards OEM filters. I don't think I'm leaning that way now.

Unlike aftermarket suppliers, Toyota does not publish the filtration specs (e.g. 99% of particles greater than 20 microns) for its OEM filters. But this team on YouTube has been testing a TON of oil filters using the same approach that ISO-certification labs use. In this video they compare OEM filter brands from Ford, GM, Toyota, and Bosch. Toyota...did not fare well:



That's how many wear particles (copper, aluminum, etc.) of each size are left in the oil sample after running through each brand of filter for a set time. Toyota isn't even in the same galaxy as the others. There's more videos on this channel where they test K&N, Purolator, FRAM Ultra, etc.

Toyota's filter DID have the highest flow rate (least resistance to oil flow), but since there's a tradeoff between flow-rate and filtering-efficiency, that seems to be expected. I get that the OEM filter "meets Toyota specifications," but maybe there's a *reason* Toyota doesn't disclose its filters' performance?

I'm thinking Purolator Boss or FRAM Titanium/Ultra is the correct choice. What are you guys running?

 

Hmm, interesting... Well, I'm running OEM. Hopefully my truck doesn't explode in the next 4900 miles.

 

Fram FS4967


Fram XG4967

 

Would be interesting to test new vs ‘well used’ filters. Didn’t watch the video as I am currently killing time in a low signal area of 808, but I am assuming these are new filters tested with a loaded oil. What I am essentially getting at is over time the finer filter may load up faster and subsequently bypass more oil than a coarse media. No dog in this fight other than I use OEM stuff where I can due to consistency of quality that an OEM can generally demand (also helps they are economic), but what’s best on the spec sheets or whatever isn’t always the best long term in practice.

No complaints on any of my Blackstone results over 15k on my 3G; but my new to me 196k 2G had a lifetime of aftermarket filters (OG owner maintained it at a Firestone chain up until I got it), and its first test came back with a perfect bill of health with 4800 miles on conventional oil, and Pennzoil filter of some sort. Will be running Toyota filters on that now that I am maintaining it, and will see if things slip after the switch.

 

I've dug into this more. BobIsTheOilGuy.com (which appears to be the best collection of oil "experts" around) has many corroborating tests. The Denso OEM Toyota oil filters are not very efficient at filtering. They get about 50% of 20-micron particles, as opposed to 99% of particles that size for top-tier aftermarket filters.

The OEM filters favor flow over filtering—just get oil through the filter with the least resistance. One guy at that site claims to have talked to a Toyota engineer who said the only reason they do it is cost. The filters stay cheaper and they did a study and found that the low filtering efficiency had no effect on engine longevity. (Although "longevity" might mean, "made it to the 36,000 mile mark just fine.")

A bunch of people pointed out that millions of Toyotas are running around with this OEM filters and making it to 200,000+ miles, so the low efficiency might not really be a problem. I dunno what the hell to do with this. I think maybe the FRAM Ultra is the way. It has much better filtering efficiency, but still a decent amount of flow.

 

Haha shouldn’t.. if it does they’ll cover it

 

That’s pretty interesting. I have a 2011 with the 4.0. I wonder if it’s the same with the 2nd gen filters. I used a fram ultra last oil change but usually buy a bulk of oem filters. 210,000 miles but would like to keep it as clean in the engine as possible.