Originally Posted By: Hootbro
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It is actually less mess than a spin on filter. If you are making a mess, you are doing it wrong and over complicating it.
Toyota is not the only maker switching over to cartridge filters. All the major brands are slowly going this route. Main thing with a cartridge filter is disposal cost are less as the used elements can be incinerated.
Both my Toyota's are cartridge and have given me no problems. It is actually nice to have a open element to inspect when doing a filter change,
I must respectfully disagree. The underside cartridge setup on my wife's 07 2GR-powered Avalon has been nothing but a total PITA. The neatness of this setup depends upon being able to open the little cap on the bottom of the filter setup so that you can attach the drain hose. IF that works, and that's been a big IF for me, then when you take off the main housing, it's empty and there's little mess. Alas, for me, despite having noted and applied the torque specs for the "little cap" and the main canister, somehow, the little cap is now so tightly attached that it won't come off, period. So the only option is to remove the whole housing, still filled with hot oil. Unlike a good spin on, which at least can be removed quickly, the Toyota canister has way too many threads, and as a result, there's plenty of time, while unscrewing, for hot oil to spill everywhere.
I also find the fundamental design inferior. Both the canister and a spin-on have the potential to leak from the main gasket seal. But the Toyota canister design has TWO seals from which to leak -- the main one, and the little one on that silly little lid on the end where you attach the "clean hands" drain tube. And what if the valve for the needless drain tube fails?
We've had photos posted here of a dramatic failure of the Toyota canister. The main O-ring is much, much more fragile than the gasket on virtually ALL can-type filters, and can be easily broken if you don't place it in just the right position, lube it fully, and then screw the housing on just-so gently.
The new Toyota system is a Rube Goldberg disaster waiting to happen. And if you ruin your engine because you didn't know how to screw the housing on just-so, you know what they'll say -- screw you. Yes, I do like being able to inspect the filter element. But I can get to my can filter's element in two minutes with my trusty pipe cutter. Toyota is headed totally in the wrong direction with its cartridge approach.
