There has been some controversy of late as to whether or not mobil1 oil filters are good filters for the tC. It seems fairly unanimous that mobil1 makes a good filter in general, but for the tC, there has been talk that they are too small and oil must flow through the bypass valve - if it even has one.

I'm looking for some of the experts to shed some light on this topic if it's not too much trouble. If it is a bad filter for the tC, what filters can we recommend (other than toyota filters)?


update: (read my next post (4th post) for more necessary information)

 

may I humbly ask why you don't want to use the Toyota filter? Not trying to troll or anything... hope I don't give you that impression :D

 

Stick with the OEM YZZF1 Toy's.
Goto trdsparks.com and get 10 paks for $35.
Great filter.
Mobil1's are fine, but no better than the OEM.

Scott

 

Valid question - the 2 reasons I am using the mobil1 filters are because:

1) I am using mobil1 oil and I figure they are designed to go together.

2) Much more importantly, I am running mobil1 5w-20 extended performance. The filters that i'm running are the extended performance filters as well. I am afraid that I cant run the toyota filters for like 6-7K miles.

Feel free to give you input and/or correct what I said.

 

Different story.
You omitted those facts up front!

The YZZF1s can run that far, and honestly, 6-7k is not extended, but the M1 filter might be larger (longer) and may do better for longer OCIs.

 

Sorry I left that info out! What a dummy I am! lol

How far can I run a YZZF1 filter?

I always thought that 6-7K was extended. With the mobil1 5w-20 extended performance and mobil1 extended performance filter, do you think I can be going 10K?
(My dads benz has been doing 10K between changes and the dealer puts in mobil1 for him. At 150K, his engine runs beautifully.)

One of the critics of the mobil1 filter was saying that it was actually SMALLER (shorter) than the stock toyota filters and could not filter the oil fast enough and therefore throw the oil into the bypass valve. Is this true?

 

Spect2k3,

I now see why you are so reluctant on using toyota filters. They should be find for AT LEAST 5000 miles as it's what toyota suggests on these filters. The only reason a filter would fail under extended use is is the oil pressure increase after the filter has been clogged up causing the elements to collapse. This is another reason you want a BIG filter for your car, not something that's undersized.

If you don't trust what the dealer sells over the counter, you can order the TRD performance oil filters. I personally haven't used those, but I would assume them to have the same filter elements but more filter element areas. I think most toyota dealers can get them for you. If you get your hands on a few of those, I don't mind buying one off you and chop them open for all to see.

 

Are you saying that the mobil1 extended performance filter is undersized? (no sarcasm there, i know it sounds like it)

 

I use one of two oils.
GC Castrol Syntec 0w30
Mobil 1 5w20

I go 4500 miles between changes.
I use nothing but the YZZF1 filters.

I'm still not a fan of extended OCIs, and for me, even going 4500 miles was only due to a lot of research on the topic.

Up to you in the end, but I will never go over 4500 miles on one oil/filter change.

As for the filter - the Mobil may not have a bypass valve, and if the filter gets clogged, it could cause problems. If it does have one, then you should be fine.
The bypass valve, IMHO, would only be in use if you had really dirty oil and your filter were clogged.

 

Awww dude, don't call me a "critic". I actually like Champion Labs filters for other cars, but just not the ones for tC. I personlly use the Bosch filters because they are cheaper and is identical if you cut them open. But for other applications, M1 filters are well built but restrictive due to the more dense elements.

Again, I don't HATE the M1.

And by the way, Mobil probably didn't design the filters, Champion Labs did.

 

Your choice in oil is good . It IS synthetic right ? I only use Synthetic . I use an oversized GM filter . Laugh but , this filter has much better media and is better matched . The Toyota filters are cheap . The Mobil 1 oil filters are no where near as good as they claim as the media is a bit cheap and not enough of it . Try to find a filter that is a little bigger for your car and buy one that has some glass media in it . The more media , the better . You can use high intensity magnets as well . They go on the filter and hold the metal particles when they come through . very nice addition to aid in filtering . For what it is , Mobil 1 is wayyyy over priced .

 

If you want to know if they are really undersized, do this:

Buy 1 toyota filter, 1 M1 EP filter.

put them next to each other. The M1 I bought was about 3/4 inch shorter. Now, cut them open and compare the height of the elements in there. M1 has just a little more than half of the elements that toyota has.

That's my result. It's an easy test. I can't say the same about my Toyota Highlander because M1 makes perfect filter for it.

By the way, the M1 does have a bypass valve. But oil going through there won't be filtered.

 

Hmm, definitely good information being passed around in this thread.

Sciontcya - what do you consider an extended interval? I didn't realize that the mobil1 filter doesnt have a bypass valve. Not that I'm sure i need it, but i'd like to have the backup just in case! What do you consider an extended OCI?

Falkor - ya, definitely synthetic oil. When you say toyota filters are cheap, do you mean $ wise or that they are of poor quality?

SSQ - I didn't realize another company makes the mobil1, thats good to know.

 

My apology . I mean quality wise . They are as good as an over the counter Puralator . And no one give me grief on my GM . Lol . And , as for the bypass valve , it may not be important but , it will void any warranty you may have if one is not used . I always have and always will use a by pass valve filter . Of course , at 4500 miles on synthetic oil , it will certainly not be dirty .

 

Spect2k3,

There are only a few companies that makes filters avaliable in the US other than the car manufacturers, and most are made by: Champ Labs, WIX, Purolator (now bought by Bosch), and Honeywell (the real crap). Most of the brands you see are made and designed by these few companies.

I will tell you that the toyota filters are definetly NOT cheap in terms of the quality. Their design actually elimiates the buildup of pressure because their pleats are bonded together at the end, therefor, doesn't have that huge chunk of endplate. I actually diesigned a lab around this for my fluids class.

Purolator filters are NOT cheap in quality.

I would suggest you to do a little of your own research and experiment and draw your own valid conclusions.

 

Good point with the bypass valve falkor. Other than the GM filter though, anything that you recommend?

 

For your warranty, over 5k is too much. For me, anything over 8k I'd consider extended - using synthetic. Using Dino, 5k.

I think someone said the M1 does have a bypass.

Toyota YZZF1 OEM filters are fine - you'll never have a problem with your car using them - all things being equal.

 

Good info from everyone guys. I appreciate all of the help. We have some knowledgable oil people around here! I'll go back to the OEM filters it sounds like. I would use the TRD filters but they cost like $12 a pop! I'm sure they aren't even THAT much better anyway!

 

I agree with ScionTCya .
Those filters are ok . As far as what I said about the regular Toyota filters , I was talking media amount and what it is made of . The media is poor . And damnit Spec . That away to put my GM filter down ! LOL . I only use it due to the amount of media and the fiberglass content .

 

hey, hold on, I am looking for an interesting (but OLD) oil filter test for ya. Hang on there.

I actually DID count the pleats and calculated the area of the filter media. Toyota filters is way better than the others, # of pleats and the area.