Thoughts about my oil filter options...

[cancov]

I'm getting a 2011 Toyota Corolla LE with the 1.8 liter. I intend on changing the oil at the 2,500-3,000 mile mark to empty the factory fill. I have read other posts that this factory fill can go longer, but this is just a personal preference. When I dump, I plan to refill with a dino and probably Pennzoil Yellow Bottle 5W20 for the first oil change, run that another 3,000 miles and at that point switch to Mobil 1. My driving characteristics is 85/15 highway/city which would allow the oil change interval to increase; however, I feel comfortable with 5,000 oil change intervals on Mobil 1.

With this, I'm looking at my oil filter options. I know that this car takes the cartridge type filter which is new to me. I've researched online and the following filters are readially available. They are also in order by my preference from most prefered to least preferred:

-WIX 57064 through Amsoil for $6.00, Oreilly's for $6.20; NAPA Gold FIL7064(WIX) through for $6.99; Carquest Blue 84064(WIX) for $5.49
-Purolator Classic L16311 through Advance Auto for $6.99
-Mobil 1 M1C-154 through AutoZone for $19.99 (this is so far down my preference list due to it's cost and my low oil change interval; great filter, just not for me)
-STP S10358 through AutoZone for $6.59

The Purolator PureONE would be equal in my opinion to the WIX (NAPA, Carquest) filters, however, Purolator doesn't make a PureONE filter, that I can find, for this application.

So my question is, being unfamiliar with the cartridge type filter, is my rational on the right track with the above list in that order?

 

[drtyler]

The WIX (in it's many disguises) and Purolator should be fine choices. You can't go wrong with either one.

FYI, at RockAuto.com, the Wix 57064 filter is $3.37. Buy a few of them and you've got a pretty good deal on a per filter basis even with shipping costs.

Another viable option would be the Toyota brand filter. The dealers usually have them available for a decent price.

 

[Eddie]

I've run Wix cartridge filters for several years now and find them well made. The appear to be the same as NAPA Gold cartridges. Another very good cartridge filter is a MotorCraftbut, not sure if they make them for Toyota

 

[229]

Might want to stick with the OEM filter while under warranty.

 

[bodeh6]

Advance Auto has PureOnes on sale for $5 and there is a rebate going on for $3 so you can get about 4 filters for $8.

 

[ChiTDI]

I've used OEM and Wix for about four years on a Rav4 - same cartridge style filter.
Cost difference was negligible when you buy six and the product difference was almost nonexistant.
For warranty issues I stayed with OEM, but got an internet sale from a dealer for around three bucks a piece. Hard to beat.
Check the toyo forums - they have sponsoring dealers with really good prices.

 

[Hootbro]

I used a wix at the same interval when I dumped my factory fill. Fine filter (made in Poland) but that being said, you can shop ebay or the internet and get the OEM Toyota for actual less cost than the WIX and Purolator if you buy like a case of 10ea.

At 5K and until 25K, I am taking advantage of and using the Toyota Care place that came with my car new. I assume you have the same thing. It is a easy and you have at least a record of the first 5 visits of dealership service.

 

[cancov]

Originally Posted By: bodeh6
Advance Auto has PureOnes on sale for $5 and there is a rebate going on for $3 so you can get about 4 filters for $8.


Purolator doesn't have a PureONE in this application.

Originally Posted By: Hootbro
At 5K and until 25K, I am taking advantage of and using the Toyota Care place that came with my car new. I assume you have the same thing. It is a easy and you have at least a record of the first 5 visits of dealership service.


This is actually a fleet vehicle through the company I work for. Toyota has a disclaimner that the Toyota Care incentive does not apply to fleets.

Why am I concerned this much about a company fleet vehicle? This car will not be badged and will be used at my descretion. Also, these are 36-month leases and at the end of the lease I have the option of purchasing the vehicle so it pays in my favor to take care of it now as if it was my own.

Our agreement(my company and I) was for a Camry, which I would prefer over the Corolla, but Enterprise(the company we lease through) stated that with the past events in Japan, Camrys were unavailable. Maybe we could work out an alternative when Camrys come back in stock.

Originally Posted By: ChiTDI
I've used OEM and Wix for about four years on a Rav4 - same cartridge style filter.
Cost difference was negligible when you buy six and the product difference was almost nonexistant


I haven't thought of looking into the OEM filter, mostly because I hate stealerships, but I will look into that and perhaps a few of the dealer pages on those forums. Thanks.

Oh, I thought of another issue with the cartridge type filter with Toyota, I heard they have a special tool for removing the oil filter. I've seen a shop on another Corolla take a pair of adjustable pliers, but the reason I saw it was because they were in our parking lot correcting their screw up. After a fresh oil change, 3 miles down the road, I look behind me and a black streak of oil is following me. I shift to Neutral and kill the engine and coast into our parking lot. The shop comes out and finds that the oil filter housing wasn't tight, I assume by attempting to tighten with the adjustable pliers. Has anyone found the Toyota tool relatively affordable? If not, what EFFECTIVE alternative are you using?

 

[cancov]

I looked into an internet Toyota OEM Parts provider, which happen to be Champion Toyota in Houston(toyotaworld.com), they quoted $4.06 per OEM filter or a case of 10 for $3.90 each. Not bad, but he estimated shipping by FedEx to be $10-15.

That had me think of my local dealer. I gave them a call and they have them for 6.95 for one or two or more for 5.95. This suprised me as these prices are competitive with the WIX, Purolator, etc. I may go OEM at these prices, unless there is a rebate or sale on the others enough to sway me.

Any ideas about the Toyota tool?

 

[Virtuoso]

CarQuest Blue IMHO. It's the cheapest and as good as anything else on your list.

 

[cancov]

Called another dealer, $3.99 for OEM

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: cancov
Any ideas about the Toyota tool?

Oil Filter Cap Wrench 14-flute 64mm.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: cancov
Any ideas about the Toyota tool?

Oil Filter Cap Wrench 14-flute 64mm.



Yep, Available from most parts store through the Lisle line of tools.

 

[cancov]

Thanks fellas

 

[Robenstein]

Carquest Blue and NAPA Gold are usually Wix made. As for the OEM filter and warranty issues, there should not be any. As long as you use oil that is okay in your manual, and a filter listed for your application, they cant really do much if ya have a claim. They can try, but in the end the law is on your side.

 

[sm00thpapa]

Originally Posted By: bodeh6
Advance Auto has PureOnes on sale for $5 and there is a rebate going on for $3 so you can get about 4 filters for $8.


Buy 6 online and use code VISA for $10.00 off. Total $20.00 minus $12.00 rebate. So you get 6 filters for $8.00. Now thats a steal.......

 

[cancov]

Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
Originally Posted By: bodeh6
Advance Auto has PureOnes on sale for $5 and there is a rebate going on for $3 so you can get about 4 filters for $8.


Buy 6 online and use code VISA for $10.00 off. Total $20.00 minus $12.00 rebate. So you get 6 filters for $8.00. Now thats a steal.......


Yeah, I read that and again, Purolator doesn't make a PureONE in this application and even if I go with the Classic at $6.99 subtract the $1.50 mail in rebate($5.49), it is still more than the OEM that I was quoted for $3.99.

Thanks ChiTDI for the idea of checking with the OEM Toyota dealer. I would never have thought that the OEM filter would be anywhere in my ballpark of affordability.

 

[cancov]

After reading some posts on ToyotaNation, people with the 1.8 liter were finding ligitimate metal in their oil and filter at an initial oil change of 1,000 miles. I am a proponent of changing oil too often than too little so I'm rethinking my break-in strategy.

After their posts, I believe I will go 1,000-1,500 miles on the factory fill. Again, I understand the proponents arguing the running of the factory fill to 15-20% of the car computed OCI, but I don't feel comfortable with that metal flake in the engine oil. As this may be normal for break-in, I would think the consensus of car-minded people would think that eridence of that metal would be preferred. So at 1,000-1,500, the factory fill is dumped, original oil filter removed and replaced with an OEM Toyota filter ($3.99), and filled with Pennzoil Yellow Bottle 5W20($15.64). This in for 3,000 miles and again dumped, oil filter replaced with an OEM Toyota filter ($3.99), and filled with Pennzoil Yellow Bottle 5W20($15.64).

At this point, we should be in late fall or early winter. I think this may be a good point to switch to synthetic. Probably Mobil 1 0W20 if I can find it, Mobil 1 5W20 if I can't and the OEM Toyota Filter for 5,000 OCI.

 

[cancov]

Oh and from ToyotaNation, the 65mm wrench is the way to go for this model Corolla. Not the 65mm/67mm as described from their posts, it doesn't have the fit that the 65mm has. Just for reference.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: cancov

So at 1,000-1,500, the factory fill is dumped, original oil filter removed and replaced with an OEM Toyota filter ($3.99), and filled with Pennzoil Yellow Bottle 5W20($15.64). This in for 3,000 miles and again dumped, oil filter replaced with an OEM Toyota filter ($3.99), and filled with Pennzoil Yellow Bottle 5W20($15.64).

At this point, we should be in late fall or early winter. I think this may be a good point to switch to synthetic. Probably Mobil 1 0W20 if I can find it, Mobil 1 5W20 if I can't and the OEM Toyota Filter for 5,000 OCI.


I did something similar with the 2005 Tacoma I bought new. Ran the factory fill for 1000 miles, changed oil and filter to Mobil Clean 5000 (non-synthetic) and ran it another 4000 miles. Changed oil & filter again at the 5000 mark and started using Mobil 1 full synthetic. Truck runs very strong and burns about 1 mm worth of oil on the dipstick (~ 2 ounces) in 5000 miles. That's a pretty tight engine IMO.