I'm a firm believer that everything done on vehicles is done either to improve quality, performance or profit margin. since the mfg costs of a cartridge oil filter system are almost certainly more than a simple canister oil filter, what are the benefits of a cartridge filter over a canister filter? The filter itself is going to be about the same regardless and based on stories of even dealers screwing up the canister system I'm having a hard time figuring out why the engineers at Toyota decided to use a cartridge filter.

I brought it up with my dealer. He told me it's for environmental reasons, ie not oiling the landfill up with dirty oil filters.

I told him it's because they want to squeeze every dime out of us and changing your own oil should be much less of a hassle.

I personally admire Toyota for going back to cartridge type oil filter elements (as well as Chrysler and maybe a few others).

Most cars older than about 1960 had them, and commercial trucks, farm and construction equipment use them. Why throw away all that steel from the spin on filters?

If you think about all that steel just thrown in landfills and roadside dumps over the last 50 or so years, they probably could have built a couple aircraft carriers with it.

And of course most people do not take the time to drain all the oil out of them, so the oil goes in the ground too.

Of course up until about 20 years ago we poured the drain oil on the ground to help keep the dust and weeds under control. But that is now forbidden along with lots of other activities that we used to not think would ever go away. (like burning wood in your home fireplace) But don't get me started on a rant about all the lost freedoms over the last 30 to 40 years.

i'm pretty sure burning wood in your home fireplace IS NOT something that has been banned.

Wood Burning Fireplaces to Disappear in Southern California

David

What will Kaliforniastan think of next?

When I bought my current (new) house in 2008 a wood burning fireplace was no longer an option in this county. I do have a fireplace but it has to be gas only.

Older houses that have the wood fireplaces can only burn on certain days (fewer every year) allowed and determined by the San Joaquin Valley Air Resources Board.

This is just a small example of what it is like to live under the thumb of the oppressive government of Commiefornia. (gun laws are even more insane)

You cannot do anything that could possibly offend someone else's delicate sensitivities.

The rest of you, watch out or this could be coming to your state too.

Denver has wood burning restrictions too. Most fireplaces are now gas.

Air Pollution Control Division - Residential Burning Information

I miss the filter location on my 06, Sport.

I can understand the reasoning behind that in big cities where its compounded with all the exhaust, factories, etc pollution on top of personal fireplaces.

now in rural country side, I don't see that happening especially in cold climate states where they burn wood, corn, etc in stoves when they lose power or to cut back on propane use to save money.

but also, we only have about 700k in the whole state, which is probably just same size as a city in CA.

When I change my oil, think I'll save my used cartrige for kindling this winter.
Nothing like a real fire when it's snowing and 20 degrees outside.

+1 ...

I fully expect some kind of mask that converts CO2 into a "harmless" gas to be required attire for every citizen of Commiefornia some day.


Hmmm ... I think I just found a weekend project to get me rich off CA inanity.

My 10k service added up to 100 dollars, it was free, but that's what a tire rotation, cartridge oil filter, and a change of 0W20 costs.

Holy crap.

My Sierra operating costs were 20 dollars for semi-synthetic every 5k miles and 20 for a tire rotation. If you count that Toyota charges 40 for a tire rotation at 5k miles your'e looking at 140 dollars vs 80 every similar service interval.

SoCal's smog problems are absolutely ridiculous if you haven't been there lately. Same for Denver in the winter when the inversion sets in. Experience it and you can begin to understand the wood fire bans. Not everything is a liberal conspiracy.

Coming from the midwest, we have only used our fireplace for ambiance in the winter, never to actually produce heat. I couldn't see how this would be much of an inconvience in Southern California where it's sunny and relatively warm year round.

In Denver I could understand some people being frustrated if they lived in an old house that relied on wood burning fire for warmth in the winter, but I'm sure they get an exemption.

I could understand banning outdoor wood burning in Southern California, considering all of the wild fires they have out there, but why are they focusing on things that have such little impact as wood burning, when 44% of US's electricity still comes from coal, which is the biggest source of air pollution in the US.

And another thing, I don't like how California's inability to deal with their air pollution problems bleed over to the rest of the US. Now all cars being sold in the US are being built/limited to meet the requirements of 1 of the 50 states. My 2013 4runner that I bought in Oregon is CARB Certified, and thanks to them, I have that stupid Air Injection System, and am limited on my choices of vehicles and engines.