How does the dealership tighten the oil filter cap?

[lojack323]

Do they use an impact wrench? Mine was amazingly tight.

Last oil change was at the dealership. Went to change it today and it was smooth sailing until I went to remove the oil filter cap. Couldn’t get it to budge using the 3/8 drive. After 1.5 hours of swearing and using a bunch of other tools (crescent wrench, mallet etc) I threw in the towel and went to the hardware store to get a 27mm socket for my breaker bar.

I was finally able to get it off with the breaker bar. Even then it was hernia inducing, my feet were locked against a wheel for leverage. Thank goodness I had bought a metal filter cap to swap out because a tab broke on the plastic one when it was finally budging.

I had no idea this was a thing until I searched and saw a bunch of other threads with stuck filter caps. Something that should have taken about an hour took me over 4 hours after cleaning up! To top it off, I made a huge mess pouring the used oil out of the pan lol.

I did get a laugh on my way home from the store though. When I was checking out, the guy in front of me let me go ahead of him despite my pleading that it was alright and I was in no rush (lie). It wasn’t until I was in the car when I realized I was covered in grease and car grime. The guy probably looked at me and saw just a single socket in my hand and knew I had been having a great time doing something haha.

 

[daytonaviolet]

That’s so exactly how mine broke to. Did you swap out the center tube ?

Metal Oil Filter Housing Upgrade + Motivx Tools Oil Filter Wrench

 

[Jivewalker]

Never had this problem after I started doing my own oil changes 100K plus miles ago. I use a torque wrench every time. still have original plastic filter housing and use a cheap penzoil brand filter wrench socket.

 

[patkelly4370]

Mine was very tight the first time. Not anymore.

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[97BlackAckCL]

Yeah, mine was almost impossible to break loose, I was cursing the dealer repeatedly until I got it loose. Couldn't believe how damn tight it was on there. If I can help it, the dealership will never touch my truck again.

 

[Nuke]

This is why I've been doing my own oil changes since the 1980's. I've had my share of factory and dealership overtorqued filters, drain plugs, etc and now these "new fangled" filter housings.

 

[4r-4ever]

i replaced my oil and filter for the first time on my 2020. it was never touched by the dealer and i was able to remove it without too much effort. i guess those who take their 4runner for the 1st free oil change will experience the too tight filter problem. I'm glad I changed mine.

Do they use an impact wrench? Mine was amazingly tight.

Last oil change was at the dealership. Went to change it today and it was smooth sailing until I went to remove the oil filter cap. Couldn’t get it to budge using the 3/8 drive. After 1.5 hours of swearing and using a bunch of other tools (crescent wrench, mallet etc) I threw in the towel and went to the hardware store to get a 27mm socket for my breaker bar.

I was finally able to get it off with the breaker bar. Even then it was hernia inducing, my feet were locked against a wheel for leverage. Thank goodness I had bought a metal filter cap to swap out because a tab broke on the plastic one when it was finally budging.

I had no idea this was a thing until I searched and saw a bunch of other threads with stuck filter caps. Something that should have taken about an hour took me over 4 hours after cleaning up! To top it off, I made a huge mess pouring the used oil out of the pan lol.

I did get a laugh on my way home from the store though. When I was checking out, the guy in front of me let me go ahead of him despite my pleading that it was alright and I was in no rush (lie). It wasn’t until I was in the car when I realized I was covered in grease and car grime. The guy probably looked at me and saw just a single socket in my hand and knew I had been having a great time doing something haha.

 

[lojack323]

That’s so exactly how mine broke to. Did you swap out the center tube ?

Metal Oil Filter Housing Upgrade + Motivx Tools Oil Filter Wrench

Yeah swapped it out.

This is why I've been doing my own oil changes since the 1980's. I've had my share of factory and dealership overtorqued filters, drain plugs, etc and now these "new fangled" filter housings.

i replaced my oil and filter for the first time on my 2020. it was never touched by the dealer and i was able to remove it without too much effort. i guess those who take their 4runner for the 1st free oil change will experience the too tight filter problem. I'm glad I changed mine.

One dealership around here has some coupons for oil changes that usually makes the price reasonable enough to not spend the time myself. I guess I paid for all that “saved time” in one evening! Lol

 

[lojack323]

Yeah, mine was almost impossible to break loose, I was cursing the dealer repeatedly until I got it loose. Couldn't believe how damn tight it was on there. If I can help it, the dealership will never touch my truck again.

It blew me away how tight they got the plastic cap on there without breaking it. Especially since I broke it taking it off lol

 

[ahtoxa11]

I only had 1 oil change done at the dealer, and mine was also super tight. Been doing my own oil changes since then, too. Luckily I didn't break mine taking it off.

 

[DougR]

Mine was also tight. I didn't try to use a 3/8ths drive. I always use a 1/2-inch drive socket. I had to use a cheater pipe to loosen the plastic oil cannister. I replaced it with a genuine Toyota part made of aluminum.

 

[Bossman]

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[STX4Runner]

Same here. Did the dealer oil changes every 10,000 miles for the first 110,000 miles I owned it. Went to change it myself last month and the plastic filter housing was damn near welded on. Finally got it off and back on (torqued to spec) only to find out two of the tabs broke and it was now leaking. I replaced it with the metal canister from the Avalon.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

It blew me away how tight they got the plastic cap on there without breaking it. Especially since I broke it taking it off lol

Yeah that is bad, I thought I was going to crack mine in half, I stepped up through 3 different breaker bars before using a torque wrench and basically destroying the torque wrench in the process of breaking the filter housing loose. I was this close to giving up and not removing it

 

[lojack323]

Yeah that is bad, I thought I was going to crack mine in half, I stepped up through 3 different breaker bars before using a torque wrench and basically destroying the torque wrench in the process of breaking the filter housing loose. I was this close to giving up and not removing it

The thought had crossed my mind to give up on removing it and filling it up with oil to take it to the dealership to do it (and change out with fresh oil on their dime). But then I figured I’d be back in the same place next time with an over tightened metal cap lol.

 

[lojack323]

Mine was also tight. I didn't try to use a 3/8ths drive. I always use a 1/2-inch drive socket. I had to use a cheater pipe to loosen the plastic oil cannister. I replaced it with a genuine Toyota part made of aluminum.

Well now I don’t have to use a 3/8s anymore since I had to go buy a 27mm socket, haha.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

The thought had crossed my mind to give up on removing it and filling it up with oil to take it to the dealership to do it (and change out with fresh oil on their dime). But then I figured I’d be back in the same place next time with an over tightened metal cap lol.

Same here, no way did I want to admit defeat and go back to those asshats

 

[usdmej]

it's very easy to believe that dealership techs either use an impact wrench or, since they have the car up in the air, put a breaker bar on it and give the oil filter a healthy yank. if it's on too tight the average customer doesn't know any better since it's coming back to them eventually anyways. if it's on too loose then it's oil on the ground and they're in trouble.

 

[Ferret]

I requested at the dealership not to use a quick plumb when they changed my oil. I drove about 30 miles and was leaking oil. Took it back, they had used a quick plumb! They had to replace the oil pan on their dime!

 

[TOYO74]

What is a "quick plumb" ?