Yeah, we're on 2 different pages for sure. I'm not asking about redesigning the engine and the oil flow, or why the filter is no longer top accessible.
I'm asking about using a couple of adapters and some tubing to place the filter in a remote location in the engine compartment which is more easily accessible. Basically instead of the oil going from the engine into the filter, it goes into an adapter, through some tubing, through the filter, then back through a return line through the adapter and back to the engine. Because it's not on the engine it would be considered a remotely mounted oil filter. Since you're adding capacity with the adapters and tubing, you'd also have to add oil to ensure the proper level in the engine. The other concern is appropriate oil pressure, of which I'm not smart enough to comment on at 3am. Maybe [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] has better insight on the oil pressure factor?
I did see the question was posed by another user, although it was also not answered. There are oil filter relocation kits for previous gen T4R, but I don't know if they would work with 5th gen and our filter inside of a casing.
As far as I know [MENTION=2619]Koz[/MENTION] is the only guy who has done it and he did it on a 4th gen and not a 5th. His write up is here:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/engin...es/10277-amsoil-full-flow-bypass-install.html
I would never relocate the filter just for ease of access. Too many things to go wrong:
1. New possible leak points in hosing
2. Different capacity
3. Filter media in unknown
4. Changes the pressure drop in the system (added volume + head required to push oil to new filter location)
5. Quality of relocation kit
Now, if I HAD to keep the engine running with no issues for 500K+ miles then I would change the filter adapter and canister to a better filter with finer media and improved dirt holding capacity. I would NOT relocate it to the top for ease of access. I would keep it in the original spot as was designed by Toyota.
I'm sure it could be done on a 5th gen 4Runner and it probably would not cause any issues because Toyota over-engineers just about everything to make it reliable and durable. By changing the system though you will cause the oil pump to work a bit harder and when you make anything work harder you reduce the life of the component. No I don't know how much.
General statement:
Contrary to popular belief, engineers don't design things to be difficult to work on or maintain. Actually we try to make it as easy as possible to maintain because good maintenance is the key to long life of any serviceable component. The key here is WHO IS DOING THE SERVICING. I read a statistic awhile back that said only around 12% of vehicle owners still change their own oil. When we design something we design it to be maintained by professionals who have the proper tooling and equipment. I hate to say this but end users (read: you) are not the guys the Toyota engineers had in mind. They designed the filter to be changed on a lift by techs who have all the correct tools, documentation and training, not a guy who only wrenches every six months and is drinking beer while trying to jack up his vehicle in a driveway. Sorry but the truth hurts. If you are going to do it then you need to do it right and doing it right is not cheap.
Lastly, there are times when a design paints us into a corner and we have to do something crappy, like put a bolt where you have to take seventeen things apart first to get to it. We don't do that on purpose. The oil filter location though is not one of them because if you think this location is bad you need to remember there was probably three or four locations initially that were even worse! This is the best location they had!
