A look inside the Toyota 90915-YZZN1 spin on oil filter

I changed the oil in my car, today.

Usually, I just put the oil filter into the bin at my recycling center. This time, I cut it open and examined its components.

I was surprised to find out how high quality this Toyota filter is compared to the videos of those mass market Fram oil filters with the rusted metal and glued cardboard components.





All the steel components are zinc plated on the inside. The drain back valve is made of silicone rubber.

Instead of a flat spring, the over pressure relief valve is closed with a coiled spring.

 

That filter came out in 6 months and only after 1,200 miles.

If one wants to keep his or her car for a long time, 3,000 to 5,000 miles is the maximum you'd want to keep oil in an engine.

There is no such thing as an extended life motor oil and filter. The longer it's in use, the more detritus, gasoline dilution, and varnish from burned and unburned hydrocarbons there is to gum up and abrade the wear surfaces within the engine.

The only way to get rid of these is to drain the oil, change the filter and install new oil.

 

The internal filter is basically the same as the cartridge element.

Using the cheap cutoff tool that I got off Amazon, it takes no time to cut the spin on can open to recycle the steel components.