Fuel Filter Replacement? Yes? No?

[Spike555]

Toyota Oil Filters | Engine Oil Filters | Bob Is The Oil Guy

Toyota Oil Filter (Made in Thailand) vs. the competition........

At work we use cheap NAPA filters, air, oil, no fuel filters on our gasoline vans.
We use middle of the road Shell motor oil, 10w-30 and oil changes are scheduled for 4500 miles but usually don't happen until 6,000.
We put 300-500,000 miles on our vans before they go to the crusher with the original engine.
I use what I know, which is WIX, Purolator and Baldwin.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Just changed mine at 127k.

 

[87warrior]

I changed my fuel filter today, Cruiser has 260k miles and it was bought with 245k miles this January. I believe this was the original fuel filter as I could not find evidence of replacement in the service records from the previous (original) owner. Truly the part that took the longest was moving the clip over from the old filter to the new.

I had to take the filter apart to see the filter media. As I was twisting the filter around trying to get it apart, the gasoline running out either end looked like mud. The entire length of the filter looked like this. I was in shock:

Records indicate this Cruiser spent 100% of its life living between Kansas City and Wichita.

 

[hoser]

I would be interested to see somebody take an old fuel filter and run fuel through it (via gravity fed) and watch/measure the flow rate.

 

[sean2202]

I guess someone will have to show me where Toyota calls it a "lifetime" part?

I believe like any filter it should be changed periodically. With that said I will tell you my history on this. When I bought my 3rd gen 4runner my local Toyota dealer told me the filter was a "lifetime part" so at 160k I changed the original and the fittings were difficult to remove because of corrosion. I replaced that one 2 times in 60k miles
Now fast forward 5 years...seeing how the filter on the 100 is so easily accessible I wanted to see what the dealer would say. Different tech this time "You shouldn't have to replace it unless you have a problem" I changed it anyway and will probably do it
every 30k as well.
Is there anything in the FSM as replacement intervals?

 

[Julian Stead]

They have stopped fitting filters to a lot of newish European cars, other than the gauze filter in the pump they don't filter anymore. But if one is fitted surely it should be changed at some interval, every 30k I will be swopping mine over.

 

[flintknapper]

I changed my fuel filter today, Cruiser has 260k miles and it was bought with 245k miles this January. I believe this was the original fuel filter as I could not find evidence of replacement in the service records from the previous (original) owner. Truly the part that took the longest was moving the clip over from the old filter to the new.

I had to take the filter apart to see the filter media. As I was twisting the filter around trying to get it apart, the gasoline running out either end looked like mud. The entire length of the filter looked like this. I was in shock:

Records indicate this Cruiser spent 100% of its life living between Kansas City and Wichita.

My filters (see post #25 page 2) also looked like yours and both had a muddy/sludge like liquid in them. So the filter is definitely doing its job....but surely needs replacing at some point.

Since the advent of 'ethanol blended' fuels, I feel changing the fuel filter has become more important. Ethanol is highly hygroscopic (attracts water). It is also a solvent which tends to dissolve resins, rust and dirt. These things that used to stick to the inside of your fuel tank...are now more able to flow through the fuel system up to the point of your filter.

 

[2001LC]

****
Since the advent of 'ethanol blended' fuels, I feel changing the fuel filter has become more important. Ethanol is highly hygroscopic (attracts water). It is also a solvent which tends to dissolve resins, rust and dirt. These things that used to stick to the inside of your fuel tank...are now more able to flow through the fuel system up to the point of your filter.

Very interesting point.

 

[bctlex]

My filters (see post #25 page 2) also looked like yours and both had a muddy/sludge like liquid in them. So the filter is definitely doing its job....but surely needs replacing at some point.

Since the advent of 'ethanol blended' fuels, I feel changing the fuel filter has become more important. Ethanol is highly hygroscopic (attracts water). It is also a solvent which tends to dissolve resins, rust and dirt. These things that used to stick to the inside of your fuel tank...are now more able to flow through the fuel system up to the point of your filter.

I checked the receipts from previous owner, filter was replaced ~80K miles ago (I thought it was 30K miles ago). Thank you and good point. Your post worries me enough, I have the filter ordered and will replace this coming weekend I may cut it open if I have time and take pictures.

 

[brandon12777]

Same part # for all years?

 

[abuck99]

Photos of the filter media when wet makes it look more dramatic- I let mine dry and took photos of the outside and inside of the media. Notice that inside the folded sections is where the dirt gets trapped. Looks to be doing its job. No idea if the paper starts out white or off color, but it s dark. Probably original at 171,000 miles (2005 model)

With respect to price: If the Toyota filter came with out the bracket, that would save some $$. WIX offers it with, & with out for about $8 difference. Not huge deal if you change once every 10 years, but if its an annual regimen, then 50% more makes a difference.

Alternatives: Researching the Denso part no# from the little silver label on the filter didn't return any hits, not even on the Denso website. As a starting point for comparison, knowing the micron rating and filtering efficiency of the OEM filter might help comparing & selecting options. Anyone know? Just choosing one over the other with out comparing filtering specs is just guessing. WIX is less than 1/2 the price of OEM, and considered to be of decent quality (owned by MANN), I sent them an email asking for the particulars on their filter: micron rating, filtering efficiency, expected duty cycle(when to replace) gallons or duration, etc. I'll post up data if they respond.

EDIT: 8/23: WIX filters emailed me back with the following data on the #33526 Filter:

Filter Media = Cellulose
Micron Rating = 10 Micron
33526 should not be used with more than 20% ethanol
The change interval for this filter is the same as the O.E.
This information can be found in the vehicles owners’ manual
as part of the maintenance schedule

Surprised me that they can get down to 10 microns with the paper filter element. The change interval is still the unknown. Most filters have a life expectancy I'd have to assume there is a reasonable tested interval in reference to gallons filtered, time or mileage.

 

[bctlex]

I replaced mine today. It was Bosch made in Japan, replaced with WIX made in Israel. I bought it at Oreilly for ~$18 - this is the without bracket model. I tried to open it so I can see what it look like after 80K miles, but could not figure out how, and I was running late for dinner. Will try to crack it open later, I probably just cut it with dremel.

 

[abuck99]

Use a hack saw, choose an end and cut it off. Dremel might cause some more heat or spark- which after all is filled with gasoline vapor......

 

[bctlex]

So finally have a chance to crack it open. When I replace the filter, there were some gas that pours out of the filter, and they are black in color (did not have cell phone with me, so no picture). So it looks like the filter is doing its job. The filter was replaced at about ~80K. After looking at the filter media and the gas that came out of the filter, I think I am going to replace it again at 50K or so - it is cheap and easy enough to do this.

 

[Dwight S]

Question for the brain trust... I've got my filter and plan to install it this weekend. One end is what Toyota calls a "quick type" connector. Did you guys use a tool to remove this and if so, what size? Thanks in advance

 

[2001LC]

Question for the brain trust... I've got my filter and plan to install it this weekend. One end is what Toyota calls a "quick type" connector. Did you guys use a tool to remove this and if so, what size? Thanks in advance

IIRC I just used my fingers:
Low idle sometimes stalls

 

[87warrior]

IIRC I just used my fingers:
Low idle sometimes stalls

Thumb and finger worked for me as well.

 

[Dwight S]

Thank you gentlemen. I will give it a go.

 

[ItGoesTo11]

A few months ago I purchased a 99 LC100 just shy of 160k miles; it's my 3rd LC and 2nd 100 so I'm pretty familiar with the vehicle, its needs, its quirks, etc.

It runs great, smooth & quiet just like my 2002 did, but it does some slightly less "peppy" than my 02 was (the 02 had about 115k on it when I very stupidly traded it in last year).

At my next oil change I am going to thoroughly clean the intake (as I did on my 02) and was considering whether or not to replace the fuel filter. I know our manuals say that they don't need to be replaced, but logic dictates that, at 14 years old and with 160k miles worth of fuel flowing through it, it could be less effective than it once was.

So, finally getting to my question, those of you with higher-mile, older 100s, have you replaced your fuel filter?

I've changed mine in my 1999 LX470 at 60k, 120k and will do it at 180k when it gets here. It's easy and inexpensive to do. It will literally take 15 minutes. It's less than $10 from rockauto.com.

When I back flushed the old filter(s) to see what was in there, the liquid came out brown! Not light brown, but dark brown, like broth. The vehicle has never been off road, is garaged and is completely stock and I've owned it since new. So that is simply what the filter caught from normal fuel. I suggest to change it asap...

 

[ItGoesTo11]

Thank you gentlemen. I will give it a go.

One end needs a wrench, it's a flared fitting, the other end has a connector that has a slide piece on it that you need to release.