If you're using a WIX oil filter read this (8 Viewers)

[fj40z]

This could happen with any number of different parts on our vehicles. With the amount of dishonest people out there who want others to pay for their stupidity it's reasonable that WIX would deny any liability in this since he took it upon himself to hack up the filter. Had he took it off and they found what he did the situation would more than likely be different even though they state it's the wrong filter for his truck.




This is the right answer. Toyota filters and all other brands can have manufacturing defects. Same goes for any other replacement parts. This is the reason warranties exist. Reading all the knee jerk reactions about never using WIX anymore is pretty funny. What do you think Toyota would say if they got a call from a guy blaming the filter for his engine losing oil pressure and is now knocking? And what then when he tells them he already cut open the filter to try and find the problem? He would be getting the same response he got from WIX. It's a crappy deal but none of you can honestly think any company would be willing to accept liability and replace an entire engine in this situation.

This happened because there never was a bypass valve installed in the filter. Even the manufacturers rep said this.

Like I said before my intent with this thread was never to say WIX made bad filters or to scare anyone away from using them. It was solely made to share my story and to let fellow 80 owners know that if you have a 51515 on your 97 80 series the manufacturer says it's wrong, and to also inform people to NEVER cut an oil filter even if there is a remote chance it's faulty. The only reason I did was to get an idea what had went on with the motor and to see the extent of the bearing damage. Cutting an oil filter is a fairly common thing to do in most shops.

 

[bloc]

This happened because there never was a bypass valve installed in the filter. Even the manufacturers rep said this.

Like I said before my intent with this thread was never to say WIX made bad filters or to scare anyone away from using them. It was solely made to share my story and to let fellow 80 owners know that if you have a 51515 on your 97 80 series the manufacturer says it's wrong, and to also inform people to NEVER cut an oil filter even if there is a remote chance it's faulty. The only reason I did was to get an idea what had went on with the motor and to see the extent of the bearing damage. Cutting an oil filter is a fairly common thing to do in most shops.

In your conversations with the DM did they say anything about filter analysis being free?

Your curiosity with respect to bearing material in the filter is 100% normal after a failure.. but if investigating that results in a denied claim we are automatically just supposed to send the filter to the manufacturer for them to check it? Not that this happens often. And we are supposed to trust that they'll do the right thing if they find a missing bypass valve?

What did they say the correct procedure actually was?

 

[fj40z]

In your conversations with the DM did they say anything about filter analysis being free?

Your curiosity with respect to bearing material in the filter is 100% normal after a failure.. but if investigating that results in a denied claim we are automatically just supposed to send the filter to the manufacturer for them to check it? Not that this happens often. And we are supposed to trust that they'll do the right thing if they find a missing bypass valve?

What did they say the correct procedure actually was?

The correct procedure, from what I gather would be to contact the manufacturer let them know you suspect a faulty filter. They will notify a rep to come by and inspect them the rep will take the filter to their facility to let their technicians disassemble and inspect.

 

[SmokingRocks]

My comments may have seemed brash, that was not my intent. I understand the curiosity and I feel for you. If you end up doing the rebuild and need a timing kit PM me I have an extra one that I'll cut you a deal on.

Do you have photos of the filter after it was cut? If the filter was truly the cause you would likely see a collapsed core.

Diagnosing Engine Oil Filters with Collapsed Center Tubes

 

[fj40z]

My comments may have seemed brash, that was not my intent. I understand the curiosity and I feel for you. If you end up doing the rebuild and need a timing kit PM me I have an extra one that I'll cut you a deal on.

Do you have photos of the filter after it was cut? If the filter was truly the cause you would likely see a collapsed core.

Diagnosing Engine Oil Filters with Collapsed Center Tubes

Hey man no problem at all! I appreciate the offer.

The core wasn't collapsed at all, the problem is the bypass valve was left out which in turn let the anti drain back valve dislodge and block the center opening. Here's a diagram showing the inner workings of a 51515. The part labeled up front safety bypass valve was never installed. That part also helps keep the anti drain back valve in place. The rep seems to think the drain back valve dislodged after a pressure spike and blocked the center hole.

 

[SmokingRocks]

Get him to email that analysis to you. If you get that in writing that's as good as gold

 

[JToobe]

Just got back from over seas business trip & catching up on MUD, so sorry to hear of this Stephen!

 

[Hornd]

If the case does make it to court, you'll need an expert witness....

may I suggest, Marissa Tomei?
View attachment 1431954

Kayto Kaelin can prolly Testify if he's not teaching Surfing in Hawaii; Dude

 

[Hornd]

"If the Filter Doesn't Fit You must Acquit"

 

[Hornd]

Many major corporations hire outside counsel to do litigation claims. The cost of defending a suit starts at $100K.

Wonder who pays for the $100K, and why healthcare is out of sight???

 

[jbatx]

First off I am sure that WIX makes a great filter. So sure I put them on both my Cruisers. With that being said a faulty 51515 roached my 1FZ. A couple weeks ago before I left to go to work, I started the 80 before I went to work to let it warm up a little since it was around 20 degrees outside. Started and sounded fine as I walked back in the house, sounded fine as I got back in. I always check my oil pressure gauge and temp gauge before I drive off and both were normal before I drove off. Less than a mile later I hear something that sounds like a threshing machine flying to pieces. I glance at my gauges and I have zero oil pressure. By the time I slow down enough and get it pulled off the road it's knocking like crazy. I immediately knew the damage was catastrophic to the motor. After talking to a friend @stevezero he told me he had the exact thing happen to his LX450 a few years ago and it was a oil filter problem so I decided to start there. Pulled the filter and cut it to inspect, it was really dirty to only have 4000 miles on the synthetic oil and the fins were very distorted. I throw on another WIX 51515 and start it and immediately my oil pressure goes exactly back to normal but the damage was already done. Still knocking like crazy. I decided to contact WIX about the possibility of having a faulty filter. I was told that they would have a district manager contact me but since I was using the wrong filter for the 80 and I had already cut it they would not warranty any of the damage. I get the part about me cutting the filter, I totally understand but they say that the WIX 51515 was listed for use on Landcruiser's 1971-1996. I have a 97 and it's supposed to have WIX 51348. I couldn't believe my ears, but nevertheless I talked to the district manager and he explained to me that they would not be able to do anything about it but he would like to look at the filter. Luckily I had kept it and all its contents because when he looked at it he discovered the bypass valve had not been installed like it should have been in my filter. He said he believed I got an oil pressure surge from the valve sticking open in my oil pan and since the filter had no bypass valve to help keep the drain back valve from being loose it dislodged and blocked off the filter totally.
He also said if the filter had the bypass valve none of this would have happened because the drainback valve would have not been able to come off. He also said that if the filter had been assembled correctly my motor would be fine but since I had already cut it and it was the wrong filter they would not warranty anything. So I'm left with a roached motor.

Too bad you didn't get that recorded... I'd sue

 

[weejub]

Wonder who pays for the $100K, and why healthcare is out of sight???

The corporation defending themselves would pay it. Healthcare is a whole other matter, but similar

 

[LS1FJ40]

This sucks. What oil were you using?

 

[fj40z]

This sucks. What oil were you using?

Rotella synthetic 5w40

 

[fj40z]

Update- So the rep just came by and picked up the filter for an "analysis" Said it would probably take a couple weeks before I heard back from them.

 

[DirtScaresMe]

Update- So the rep just came by and picked up the filter for an "analysis" Said it would probably take a couple weeks before I heard back from them.

That's progress man. You got the guy's name and scribbled down the date/time he came by?

 

[decoco]

First off I am sure that WIX makes a great filter. So sure I put them on both my Cruisers. With that being said a faulty 51515 roached my 1FZ. A couple weeks ago before I left to go to work, I started the 80 before I went to work to let it warm up a little since it was around 20 degrees outside. Started and sounded fine as I walked back in the house, sounded fine as I got back in. I always check my oil pressure gauge and temp gauge before I drive off and both were normal before I drove off. Less than a mile later I hear something that sounds like a threshing machine flying to pieces. I glance at my gauges and I have zero oil pressure. By the time I slow down enough and get it pulled off the road it's knocking like crazy. I immediately knew the damage was catastrophic to the motor. After talking to a friend @stevezero he told me he had the exact thing happen to his LX450 a few years ago and it was a oil filter problem so I decided to start there. Pulled the filter and cut it to inspect, it was really dirty to only have 4000 miles on the synthetic oil and the fins were very distorted. I throw on another WIX 51515 and start it and immediately my oil pressure goes exactly back to normal but the damage was already done. Still knocking like crazy. I decided to contact WIX about the possibility of having a faulty filter. I was told that they would have a district manager contact me but since I was using the wrong filter for the 80 and I had already cut it they would not warranty any of the damage. I get the part about me cutting the filter, I totally understand but they say that the WIX 51515 was listed for use on Landcruiser's 1971-1996. I have a 97 and it's supposed to have WIX 51348. I couldn't believe my ears, but nevertheless I talked to the district manager and he explained to me that they would not be able to do anything about it but he would like to look at the filter. Luckily I had kept it and all its contents because when he looked at it he discovered the bypass valve had not been installed like it should have been in my filter. He said he believed I got an oil pressure surge from the valve sticking open in my oil pan and since the filter had no bypass valve to help keep the drain back valve from being loose it dislodged and blocked off the filter totally.
He also said if the filter had the bypass valve none of this would have happened because the drainback valve would have not been able to come off. He also said that if the filter had been assembled correctly my motor would be fine but since I had already cut it and it was the wrong filter they would not warranty anything. So I'm left with a roached motor.

this this it the most depressing thing i've seen all week

 

[fj40z]

That's progress man. You got the guy's name and scribbled down the date/time he came by?

Yeah sure did, he said that he didn't think there was anyway they would do anything but he's just a sales rep. I told him I was going to keep knocking on the doors of the higher ups.

 

[flintknapper]

Yes, keep going up the ladder. Be nice, but be persistent.

And I hope you don't think for a moment....that if you had sent the filter in for disassembly...they would have admitted fault or claimed responsibility.

 

[alia176]

Yes, keep going up the ladder. Be nice, but be persistent.

And I hope you don't think for a moment....that if you had sent the filter in for disassembly...they would have admitted fault or claimed responsibility.

This makes me think if this happened to another mudder in the future, if it'd be a good idea to cut the filter open in front of a company rep, even though that person is not technical. Just as a FYI and also to satisfy curiosity. I'm sure the rep would say not to do it and I'm sure I wouldn't listen because once that filter leaves my hand, all control is lost.

Still, super sucky for the OP for his loss.