Is it easy to replace oil filter housing myself?

[Charlielj]

For a couple of years now my 2014 LX 570 has been leaking oil. I finally took it to the mechanic. He said there are two places that it leaks. The bigger leak is the oil filter housing gasket. Is this easy and relatively cheap to replace myself? If so, what part do I need?

 

[AZLX570]

Here is a thread on it. It's EXTREMELY easy to do when doing an oil change. Part number taken from that thread is 15620-31060. I did this myself and got it at the local Toyota dealer. I got a new "bolt" where the socket extension piece goes too. That was separate and like $5 extra. They'll be easily able to help you at the parts dept. to get what you need.

Thread 'Aluminum Oil Filter Cap - durability'

Sep 4, 2010

As some DIYers here may have found out, the plastic cap on the oil filter housing leaves something to be desired. While trying to remove the cap, the wrench can slip or frequently becomes stuck , and after enough oil R&R sessions, it can eventually round the cap off. I also expect that after a few more years and many more heat cycles, we'll be seeing plenty of warped or cracked pieces, too. When this happens, one can go to the dealer and buy another at a retail price of over $60. Or for about half that price, one can pick up the aluminum version from a Venza 3.5 V6.

Only one modification...

• bjowett
• Replies: 94
• Forum: 200-Series Cruisers

• 

 

[bloc]

@Charlielj did you get clarification on whether it's the oil filter cap as AXLX570 posted or the whole oil filter housing/cooler where it mounts to the front timing cover?

 

[Charlielj]

Ok, I just got back from the shop and it's listed that to replace the leaking cooler and timing cover gasket it'll cost around $3,000. Is this a reasonable cost? I was wrong in my initial post above. It's the oil housing cooler that's leaking. This is where the most leak happened. And the second place is the timing cover gasket. I'm not sure how DIY friendly these two things are. Any suggestion/recommendation is much appreciated!

 

[bloc]

The timing cover is not DIY friendly unless the person is very mechanically capable.

I seem to remember @linuxgod having his oil filter housing replaced..

Wondering if corrosion was a contributing factor. If so the housing itself may be bad too, not just the gasket. That part is a lot more DIY friendly but they'd need to be careful not to let the coolant and oil mix.

 

[Charlielj]

The timing cover is not DIY friendly unless the person is very mechanically capable.

I seem to remember @linuxgod having his oil filter housing replaced..

Wondering if corrosion was a contributing factor. If so the housing itself may be bad too, not just the gasket. That part is a lot more DIY friendly but they'd need to be careful not to let the coolant and oil mix.

Thank you for the response. The shop just called me to give me a heads up that if I do decide to have them replace both, it's going to be a 13 hours job so, yes, it's definitely not a DIY friendly for sure. However, can anyone give me the part number for the oil filter housing cooler? I can't seem to find what the cost of this part is.

 

[bloc]

Thank you for the response. The shop just called me to give me a heads up that if I do decide to have them replace both, it's going to be a 13 hours job so, yes, it's definitely not a DIY friendly for sure. However, can anyone give me the part number for the oil filter housing cooler? I can't seem to find what the cost of this part is.

The oil cooler itself is 15710-38021 but note that pricing you find on toyota parts sites will be much nicer than what a lexus MSRP. Also there are a few other parts in the area.. The oil filter housing itself is the only

 

[linuxgod]

The timing cover is not DIY friendly unless the person is very mechanically capable.

I seem to remember @linuxgod having his oil filter housing replaced..

Wondering if corrosion was a contributing factor. If so the housing itself may be bad too, not just the gasket. That part is a lot more DIY friendly but they'd need to be careful not to let the coolant and oil mix.

My oil filter housing issue was a ****up by the dealership when swapping the steering rack. The housing has to come off to slip the rack in. They must’ve punched the o-ring.

 

[turbo8]

My oil filter housing issue was a ****up by the dealership when swapping the steering rack. The housing has to come off to slip the rack in. They must’ve punched the o-ring.

Strange, I was able to replace my rack without removing the housing. I removed the cap, lowered the diff and raised the a engine. Removing the housing looked like a lot more work.

 

[linuxgod]

Strange, I was able to replace my rack without removing the housing. I removed the cap, lowered the diff and raised the an engine. Removing the housing looked like a lot more work.

The dealer claimed they hadn’t removed it. But I have a photo where you can clearly see the cooler line clamp is in a different location. So I’m 100% sure they removed it to do the rack, and must have not correctly seated a oring

 

[TheIcemanCometh]

I just had a similar conversation with a friend who's Rav4 has a similar oil leak. The cost to replace the gasket is $$$. As the leak was minimal, instead they were going to use some additives. Which while not a permanent fix may help in the short term.

 

[bloc]

Big ole NOPE for me to any additive that "fixes" leaks.

The way those work is to use chemicals to make rubber compounds expand. This reduces their density, which softens the rubber (lowers the durometer), leading to increased wear. This happens to anything that is rubber in contact with oil.. and you can't undo it.