Ya know, there is a little trivia here with the mini-truck filters. When I acquired my first Toyota 4x4 it ran a different filter than what is sold today. So, for absolutely no reason at all I'm going to give a little history, as I know it.
Note that my intentions here are not to start a debate on the oil filter subject. Trust me, I've seen many arguments online over the last 10 years. Oil filters are about as personal as underwear. This is just a little history of both the mini-truck filters, and at the end the LC filters.
Back in 1984 when I bought my first truck it ran a Toyota 15601-44011. This was a large filter the size of the Wix 51515 and the Fram PH8A, which is almost as large as the giant Land Cruiser filter 15601-41010. As with many Toyota parts the filter was supplied by Denso.
Around the fall of 1988 Toyota introduced a compact filter for the mini-trucks. Some are probably familiar with the 08922-02011 since it was the filter sold until recently. This was a filter manufactured by Puralator and appeared to be in the Pure One line made in the USA. This would be the first of several compact filters offered for mini-trucks, and the filter sold until recently.
Back in 1998 when I bought my Tacoma it came from the factory with yet another filter, the 90915-YZZB9 (Denso, Japan). Problem is, when you went to purchase a new filter they gave you the 08922-02011. The -YZZB9 was available, but you either had to ask, or special order the filter. I'm not sure, but this filter might have had a resin element instead of the pleated paper we are all familiar with.
Fast forward to now. Visit your dealer today and they will sell you a 90915-YZZG1. This is a Denso filter, but I believe it's manufactured in Thailand. Based on the price I suspect it too is a paper element filter.
So what is this paper vs. resin stuff I'm talking about. Look at the attached pic.
This is the 90915-YZZB5 filter that was offered for the V8 Tundra and also used on the 1FZFE (at least in 2000). This was a resin element filter of good quality, not great. Around 1996 the 90915-20004 resin element came around for the Land Cruisers. It is an exceptional filter that was discontinued in the USA, and now both the -YZZB5 and the -20004 have been superseded by 90915-YZZD3. The -20004 is still available outside the USA. (I'm not sure where it fits, but there was also a 90915-20002 in there someplace. It was replaced by the -20004.)
Why was it disco'd in the USA you might ask? To quote from CruiserDan:
99% of the population buys on price, not quality, and the 90915-20004 costs twice as much as the 90915-YZZD3, therefore TMS USA chose to use the 90915-YZZD3 as the replacement part.
I think all of the filters currently sold by Toyota in the USA are in the $5.50 range. And of course you can't go wrong with any of them.
OK, are your eyes spinning yet? Why would I personally care? Well, the 90915-20004 fits my 22re just fine. Was it ever recommended for the 22re? No. It is one of two filters cataloged by Toyota for the F, 2F, 1FZ, 4.0V6 and 4.7V8 ... 90915-YZZD3 in the USA, 90915-20004 outside the USA. Plus, there is the 15600-41010 giant which is still available in the USA, but probably special order at most dealers (fits F, 2F, 1FZ, and 22RE, at least).
I did say I run the -20004. They are available in the USA if you know where to shop. John Hocker in AZ at Sierra Toyota is reported to carry them. Plus my dealer American Toyota (Cruiserdan) has them. They run about $8 ea with the MUD discount, and come in cases of 10.
