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Oil Change Headaches |
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May 19 2008, 10:00 AM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 1
Joined: 19-May 08
Member No.:
11,395
Drives: 2009 corolla le
Location: phoenix arizona

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Well after a few months of happy ownership with my 09 corolla le, I have hit a bump. A big bump.
It seems toyota decided the spin on oil filters used with no problems for years weren't good enough anymore. The decided I find out, to use a strange cartridge setup that requires a special tool. After talking to service and parts at my dealership, and getting people on the other end who didn't know if I could change it or not, the parts guy cleared things up. He tells me it takes a special tool to remove the filter casing, and it is not available to the public at this time.
How convenient. As someone who has always enjoyed changing his own oil not only for savings, but so that I know my engine starts on a PRE-FILLED filter, not a dry one put in by some 19 year old who could care less, allowing my engine to run dry for a few seconds. I also only use mobil 1, and have for years. No sludge, no problems, minimal wear.
Now I feel I have been tricked into buying a car that has hidden ownership costs nobody told me about. Job security for toyota service departments I guess, but not good business. I don't want a car that I can't change the oil on, so I don't think I will be keeping it. It is a matter for priciple. They should at least warn potential buyers to be fair.
I just want anyone considering one of these cars to know they won't be able to change their own oil, and by extension who knows what else has been made "dealership only" maintenance.
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May 28 2008, 08:35 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 5
Joined: 28-May 08
Member No.:
11,646
Drives: 2009 Corolla
Location: USA

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All you need is a 65mm - 14 Flute oil filter wrench. can be bought online for $7.27. http://shopping.yahoo.com/s:Automotive%20T...20Wrenches:b=46Here are pictures of the oil change http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244334Not to bad to do. Did mine this weekend. Just different. Do like the pictures say though and get the 65mm and not a 65-67mm. Mine was the 65-67 used on my highlander and it is not as easy to work with because the 65 is deep in the wrench. I will be getting myself a straight 65mm.
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May 29 2008, 02:48 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 16
Joined: 28-May 08
Member No.:
11,645
Drives: 1994 tyota pickup
Location: kentucky

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Be carefull when changing the oil yourself on new cars!!! Warranties can be very touchy. Make absolutley sure you keep all reciepts and record the mileage on those reciepts, also use toyota filter cartrage on that car. If you did'nt already know this.
P.S. that is a top notch car in my book, take good care of it and it will return the favor for a long time to come!!!!
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Jun 3 2008, 09:37 AM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 6
Joined: 3-June 08
Member No.:
11,770
Drives: 2009 Corolla S
Location: USA

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Wow, I'm glad I saw this now! I have always changed the oil on my cars too for alot of the same reasons mormandy1 said above. I plan on letting my dealer do the first change for me since it's free but after that I want to take over doing them myself. That said, I have no problem buying the $7 wrench listed in ehuddle's post (thanks for that by the way!). But my question is...once you get theirs off can you put an aftermarket filter on or do you have to buy Toyota filters from the dealer? I have always used high quality Mobil-1 filters and would like to continue doing the same on this car. If we can use Mobil-1 filters, does anyone know the number? Thanks for any input.
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Jun 3 2008, 05:49 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 5
Joined: 28-May 08
Member No.:
11,646
Drives: 2009 Corolla
Location: USA

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I just bought the toyota filter. I pass right past the place on the way home. Dont know about a mobile-1 filter for the 09 model yet.
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Jun 3 2008, 06:27 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 6
Joined: 3-June 08
Member No.:
11,770
Drives: 2009 Corolla S
Location: USA

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Actually, just looked at your link and realized it's a drop-in filter and not a "normal" filter so the Mobil-1 option is probably out. How much did your Toyota dealer charge you for a filter?
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Jun 4 2008, 07:50 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 5
Joined: 28-May 08
Member No.:
11,646
Drives: 2009 Corolla
Location: USA

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seems like it was about 5 bucks and something with tax.
In just looking around I noticed that there are some Fram filters for some of the other drop in toyota types such as the avalon so maybe there will be the Mobile-1 filter in a year or so for the corolla.
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Jun 8 2008, 07:35 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 5
Joined: 1-June 08
Member No.:
11,729
Drives: 2009 Corolla, 2006 Tacoma
Location: USA

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Changed my 09 this afternoon after heeding Ehuddle's tip to get the 65mm 14 Flute wrench. The entire process was not bad at all.
Filter from the dealer in Santa Fe was $6.14 and the Mobil 1 was about $20.
Thanks again for the heads up & good info!
vm in NM
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Jul 13 2008, 09:38 AM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 3-May 08
Member No.:
11,154
Drives: 2009 Toyota Corolla, LE 1.8
Location: NY USA

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Hi,
I recently changed the oil on my 2009 Corolla LE. It was simpler than I thought. It took a home made ramp to get under the car but there it was hon the passenger side under the front of the engine. I weas able to use the same filter cap socet wrench I used on my 2.2L 1997 Camry. The box the crtridge came in provided somr useful information.
Marvin
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Aug 16 2008, 02:40 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: 3-May 08
Member No.:
11,158
Drives: 09 Corolla LE
Location: Monmouth, NJ

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Just completed my 1st 5k oil and oil filter change. I use oil filter wrench from my 02 Honda CR-V to remove the oil filter housing (it was a perfect fit). Re-filled with Mobil1 5w20. I pre-oil the filter by filling some oil into the center of the tube, filter element will soak up all of the oil and very little oil drip out. Btw, drain plug size is 14mm.
Jimmy
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Mar 1 2009, 10:01 AM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 1-March 09
Member No.:
16,476
Drives: 2009 Corolla XLE 1.8
Location: Dallas, TX

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you guys are awsome - thanks for the info just what I needed
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Mar 14 2009, 12:43 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 1
Joined: 14-March 09
Member No.:
16,687
Drives: 2009 Corolla
Location: Canada

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Thanks for the info. I always do my own but was under the impression I had to get the dealership to do the oil changes for warranties sake. Is it really the case I can change my own and still be under warranty
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Aug 9 2009, 02:23 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 1
Joined: 9-August 09
Member No.:
19,370
Drives: 2009 Toyota Corolla
Location: Fresno, CA USA

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I was able to use OEM brand filter cap type F (part #25404). This is a 65mm/67mm cap wrench. This one worked well because it is not flexible and wouldn't slip off the housing. Ideally I would have like to have the 65mm only cap wrench but i didn't have time to order it online; Autozone stocked the OEM type F. http://www.oem-tools.com/product_info.php?products_id=1501
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Aug 15 2009, 07:52 AM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 15-August 09
Member No.:
19,494
Drives: 2009 Corolla, 1.8
Location: NC

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Don't know the validity of this, but several months ago I saw a few posts on Toyota Nation that said using a filter wrench other than Toyota's has caused several filters to fail a few thousand miles after the oil change.
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Aug 15 2009, 08:23 AM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 15-August 09
Member No.:
19,494
Drives: 2009 Corolla, 1.8
Location: NC

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Oh Oh, didn't notice the year on this thread.
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Sep 9 2009, 03:12 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 9-September 09
Member No.:
19,997
Drives: 2009 Corolla Xrs, 1994 2WD pickup
Location: N. California

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This information was exactly what I needed. (IMG: style_emoticons/default/clap.gif)
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Sep 9 2009, 03:19 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 9-September 09
Member No.:
19,997
Drives: 2009 Corolla Xrs, 1994 2WD pickup
Location: N. California

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QUOTE (ehuddle @ May 28 2008, 07:35 PM)  All you need is a 65mm - 14 Flute oil filter wrench. can be bought online for $7.27. http://shopping.yahoo.com/s:Automotive%20T...20Wrenches:b=46Well, I THOUGHT that was all I needed! When I went to that website there was no 65mm-14 flute oil filter wrench for $7.27! Did I overlook something?
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Sep 9 2009, 04:15 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 15-August 09
Member No.:
19,494
Drives: 2009 Corolla, 1.8
Location: NC

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I bought a 65mm, 14 flute wrench at Advance Auto, and it didn't work. It "walked off" the filter when pressure was applied. One of the mechanics at the dealer told me he bought his filter wrench off the Snap-On tool truck, and by chance the truck was in the parking lot as I was leaving. I bought what the mechanic called a two part wrench that fits ~64mm - ~74mm made by Lisle, I believe. Cost me $11.00 and works great.
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Oct 2 2009, 07:53 PM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 23
Joined: 1-October 09
Member No.:
20,486
Drives: 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid,
Location: USA

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When you do your own service just keep receipts for the oil and filters in case you have any warranty problems. I like to do my own work too. Dennis
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Oct 9 2009, 11:38 AM
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 4
Joined: 9-October 09
Member No.:
20,655
Drives: 2009 Corolla S
Location: Canada

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I used a channel grove pliers. Just be gental !
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