Oil Filters for 1985 Toyota Trucks

There has been much discussion and debate over 1) which filter brand is best for Toyota trucks, and 2) what size filter is best. I've tried many of the filters out there, including the compact mini-truck filter, the "Ford" filter, and the larger Landcruiser F-series filter. Here, I offer some brief comments, make some observations, and offer my opinions on the subject.

First let's discuss the OEM filters available for the 22r-series motors. There are at least four OEM filters that will fit this motor. Toyota #08922-02011 is the specified filter. It is a compact filter, apparently a reboxed Puralator Pure One (made in the USA). This is a high quality filter with an anti-drain back valve, relief valve, and excellent filtering media. Another filter that is around the same size, but a tad larger, is the Toyota #90915-YZZB5 used on the Tundra V8 motors. In addition to being slightly larger this filter has two other differences. First, it lacks the pressure relief valve. Second, it has a rather bizarre resin filter media (see pic). The valve allows oil to bypass the filter media when the oil is cold or if the filter media plugs up. The V8 filter is made in Japan by Denso. This filter also works on the 2.7L 3RZE motors found in the Tacoma. Now to muddy the picture worse, there is another filter found in trucks with the 2.7L motors when they first arrive in the USA. It's Toyota #90915-YZZB9, very similiar to the V8 Landcruiser filter, and made by Denso. This filter is a special order from the dealer, but is available. Is it another resin filter? I don't know.

Now, here is where the debate begins. The old Landcruiser filter used on F-series motors also fits 22r-series motors (turbo excluded). This filter, Toyota #15600-41010, is still available, though my local Toyota dealer indicated the filter is superseded by the compact filter above. This filter is also made by Denso in Japan. As you can see from the pictures this filter is significantly larger than the compact filter, and larger than aftermarket "Ford" replacement filters such as the Wix 51515 and the Fram PH8A. Note that the Landcruiser filter has one thing going against it. It's expensive, $12.33.

Some folks say that the compact filter should be used, arguing that Toyota engineers surely know what they are doing. My response to this argument is Toyota filter #15601-44011, which was a filter the same size as the Wix 51515 and the Fram PH8A. The compact size filter was introduced in the fall of 1988 as Toyota #90915-03002, and this filter size later superseded #15601-44011. I'm guessing that Toyota #90915-03002 was a Denso filter that was later replaced by Toyota #08922-02011 in the USA and Toyota #90915-YZZB9 elsewhere.

I figure it this way . . . both size filters are ok. Since the larger size didn't matter prior to 1988, why should it matter now? My first reason for running the larger filter is the system will hold more oil, and more oil is good. My second reason for using the larger filter is a significant increase in filter surface. This becomes important as the filter becomes clogged with debris. Whether it really matters or not I don't know. But logic is certainly on my side, and certainly the larger filter size is not hurting. Just make sure to use filters with a quality anti-drain back valve. That larger filter can pose a problem due to the larger volume that must be filled if the oil drains from the filter back to the pan.