So first oil change I got on the F was done at the dealership, second my garage. When I removed the oil filter housing I noticed the center filter (not sure what it's really called) was missing. Does anyone know where I can buy just that piece? Or will I have to buy an entire oil filter housing? I'm not sure if the dealership forgot to put it back in or if it was missing when I purchased the car, I'm going to go ahead and assume it doesn't really effect anything since I've been riding around without it for a wile now, but I would like to put it back to the way it should be.

 

Are you referring to the actual Oil Filter piece? The yellow filter.

 

no not the actual filter, it would be the long sliver piece that goes in the middle of the yellow filter

 

whatever the center piece is

 

I am not 100%, but looks like you need to buy the whole Engine Oil Filter housing. Part Number: 1562038030. The Part should be around ~$80

 

https://www.mylparts.com/oem-parts/l...bC12OC1nYXM%3D
use the clublexus discount to save a few bucks

 

That piece is critical, and unfortunately, it normally is impossible to remove easily. Whoever took it out made a big mistake.

 

Thanks for adding this in, liquidtek.

 

Wow. I imagine the flow swirled in both directions throughout the housing, with the smallest particles being captured by the cartridge (sometimes) and the rest back-washing endlessly.

 

How do we utilize this discount?

 

Should be "CL5"

 

$70.05 with shipping after discount code. Thanks again for the info!

 

Yikes! Path of least resistance says the filter captured nothing. The inner seal (the perforated core tube) is spring loaded and keeps the element pressed into housing.
Without it, oil will bypass the filter.

One has to wonder how long it's been gone!!?
How many miles on the vehicle?

 

Just curious, what makes this critical? Am I messing up my engine because this is missing?

Honestly it's impossible for me to know, I bought the car with roughly 101xxx miles on it, it now has 111xxx miles. After the first oil change at Lexus, you would have figured they would have said something. Glad I did an oil change so at least I caught it and can fix it....

 

Well the good news is the clearance and material quality are pretty good in these engines so it not like they're constantly shedding material. In the 20k mi I've had the 350, I looked at the filter and the bottom of the oil drain pan for signs of material being shed from the engine and there's nothing visible to the eye.
That's not to say there isn't debris in circulation eroding bearings but....

These have an oil pressure gauge, yes? You might just plumb a real gauge in with that and see if there are fluctuations from cold to hot and/or at idle unless the oem isn't normalizing so no one freaks out. They do this with the temp and fuel gauge so they are not moving constantly.
Also a wrecking yard might be a quick solution vs waiting for new cap.
Fingers crossed!