The most notable difference between the OEM filter and all the others is the size - the Toyota filter has both the longest canister body and the biggest cartridge - in terms of outer diameter, length, and pleat depth. This means the OEM filter media has the largest surface area of any filter we looked at - nearly twice as big as many competitors, in fact. There's no denying that the size of this filter results in better engine cooling ability and, in all likelihood, high filter flow rates (perhaps the highest). Toyota uses a a fairly inexpensive-looking bypass valve, but we think it's safe to assume this valve is adequate. Considering the low price of the OEM filter when compared to all the other filters we looked at, the OEM filter seems like a very good value.

The problems with the Wix filter are the uneven pleat spacing, the thinner and lighter filter material, and the thick end caps that decrease the effective surface area. The strong points are that the Wix still has the second largest surface area, a quality anti-drainback valve, and a very clever bypass valve. Despite the uneven pleats, the Wix filter's beta ratios are solid and it definitel seems like a good choice.

The Wix and K&N are both a) smaller (in terms of filter surface area) and b) more expensive than the Toyota OEM filter (at least if you buy the OEM filter online). While it seems possible that the bypass valve in the Wix and K&N filters performs a bit better than the OEM filter's bypass valve, it seems highly unlikely that Toyota would produce a filter with an inadequate bypass valve. After all, these are the exact same filters that Toyota puts on a brand new engine. Toyota has to warranty their new engines against problems for 5 years or 60k miles. If Toyota's oil filter bypass valves were inadequate, the cost of replacing or repairing engines damaged by constrained oil flow due to faulty bypass valves would seem to be higher than the cost of a decent bypass valve (we're talking about a few cents per filter here). Critics may argue that this comparison is biased because we came to this conclusion, but the surface area numbers speak for themselves.

Based on all the data and observation, it seems like the Wix is probably the best flowing filter and that the OEM Toyota filter is probably the best value. The Wix filter is also more expensive than the OEM filter (almost 50% more expensive), and that's based on a sale price. Is the Wix worth 50% more money than the OEM filter? In most respects, the Wix and the OEM Toyota filter match up, so it's not really clear that one is any better than the other.

It's hard to recommend the Fram ExtraGuard filter. The inconsistent manufacturing and loose surface particles, combined with the smallest surface area and highest density, indicate a bad match for an engine that likely needs a free-flowing oil supply.

Ultimately, this data shows that you must give the OEM Toyota oil filter serious consideration. It just may be that the Toyota filter offers the best combination of filtration performance and flow rate, and even if that's not the case, there's not enough difference from one filter to another to justify a higher cost. For these reasons, it seems like the OEM filter is a very smart choice.

Therefore, our conclusion is pretty simple: if you can find a Wix or K&N filter for the same cost as an OEM Toyota filter, you should think about buying it. Otherwise, based on the pricing we found, the Toyota OEM filter seems like the smart choice.

Note: This isn't an official Toyota comparison - this is something we did here at Olathe Toyota Parts. We hired Jason Lancaster, editor of TundraHeadquarters.com, to conduct this comparison, but we didn't pay him to generate a specific result. Jason acted completely independently and in good faith. If you have questions about methodology, etc., please contact Jason directly.