GRPFAN

I'd like to try to change my own oil in my 2012 RX 350, and been reading here all I can.
One gentleman actually posted step by step pictures with tools needed.

I understand about removing the canister type oil filter, in fact I purchased a filter with instructions enclosed from a Toyota dealership and ready to proceed.

My question is:
Why should the oil be drain from the canister oil filter first using the plastic insert instead of draining the oil directly from the drain pan first?

Anyone have any idea?

Cheers!

txt

You can drain from the pan first and then drain from the canister or vice versa.

The oil in the canister doesn't flow back into the oil pan, so if you drain from the pan there's still oil in the canister.
If you don't drain oil from the canister, the dirty oil will flow out and make a mess.

GRPFAN

Thanks

I realize about the oil still in the canister that needs to be drain.

Now I would think the canister would drain faster if the oil was removed first from the oil pan....

LeoDLion

My question is why did Lexus use an oil canister? Why not use what most cars use which is a screwed on oil filter? Its easy to replace for one thing.

dnkyle

One of the reason is: To make it difficult so we can bring to the dealer.
We use to own a ML350 Mercedes and I don't even know where is the oil filter and my Toyota Tundra also using oil canister.

GRPFAN

Loaded question:

Is there a regular one piece oil filter on the market that could replace the canister filter????

billy44bo

Less trash in the landfills it is Toyota going green. Why are they now going 10k on a oil change? less waste oil ( going green)

LeoDLion

Perhaps. My educated guess is it is not entirely "going green". The process that creates synthetic oil is costlier and uses more resources and emit more polluting waste products than dino oil. I can research this further since I am a chemical engineer but my educated guess seem to say so.

dctex99

No, there is NOT; I had a 2006 Cad SRX with cannister and the design is so different that it would likely not be possible unless you used a lot of adapters and remotely attached it, and would require an "in" and "out " like with one inside the other; almost impossible

TomT127

The canister thing started several years ago. We had one in our 2006 RAV4 (same engine as the Lexus). By the way, you don't have to drain the canister before removing it.

GoHuskers

You can remove the canister without draining it first, just make sure you hold it upward so oils don't spill out. This is a very easy task and save you bunch of $$$.

Bakemono36

Bingo! Not to mention canisters are less expensive to manufacture than spin-on oil filters.