chuyrobles

First off, I cannot in good conscious wait 10K for the first oil change; call me old school. So, at 4795 miles, I decided to change the oil. Two things caught my attention: the plastic composite oil cap assembly and this little clip I later identified as 15679-31050. I'm going to replace the plastic cap with 15620-31060, an all-aluminum cap and the one in our ES350, which did not have that little clip. I will not know definitively if the cap fits because I just ordered it and will not install it until the 20K oil change - we get a free 10K oil change at our dealer. I have no doubts it will fit - over on the Tacoma forums, 2016+ owners are swapping out their plastic covers for aluminum and their engines come with the same plastic cap as RX models. I simply don't trust plastic to last in the long run or survive a hit with road debris better than an alum cap. The little clip appears designed to prevent the cap from spinning off; I wonder if this is an issue with the plastic caps because our ES350 didn't come with one, and after 220K, the cap never got loose. I will post a followup in 20K.

richard203

iTrader: (1)

that little clip is useless. u can just buy the metal oil filter housing, they wont break. im planning to change mines out if im planning to buy the rx out.

chuyrobles

Replaced the OEM composite plastic housing with the alum housing a few days ago. The housing was replaced at 17K miles, when I changed the motor oil for the first time since the free one at 10K. Only had to transfer over the drain plug cover, which is metal.. Housing was bought from Amazing Parts Warehouse, a trusted Amazon third party vendor; price was $20. Box is printed Made in Japan and the housing fit as expected. You can get the housing from an authorized online dealer, like Elmore Toyota or Cool Springs; they run $30. While I was at it, also replaced the OEM drain plug with a Fumoto valve, but I don't like how it hangs below the pan; it can get snagged on debris. May remove it at next oil change; we'll see.

jrobe

The Motivx Filter Wrench and Drain Tool are great for changing the oil. I just did my first oil change at 4000 mi.

mikemu30

Good for you. I also don't trust 10K oil change intervals and the dealer looks at me cross-eyed when I come for a change after 6K or 7K.

chuyrobles

I don't mind 10K oil changes once the engine is broken in, but not for the engine's first oil change. I have submitted oil samples for oil analysis for my 07 Tacoma and 07 ES350 and 10K is okay when using high mileage full synthetic oil. Again, for the 1st oil change, I was not going to wait 10K.

Cropdustef

My 2016 RX350 came with a cast metal filter housing... Zero plastic parts...dont know what this clip part is that is mentioned.
I set my oil change notification to 8500 using Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy... but I might change it at 7500 and an OEM Toyota filter. Bought the filter tool on Amazon for $10-$12 I think. It works fine.

chuyrobles

@Cropdustef Our 2018 has the plastic composite crap. The clip is to prevent the housing from coming off should it get loose; it hits the flat spot of the housing to keep it from spinning. Guess it has become an issue for some; maybe just for the plastic housings. Our ES350 had metal housing and also didn't have the clip. I left it on; don't hurt any.

jcg0324

I am assuming you are installing the new aluminum oil filter cap assembly on your 2018 RX 350. The reason I ask is because on EBAY several vendors list part # 15620-31060 metal oil filter cap assembly. They all state that it is "incompatible" with my 2017 RX 350. In fact they don't list any Lexus vehicle as being compatible. Amazing Parts Warehouse only had the plastic one for sale. There is one on Amazon that says my RX 350 is "incompatible" with this part number. Things are really getting confusing. I have googled this part number and cannot find any info that states 15620-31060 will fit my 2017 RX 350. Maybe you or someone here could verify.

Quantum501

I purchased the Aluminum Oil Filter Housing Cap for my 2020 RX and wife's 4Runner.

The p/n 156203-31060 does fit. They often do not list it as fitting b/c for some vehicles you need to remove the center stem from your plastic cap that came on car and transfer onto the new metal cap. There are a million YouTube videos showing the process. I bought mine from an online Toyota dealer for $26 so I know that it is real and not a fake. Works perfectly. Motive X now sells an updated tool to fit over the cap which improves upon their already awesome product.
When I purchased the cap it was listed as one for a 2005 - 2018 Avalon, and some models of Camery, Highlander, RAV4 and Sienna. They fit on both my Lexus and on the 4Runner.

JeffKeryk

The cartridge oil filter assembly is stupid, but it is what it is. There is nothing wrong with the composite housing, unless someone super over tightens it.
There is a changeover to cannister filter kit you can buy, but it is pricey. For $50, I'm a buyer, but that's it.

I do 5K oil change services using my MityVac and swap the filter every other service. Easy peasey.

Quantum501

Funny b/c that is why I switched. I do my own changes except the free oil service by Lexus.
When I went to do the next change after Lexus dealership had done the change the filter was crazy tight. After reading about snapped plastic housing I figured $25 was worth the p.o.m. for the next 10 years.

SFFD785

I use the motive kit - it's good but not great. The filter housing drain is messy due to the fact the clear drain tube moves with the fitting. So when you go to remove it, the tube twists with the housing and splashes all over. Also, the filler funnel has a lip inside the fill tube and it holds on to some oil, so removing it can also be a bit messy.

Also, oil has come a long way. Annually or 10k is fine with synthetic oil. It doesn't break down like conventional dino oils and doesn't gunk up the engine. Nevertheless, I agree, it goes against my nature to wait so long since it's cheap and easy insurance.

As for the filter cap assembly, plastic or metal, it doesn't really matter. BMW's have used plastic covers for decades with zero issues. Plastic can pose an advantage as it's softer than the aluminum block, so the risk of damaging the block and or cross threading is reduced when compared to aluminum.

It really all comes down to preference so long as you at a minimum follow the manual and keep OEM equipment.

JeffKeryk

A little off topic, but there are 3 parts to minimizing engine wear: air filter (the only way dirt gets in), oil filter (keeping oil clean) and oil changes (removes contaniments). They work in harmony; all are important.
I believe in quality filters and oil; 10K OCIs terrify me.
So MityVac, every other service filter swaps and 5K OCIs work for me.

If you are willing and able to service your car, get a good filter removal tool like the Motive, and go for it. No one cares for your Lexus as much as you do.
Good luck; just don't overtighten that filter cannister!

chuyrobles

Of course it’s going to show 15620-31060 is incompatible, because it’s a metal canister, and yours is plastic, which is 15620-36020. Enter the 31060 part # in lexuspartnow website and you’ll see it is the canister for the same 3.5 V6 engine in other Toyota/Lexus models.

BTW, our RX350 also has plastic valve covers. Switching to metal covers may be more tricky but I will look into it.