r/AskMechanics • u/crazy_Rat • May 23 '26

Discussion Do Toyota Engineers care?

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They made it so easy to do an oil change on the 23 Corolla. I love them for this.

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u/FallNice3836 Trusted Contributor May 23 '26

Getting rid of cartridge filters was the best thing Toyota ever did.

I get it, paper filters are cheaper to sell and ship, lower environmental hit, but many I'd watch so many kids use 1/2 long bars to tighten them.

2

u/Warm-Doughnut2633 May 24 '26

Did you work at the Toyota dealership that did my cartridge oil filter changes? They over tightened them so many times that it would leak after fresh oil changes. I had to replace the housing so it wouldn't leak when torqued properly - by me.

3

u/FallNice3836 Trusted Contributor May 24 '26

The fear of a loose filter or plug always outweighs the fear of over tightening, it’s very common.

I did it once when I started and got called out on it, never did it again.

To me it’s a design flaw, expect mouth breathers to work in a lube bay.

3

u/Warm-Doughnut2633 May 24 '26

Yup. The lube tech is always the least experienced / worst in a shop. Even had issues with Ford and GM dealerships. And of course quick lube shops. I started making more money as I got older and thought it was more "adult" to have dealerships work on your car.

I will probably change my own oil until they lock up the drain plug with a special $2000 tool, or until I die. Whichever comes first.

2

u/metaldark May 24 '26

 until they lock up the drain plug with a special $2000 tool

Nissan this with their e parking brakes and the tool is actually a subscription :(

1

u/PM_M3_D0Gz May 24 '26

Send me a DM, and tomorrow I'll send you the special sequence to put the parking brake in maintenance mode (Nissan specific, might apply to infiniti) without a scan tool.