I changed my oil yesterday. I tried to find the proper Toyota filter, but none of the dealers in the area had them, so I just bought the Mobil 1 M-209 filter recommended on this forum. I was surprised at how small it was. I checked my various "cap type" oil filter wrenches, and none of mine fit. I tried to buy the correct one, and discovered a small problem: the Mobil 1 M-209 filter has 14 flutes on the end, but all the approximate sized filter cap wrenches had 15 flutes - none fit. Anyone know where to get a proper sized cap wrench for the Mobil 1?

Then, when I actually tried to remove the Toyota filter on the engine, I was even more surprised - it was so tiny, it made the Mobil filter look huge. The Mobil 1 M-209 is about a third larger in diameter, and a third larger in length. I don't believe I'm ever going to put the Toyota filter on my engine again. The Mobil filter is still small compared to every other filter I've ever installed on any car, but it's huge compared to the Toyota filter.

Changing oil wasn't that big of a deal, except for four things.

The Rhino Ramps lifted the rear of the car enough to slide under the rear, but there isn't a lot of extra clearance (especially if you have my big head).

The Service Tech that last changed my oil, really cranked the drain plug down tight. I had to get a breaker bar and a hammer to pound on the breaker bar to knock it loose.

The oil filter was on tight too. It was so small, none of my filter wrenches would fit (and I've collected quite a few styles over the last 30+ years). It was much smaller than my smallest cap wrench, none of my "band type" wrenches would go down that small (including a Snap-On one I bought years ago for a miniature filter - but the Snap-on one does fit on the Mobil 1 M-209 filter). I had to end up using a medium sized pipe wrench (plumbing pipe wrench) to grab the filter at an angle and get it to turn.

Nobody ever mentioned the fact that when you drop the under-tray, it won't slide out the back between the tires - it's wider than the wheel spacing. You have to rotate it 90 degrees, and then pull it out the rear. I guess you could move it forward or something, but I wanted to clean it while I had it out.

Also, somehow I got confused, and tightened down the rear and passenger side set of bolts without starting the driver's side bolts. I know enough to start all bolts before you tighten any, but I just got confused and had to start over since I couldn't line up the driver's side with the others tightened.

I takes more time to set up the tools and supplies to get ready for the oil change, than it did actually doing the oil change.

Oh yea, I checked my toe-link bolts, and they were nice and tight. ...
The oil filter was on tight too. It was so small, none of my filter wrenches would fit (and I've collected quite a few styles over the last 30+ years). It was much smaller than my smallest cap wrench, none of my "band type" wrenches would go down that small (including a Snap-On one I bought years ago for a miniature filter - but the Snap-on one does fit on the Mobil 1 M-209 filter). I had to end up using a medium sized pipe wrench (plumbing pipe wrench) to grab the filter at an angle and get it to turn.....:
I used a medium size "band type" wrench with a shop rag wrapped around the filter and it worked fine, may be mine was put on to tight. I used the k&n filter this time and replaced the drain plug with one of the valve gizmo. One trick I'm fond of is drilling a hole all the way through the filter. Let the oil drain out, then insert a screwdriver through the hole and twist. Plenty of torque to break it free... I wonder about the filter they used when the first changed your oil - I've used the 10004 (I think that's the number) filter and haven't had any misgivings about its size or performance. Changing the oil the second time is much quicker - it took me about 20 minutes, with 15 of that removing or reinsterting the bolts holding the undertray in place. Good luck,

John oil filter wrench bah...large pair of channel locks solves that problem every time. One trick I'm fond of is drilling a hole all the way through the filter. Let the oil drain out, then insert a screwdriver through the hole and twist. Plenty of torque to break it free...
Brilliant!
Thanks for that! FWIW, Purolator Pure-One filters fit the typical polygonal filter wrench, and are well made. I've been using it instead of the Toyota (*gasp*).

There is also a universal self-clamping wrench that works for removal.



ed Regarding the drain plug, there is room to get a large adjustable wrench in there. It's hard to tell from the photo, but this is 24" long. It turns like butter.

The undertray does not need to be rotated or pulled back. Lay an old rug under the car and set it down in front of the engine. Pull it out from the side to clean it. One trick I'm fond of is drilling a hole all the way through the filter. Let the oil drain out, then insert a screwdriver through the hole and twist. Plenty of torque to break it free... I've had to do that, and it's worked successfully several times. However, I've also had one occurrence where it made the problem worse. The filter was on so tight, that the screw driver just ripped all around the filter and made things worse. It's one of the "tools" in the arsenal, but I try to use up all the others before that.

I still prefer the cap type of oil filters when ever possible.

By the way, punching a hole in a filter is a good way to drain the oil out of it so you don't spill the oil all over the engine. But always make sure that you loosen the filter first, then punch the hole in the bottom to let it drain. I wonder about the filter they used when the first changed your oil - I've used the 10004 (I think that's the number) filter and haven't had any misgivings about its size or performance. It was the 10004 filter on the car. I'm sure it works just fine, but it is tiny. Even the Mobil 1 is small, but it's much larger compared to the Toyota filter... FWIW, Purolator Pure-One filters fit the typical polygonal filter wrench, and are well made. I've been using Pure-One filters on my other cars. But I couldn't find a listing for the Celica engine in the books - do they make one for our engine? Tim keep in mind that the Mobil 1 oil filter has a synthetic filter media that is designed to trap smaller particles than paper based filters. Better filtration is a plus but the Mobil 1 filter may not flow as much oil as the larger Toyota filter. The Mobil 1, Purolator Premium Plus and Purolator One all pass the 3 gallons per minute SAE oil flow test standard. However, that standard is not very stringent. The Purolator Premium Plus flows much more oil than the Purolator One but does not filter as small of particles.

On my German car that specifies a high viscosity oil I observe about 5 lbs less oil pressure on the highway with a Mobil 1 filter than a Purolator Premium Plus filter. The Purolator Premium Plus was specified by the manufacturer. However, the difference between an oil pressure of 75 psi and 70 psi is academic I believe.

There are posts stating that the 2ZZ-GE engine produces very high oil pressures. Without a pressure gauge those postings are difficult to confirm. Also posts about oil pump failures for a variety of reasons. I was concerned about the pressure drop over the filter after reading horror stories about engine failures in high G corners and Lotus' stingy warranty policies. I used the larger Toyota filter when I changed the oil.

What are your thoughts? I've been using Pure-One filters on my other cars. But I couldn't find a listing for the Celica engine in the books - do they make one for our engine?
I'm using the one recommended for the Celica GT-S: PL14477

FWIW, I just looked on the Purolator site (www.pureoil.com), and they have this filter identified as the correct one for the Lotus Elise.

ed Better filtration is a plus but the Mobil 1 filter may not flow as much oil as the larger Toyota filter. The Mobil 1, Purolator Premium Plus and Purolator One all pass the 3 gallons per minute SAE oil flow test standard. However, that standard is not very stringent. The OEM Toyota filter is smaller than the Mobil 1, but other than that, everything else about filters are mostly unknowns. We have no way of knowing the flow rates or really the filtering ability (it might differ from new to a few thousand miles, etc.), so you have to go with reputation. And unfortunately, reputation is often based on who spends the most on marketing, and incorrect bias. For instance the current "hatred" of Fram filters is based on a few people thinking that they don't look quality. No actual measurements of flow rate, filtration, etc.

I went with the Mobil 1 simply because it was the only one I could find that was specified for our engine. And that was from other postings here on EliseTalk. I couldn't find a local source of the Toyota filter and couldn't find a Pure One listing for it, so I went with the expensive Mobil 1. Now that Ed has provided a Pure One number, I may go with that the next time.

I sure wish someone could do an actual scientific testing of various oil filters and publish that information. It would even be nice if the manufacturers published flow and filtering information (instead of "90% better than leading competitor" statements, etc.).

I really wish our Elise's had a factory oil pressure gauge. Even a good aftermarket unit that placed the gauge next to the instrument cluster (and still looked good). Just a heads-up, the Lotus oil filter (Toyota part #90915-10004) that originally came on the car (and that you could subsequently get from Lotus dealers) is no longer the filter Lotus sells for the Elise/Exige. The 10004 has been replaced by Toyota part # 90915-TA002 -- that's what the dealers are getting from Lotus as of now. That filter does not have the red silicone O-ring of the 0004 and looks to be of a slightly different (cheaper) design.

Also, the Toyota oil filter part # 90915-YZZA1 has been superceded and the new # is 90915-YZZF1, which has been superceded by...... you get the point. Basically, all the Toyota part #'s for their oil filters that we have been accustomed to using for reference purposes when trying to purchase a Toyota oil filter for our Elise/Exige have changed. Time to update the great info at the sandsmuseum site...http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elis...oilfilter.html there was a long thread posted a while ago that showed the JDM filter that came with the car (red o ring) was a better filter than the current celica filter sold here at your local lotus/toyota dealership. ...I was surprised at how small it was...I don't believe I'm ever going to put the Toyota filter on my engine again. The Mobil filter is still small compared to every other filter I've ever installed on any car, but it's huge compared to the Toyota filter.
Tim, I think you were given the lighter sport pack filter. Next time ask for the touring filter.

(Sorry, someone had to say it. Thwack away) (Sorry, someone had to say it. Thwack away) Okay!!!


Ahhhh, that felt good - I haven't thwacked anyone for a few days... Okay!!!


Ahhhh, that felt good - I haven't thwacked anyone for a few days...
No? Here's a thread for you, then...

Just changed my oil last night-to 15-50 Synthetic Mobil 1 and the K & N 2009 filter. Works great!