Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum banner

No Oil In Filter

5K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  norm356 
#1 ·
Hello,
I have an 07 with 170k miles. I have been doing reg. maintenance since new. I just went to change oil and had no oil in the filter. I had no warning lights for low oil pressure. Do you think it was a bad filter check valve not allowing flow? Open to any thoughts
Thanks in advance
 
#2 ·
Was the oil filter still new and clean inside? Sometimes mine doesn`t have a ton of oil in it but its definetly used. With our filters being upside down I think the oil just settles out :)
 
#3 ·
"With our filters being upside down I think the oil just settles out"

But, that is what the check valve is supposed to prevent, so on startup it doesn't run dry until the pump refills it.

Martin, are you sure the filter had a check valve in it? I've noticed it can be easy to buy the wrong one, as the labelling on filter boxes is not always all that great.
 
#4 ·
It was a Mobil 1 M102a filter. I noticed some lifter rattle before changing oil today.
I installed a Fram filter today and the lifter rattle seems to have disappeared.
So hopefully issue solved.
I guess I'll never purchase a Mobil 1 filter again.
 
#7 · (Edited)
"Lifter rattle"?

You mean like from a dry hydraulic lifter?

The '07 - '09 engines just used bucket tappets, no hydraulics involved, so lack of oil pressure wouldn't have caused "lifter rattle".

If (for whatever reason) you heard a rattle on startup that quickly went away, it was more likely rod bearing knock that disappeared as soon as oil got to the bearings.

The location of the oil filter on the '07-'09 engines made it very convenient to change, but created a very long (4 feet?) oil gallery from the pump, all the way to the filter at the top of the block, then all the way down to the crankshaft, which then supplied oil to the rod bearings.

The 2nd gen 1GR-FE relocated the oil filter to the bottom-front of the block, just a few inches from the pump, and a few inches from the gallery feeding the crank. But that also made changing the filter a PITA with full skidplates installed.

I think the anti-drainback valve in your filter somehow failed and allowed the filter to drain completely at engine shutdown.

Personally, I'd stay away from anything other than Toyota EOM filters. I've got nearly 600,000 total miles spread across several different Toyota vehicles, using only Toyota-branded filters, and never had any filter or lubrication system issues.
 
#5 ·
Toyota filters are not that expensive when ordered in the 10 pack size.
So why risk your engine by not running a factory filter?
When I change my oil, the Toyota filter all ways has oil in it.
 
#8 ·
Thank you FJtest for the engine info. I may follow your advice on the OEM filter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sonof40
#9 ·
I use the Fram filters for synthetic oil.... never had a problem and always had oil in when I changed it. I always stick an empty water bottle under the little nipple there to catch the oil runoff as I remove the oil filter.
(08 FJ)
 
#10 ·
I only use Toyota OEM filters on my 07 as well. I generally buy them from my local dealer and just ask him what kind of discount they provide on a multiple purchase (some times they have wanted me to purchase at least 3, another time it was 5 to get a discount). As others have stated they are reasonably priced and I'm sure even better priced via online purchase. I've always had oil in mine when changing as well.
 
#16 ·
thanks to this thread I have just run a 5/16" fuel hose from the filter drain "spout"('07~'09), around the LH suspension and down to about where my oil catch pan will usually be setting, a hose clap at the top and a couple of zip ties to keep things from getting tangled while driving

It seems like even filters with an anti drain back valve glop a fair amount of oil on me each time. That video Curmudgeon posted helped me to understand why.

Here's to less mess in my future.


Norm
 
#17 ·
I am having the same issue with no oil in the filter. It's been about 3500 miles since last oil change. I am using a K&N oil filter. I have approx. 197,000 miles on the Fj. Is it possible the oil pathway is blocked? or is the oil pump going bad?
 
#18 ·
I checked the inlet & outlet of the oil filter housing. Both had oil laying in them. I've never had a oil pressure light come on. I installed a new Wix filter and ran the engine, I could feel the filter getting warmer. This should indicate that its getting flow through it.
 
#19 ·
interesting that you keep on trying every other kind of filter out there, but haven't used a Toyota one yet

In answer to your question, it has been a year now, of this curious condition that you've described. I can't imagine the engine running for 20 minutes without oil flow, and so if it is still running a whole year later, then maybe whatever is going on, is not a real big issue?

By the way, what is the color of the oil when you change it, if it is still clear, honey colored, then that would seem to indicate the oil filter is doing its job.

I've seen an engine which had a failed bypass valve in its oil filter bracket (its intended to keep the oil flowing even if the filter is completely clogged), in this case, its spring was bad and allowed most of the oil to bypass the filter, the engine's bearings all wore quickly (like, in 5,000 miles), and the oil was very dark when changing it. Once the failure was identified, the engine was torn down and all bearings were down to their copper. The engine ran fine, but the big clue that something was very wrong was the dark oil, quickly after each oil change.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top