Wow, thanks for breaking that all down!

 

The o-ring on the Subaru filter looks to be a bit larger, which would provide a better sealing surface. I was looking at this pic:

 

 

Ok, I finally opened up the other filter and took a bunch of pictures. I’m attaching them here. I will explain a bit what I was able to gather.

1- Size is the same in both, same basic design, five holes of the same size. Volume looks similar.
After that there are plenty of differences.
2- Outside, the Subaru has a thicker rubber seal than Toyota.
3- Inside, Subaru’s anti-drain valve is black and a bit thinner than the blue and thicker Toyota valve. I did measurements but nothing is significantly different sizewise, the blue Toyota is thicker but not by much, it does feel more sturdy.
4- Big diffence here, the Toyota filter element is “loose” (you can see it in the pictures.) The Subaru has a metal frame in both sides (top and bottom). The metal support tube, bypass valve and relief spring are all incapsulated by the metal plate framing the element. I was not able to take it apart. In the other hand, the tube, bypass valve and spring are all pretty easily taken apart in the Toyota. None of them are fixed together. Also the bypass valve looks a little bigger (taller) in the Subaru but since it is all fixed together I wasn’t able to measure that.
5- There is a plate at the bottom that supports the relief valve, in the Toyota is significantly bigger because the valve is afixed there in the Subaru it’s much smaller since the valve (as I mentioned above) is afixed inside the frame and inner tube.
6- Another big difference, the filter element itself looks way more robust and has probably 2x or more folds in the Subaru than the Toyota. I was too lazy to count them but the difference was easy to see.
7- The support tube in the Surabu has a lot more holes than the Toyota and they seem to cover the whole tube.
8- Finally, the cover plate in the Toyota was a bit heavier.
9- Overall, the Toyota seems to have the main tube diameter a bit bigger, holes bigger and more apart, the cover plate heavier, and anti-drain valve more robust. That being said, for me, the Subaru filter looks like a better filter. The element has significantly more material (folds), the metal frame and bypass valve look like a better design, and has more holes in the inner tube. Also, outside has a better seal. Another thing I kinda noticed now, is the markings outside. The Subaru has numbers that help you with the manual torque.

In my humble and not professional opinion, I will be getting Subaru’s filters from now on, I do have a couple new Toyota’s filters but I got them with a huge discount so I’m not too upset to take that loss. They could work on a pinch, they probably still get the job done well enough.

I’m attaching pictures, I tried to keep the Toyota filter on the left and Subaru on the right. I had to rotate a fix pictures to keep that order (since I didn’t think about that until I had already taken a few pics). There is a 10 pic max, so I’ll post 10 more in another comment.

Hope any of this helps, if not, no worries either. I’m not a pro and just tried to describe what I was able to observe.

Roy

 

Ok, I finally opened up the other filter and took a bunch of pictures. I’m attaching them here. I will explain a bit what I was able to gather.

1- Size is the same in both, same basic design, five holes of the same size. Volume looks similar.
After that there are plenty of differences.
2- Outside, the Subaru has a thicker rubber seal than Toyota.
3- Inside, Subaru’s anti-drain valve is black and a bit thinner than the blue and thicker Toyota valve. I did measurements but nothing is significantly different sizewise, the blue Toyota is thicker but not by much, it does feel more sturdy.
4- Big diffence here, the Toyota filter element is “loose” (you can see it in the pictures.) The Subaru has a metal frame in both sides (top and bottom). The metal support tube, bypass valve and relief spring are all incapsulated by the metal plate framing the element. I was not able to take it apart. In the other hand, the tube, bypass valve and spring are all pretty easily taken apart in the Toyota. None of them are fixed together. Also the bypass valve looks a little bigger (taller) in the Subaru but since it is all fixed together I wasn’t able to measure that.
5- There is a plate at the bottom that supports the relief valve, in the Toyota is significantly bigger because the valve is afixed there in the Subaru it’s much smaller since the valve (as I mentioned above) is afixed inside the frame and inner tube.
6- Another big difference, the filter element itself looks way more robust and has probably 2x or more folds in the Subaru than the Toyota. I was too lazy to count them but the difference was easy to see.
7- The support tube in the Surabu has a lot more holes than the Toyota and they seem to cover the whole tube.
8- Finally, the cover plate in the Toyota was a bit heavier.
9- Overall, the Toyota seems to have the main tube diameter a bit bigger, holes bigger and more apart, the cover plate heavier, and anti-drain valve more robust. That being said, for me, the Subaru filter looks like a better filter. The element has significantly more material (folds), the metal frame and bypass valve look like a better design, and has more holes in the inner tube. Also, outside has a better seal. Another thing I kinda noticed now, is the markings outside. The Subaru has numbers that help you with the manual torque.

In my humble and not proffesional opinion, I will be getting Subaru’s filters from now on, I do have a couple new Toyota’s filters but I got them with a huge disocunt so I’m not too upset to take that lose. They could work on a pinch, they probably still get the job done well enough.

I’m attaching pictures, I tried to keep the Toyota filter on the left and Subaru on the right. I had to rotate a fix pictures to keep that order (since I didn’t think about that until I had already taken a few pics). There is a 10 pic max, so I’ll post 10 more in another comment.

Hope any of this helps, if not, no worries either. I’m not a pro and just tried to describe what I was able to observe.

Roy
View attachment 71318

 

Anyone have photos of the 90915YZZS1 oil filter cut open? I am interested in seeing what the bypass valve looks like in comparison to the Subaru branded one that comes with the car from factory.

 

I can take pics, I cut mine a few weeks back.

 

I got my final free Toyota Care oil change done and they switched to using the 90915YZZS1. The past two changes they used the SU003-08412. I was going to bring it up to the service advisor but it seems like it is ok to use based on what is said here. Thoughts?

 

I understand as I have worked with Toyota in an engineering capacity and know much of the company, but it still doesn't explain why they used the Tokyo Roki and then months and months later decided the 1st gen filter is fine.

Cost would be something that was known prior to release. The Toyota filter is nearly half the cost in fact, likely due to being made in Thailand etc. There was likely a better reason than that IMO.

 

I'm not second guessing fitment/usage. I'm second guessing Toyota switching from a specific Subaru filter to a Toyota branded one after supplying the Subaru one for months (with a specific P/N) before the switch.

I doubt there would be an issue, but that gives me pause. If the filter specs are truly different I'll stick with the -170. If they're the same then maybe Toyota is just weird...

 

If they're the same then maybe Toyota is just weird...

I’d guess it’s more likely to be “cost effective” than weird.

The Subaru filters are made by Tokyo Roki or Fram. Subcontracted and independent. The Toyota-branded filter is made by Denso, which is a Toyota Group company. Toyota Motor Company and Toyota Industries own a significant stake in Denso — about 35% combined — and Denso has close ties to Toyota as a supplier.

 

No idea, but I remember folks saying the bypass was different and until I see something official I'm sticking with -170. But I'd love if that was the case because I have a few TRD 1st gen filters I'd love to use tbh.

 

The pressure relief spec is different on the 2nd gen Subaru filter vs 1st gen, so I'll stick with the 2nd gen specific filter. If Subaru felt the need to do that then I'll go with their decision.

You can seemingly still order the Toyota packaged variant (SU003-08412), so I'm not sure where the supersession talk even began. Is that a new thing in the Toyota EPC?

EDIT: Found some sites showing 90915YZZS1 as a replacement/supersession. Interesting...

 

Yeah I confirmed S1 is the new filter for GR86 as it supercedes the Subaru one (08412). Used it without issue

 

To confirm, one of our fellow forumites posted a screenshot from Snap-On software showing the 90915-YZZS1 listed as a supercession for the original GR86 filter part number.

That filter’s been the official part for the first-gen 86 & FR-S for years. The filtering requirements for those cars’ FA20 engine are practically the same as our FA24. It’s a compatible filter, and the mount/threading is the same. It’ll work just fine.

Why Toyota recently decided to use it for the second-gen GR86 as well, I don’t know. Maybe it’s just to stock one less SKU, or to get them through one of Toyota’s preferred suppliers.

If you’d prefer the ‘original’ filter for the 2022+ cars, you can still pick it up from Subaru as part # 15208AA170.