Signs of fake oil filters
The oil filter eliminates contaminants generated during fuel combustion, maintaining engine cleanliness. But when a fake is installed instead of a high-quality or original filter, problems with car operation are inevitable.
The external quality of the fakes is very high, and at first glance the original filter and the fake are almost impossible to distinguish. But due to shortcomings in the technological assembly, problems with the engine can occur, for example, oil starvation, since a fake in which the filter element and related parts are not of high quality.
Due to the lack of decent equipment, forgers even make a hologram, it can be determined without problems, as it consists of a sticker with a picture (lower layer) and a transparent sticker with the inscription TOYOTA (upper layer). To determine the authenticity of the hologram, use a thin and sharp object to pick up the upper part of the hologram. Where on the original come off with the top layer.
External factors in the design of the box do not play a special role, since the color of the same packaging can be improved. Except that pay attention to the text, namely its quality.
When inspecting a Toyota oil filter, always pay attention to the so-called laser engraving (in fact, it is applied with ultraviolet curing paint). This engraving on the upper part of the filter housing should be done exactly as shown in the photo.
Pay attention to print quality: no overlays and curved letters, only a clear drawing and no dots. The country of manufacture indicated on the packaging must match the country indicated on the filter itself. There were times when on the packaging - "Made in Japan", and on the filter by some miracle "Made in Thailand".
Next, we look at the film, which covers the main part of the filter adjacent to the engine. It must be trimmed with special cloves. On a fake, the filter is wrapped in shrink film, in addition, it is not trimmed neatly.
The last digit in the filter number must match the number that is stamped at the bottom of the filter.
The seal ring of the filter, which is closed with a film, must be lubricated with grease. It is also worth adding that the o-ring on the fake is made of low-quality rubber, and is not able to hold the engine oil under heating under pressure and strong vibration of the engine. If, after replacing the oil filter, oil leakage is detected - in most cases this is the first sign of a fake, moreover, this unpleasant moment can cause a fire.
Inspect the bypass valve inside by illuminating the flashlight. There should not be glue, sealant or any other extraneous elements and non-standard fastening methods at the connection to the body. The original filter should be clean and only the metal part with 4 caps / rivets is visible.
Valve elastic band, which is visible through the holes should be orange-brownish, in the counterfeit of the aftermarket filter it goes black.
If the filter with an alphabetic index (where after the dash (90915-) the second character is a letter), it didn’t live up to your expectations, we recommend that you take a closer look at the filter in whose index the numbers are, since they are considered to be of higher quality.