Toyota Oil Filter

Nowadays there are many counterfeit items, automotive spare parts included. It is somewhat amazing how they managed to copy those spare parts almost exactly like a genuine parts, and sometimes it is very hard to tell the difference.I came across these oil filters last weekend.I am not sure whether both are original because that is what i asked for when buying it.

The one on the left is used (bought approx 6 months ago). On the right is the new oil filter, both filter are bought at the same spare parts shop,both have same price and same part number (90915-YZZE2).Both says made in thailand.

However,the filter on the left is shorter than the one on the right,the writing on the left filter is lesser quality and less sharp,but it says the same thing.Note the position of the printing as well,the right one is closer to the filter mating surface.

The thread position is also slightly different.The right one is closer to the mating surface while the less is slightly 'deeper'.

SO...which one is the original one,could it be both are original but different batch,could be the one on the left is the counterfeit filter or could it be the one on the right,who knows...perhaps UMW Toyota can answer this.

AE101 SEG 4AFE to AE111 20 Valve Blacktop Swap.

Once again,my partner and good old friend of Garage Daz,trusted me to pull this project off. The car is AE101 SEG, Malaysian Domestic Model (MDM) with 4AFE engine. Owner have bought a crate AE111 20v engine,it comes with 6 speed transmission from Toyota Carib.The engine ecu is included but the wiring is in a really bad shape,it have being cut off by the Auto Supply Shop but he did'nt mind that as he bought the engine dirt cheap...so now it's up to me to graft the AE111 blacktop engine wiring with the AE101 SEG.

This is the stock AE101 MDM 4AFE engine wiring.The car now is almost 18years to the wiring is not really in a good shape,all the connectors are cracking and brittle and the insulation tape is falling off.

Here is the AE111 20Valve Blacktop engine wiring,this will be grafted into the AE101 engine wiring,taking all the necessary wires to run the engine.

AE101 wiring is being stripped off its insulation.

Unnecessary wires are cut and removed, leaving only the vital to the engine operation. Since most FWD Corollas have the starting,charging,a/c and ignition key power supplies run together with the ecu wiring,it is important to separate those things and know which one need to be removed,which is to be maintained,and which is to be grafted with the new wiring.On conversion like this,the big problem would be the air conditioning system,as different generation of Corollas having different air conditioning system.

Seen here the AE111 ecu wiring is placed on top of the AE101 wiring. Grafting session will begin. All wires are soldered and shrink wrap as usual.

Nearly finished,wrapping it with corrugated tube and insulation tape.

Finally,the finished wiring,all routing of the wires follows stock location on the AE101 SEG. One more ecu connector to be grafted inside the car to complete this conversion.

The 4AGE 6speed MT ecu, seen here attached to the wiring for trial start up.

Engine bay view.All the mechanicals are done by Garage Daz.These guys are really pro in 20Valve conversion,engine swap like this only 2 days!

Garage Daz chief mechanic - Mr Imran together with Garage Daz logistic and spare parts dealer - Mr Awai

STI Engine Oil Change

I was free on Sunday so i take the opportunity to do an oil change to my STI.Prepared the tools and stuff, it;s time to get dirty..

Remove the underside cover,five 12mm bolts holding it up..

Now the oil filter and drain plug is visible, remove the drain plug and let the engine oil drain into a pan,i use old engine oil container to catch the old engine oil.Then the oil filter is removed by using oil filter wrench,make sure there is a pan to catch the oil coming out from the filter.

Wait until the oil drain is complete,then screw back the drain plug.It is advisable to change the drain plug washer as well. Put new oil filter in,and pour the new engine oil,i'm using Mobil 1 Full Synthetic 5W50. The STI using 4.5 Litres of engine oil (with an oil filter change).After all is done,start it up and see for any leaks,re-check the oil level and its all good to go.



Silvertop + Blacktop spaghetti....

Mr 'Panjang' of Garage Daz called me asking me whether i could do him a favor for one of his customer, an owner of a Toyota LE with silvertop engine wants to convert his stock silvertop wiring with a blacktop wiring and ecu, but unfortunately the previous mechanic failed to fuse silvertop and blacktop wiring together.

This is what i receive from my mechanic friend,the previous mechanic trying to combine both wiring together.The silvertop wiring and blacktop wiring are tapped together here and there but unfortunately it failed, now it's a tangled mess...

The blacktop wiring is then removed and the broken silvertop wiring is repaired. Each broken wire are soldered and shrink wrapped. I then re-arranged to follow the stock silvertop wiring routing and convert the wiring to accept the blacktop ecu which is using MAP sensor compared to silvertop Airflow meter.

Here is the finished product.Good as new...now... into the car ..still have one connector need to be done for this silvertop wiring to run blacktop ecu.


Here's the installed wiring with the blacktop (auto) ECU in place. All things running back using stock sensors.

The car ; silvertop engine,silvertop wiring with Blacktop ECU running on MAP sensor..the stock trumpets will be changed to stainless steel custom trumpets soon.Look how much free space available in the engine bay after the stock airbox is being removed.