Harry Stein I had a complicated issue with my oil filter and I felt the wrong filter may have been put on late last year. All of a sudden my car lost all its oil in my garage upon starting my car Sunday afternoon. When I called Oil X-change today and only having driven 2,000 miles with no bumps, manager Robbie (a wonderful and kind man) and one of his assistants came right out and replaced the oil filter and all the lost oil. I am grateful. I don't think this is their fault. This is a nationwide database issue. If you go to the Fram, Penzoil or Valvoline or even Wal-Mart web sites and put in your VIN for a Toyota Yaris 2007 4CYL automatic Sedan, all of them recommend the equivalent of a 3/4"-16 threaded oil filter typically found in American cars. WRONG! They should recommend as Toyota does: the M20x1.5: Typically found in European and Asian-made vehicles and machinery. If you ask chatGPT and research this carefully you will find Toyota recommends the M20x1.5 pitch. **Thread Pitch**: The difference between the two pitches is approximately 0.0034 inches (0.0625 - 0.0591 = 0.0034 inches). Impact: 1. **Fitment Issues**: - Even a small difference in thread pitch can prevent the oil filter from threading correctly onto the mounting stud. This can lead to cross-threading, which can damage both the filter and the mounting stud. 2. **Sealing and Leakage**: - An incorrect thread pitch can prevent the oil filter from seating properly, compromising the seal. This can lead to **OIL LEAKS**, which can cause engine damage or even failure if not addressed. 3. **Mechanical Stress**: - Incorrect threading can place additional stress on the threads, potentially causing them to strip or become damaged over time. This can make it difficult to remove the filter during subsequent oil changes and may necessitate costly repairs. 4. **Safety Concerns**: - A poorly fitted oil filter may become loose while the engine is running, leading to **SUDDEN OIL LOSS** and severe engine damage. [Thank you Jesus this happened in my garage, not while driving] ### Conclusion Although the difference in thread pitch (0.0034 inches) may seem minor, it is significant in the context of oil filter fitment and performance. Using an oil filter with the correct thread specifications is crucial for maintaining the integrity and safety of the engine. If there are discrepancies, it’s always best to use the manufacturer-recommended oil filter to avoid these potential issues. In summary, Oil X-change was doing their job and now after years of oil changes it would be ill-advised to get the database changed given all the cross-threading that has already taken place. Putting on the correct one (such as would happen at a Toyota dealer who would use genuine Toyota part 90915-YZZN1 which is M20x1.5) will likely cause more cross-threading damage. By the way, at Drivers Edge they would use a Valvoline VO-40 which also has the wrong thread pitch. Same with Wal-Mart. But as I said, it's probably better with that than with the correct one at a Toyota dealer. When the guys came out, they fixed my car with an ST4477 oil filter instead of an ST4487, again the wrong thread pitch. But as stated, that is preferred. In conclusion, sometimes it's better no to overthink and hope for the best and get your oil changed every 3 to 4 months! Oil-Xchange YOU ARE AWESOME and most kind and I am most grateful.