Magnets on your metal oil filter housing

Let's settle this argument. And let's not kid ourselves. My grandfather was an engineer for GM. Just like any other business that produces something, cost of materials and manufacturing matter on a scale of hundreds of thousands of items per year. Upper management puts pressure on engineers to design something that reduces costs and also reduces touch time during manufacturing. I saw this over the years of my grandfather's historical blueprint drawings for differences in year over year production. When he was alive I asked questions on why this change, and why that. Almost always the answer came down to lower costs.
Regarding the oil filter housing in question here - don't think for a moment that the engineers "chose" to design the plastic items found on our engines. Are these items acceptable to the engineers? Yes. Would they be the first choice of the engineering department? Not necessarily. The plastic parts used in today's engines are acceptable and accomplish the purpose most of the time.

 

I'm trying to figure out where Toyota went from the toughest, most reliable/dependable and longest lasting vehicle to owners thinking they need magnets everywhere, unnecessary maintenance (pcv and VVT screen), bad oil viscosity choice and inferior factory materials (plastic filter cap).

 

^Yeah Toyota changed from the aluminum housing to plastic to reduce assembly costs at the engine plant. The aluminum housing needs assembly lube to avoid galling the threads. The plastic housing can be installed dry. This material change benefits Toyota, but makes no difference for subsequent filter changes in service, as the threads will always be covered in oil.

 

Good point. I didn't think of that during dry assembly.

 

The proliferation of Internet forums of course!