Oil Filter Cap Assembly ?

Some say it presents the possibility of an oil change tech over tightening it, making it next to impossible to remove on the next change. If you do it yourself, no problem. Others have had the plastic one for 200k with no issue. You decide.

 

According to the Car Care Nut, disassembling the housing to swap the tube ruins the housing. In his words, “They are not serviceable.” Admitting my hubris in advance, I will say disagree with the Car Care Nut on this and think that the tube (and spring!) can be transferred from the plastic housing to the metal one.

That said, I have yet to see a compelling reason why you’d want to.

 

Just did first oil change.
I see no reason to change to a metal cap. The way the o ring goes in this housing will not leak, no need to be tight just snug.
Can't figure out what the metal pointer tab is for

 

You’re supposed to line up that pointer tab with a metal protuberance on the engine block/housing that you screw the cap into. You’ll be amazed if you do at how much tighter the cap could be. But as you and others have mentioned, the seal comes from that o ring, not from threading the cap on tight.

 

I really think the bottom line of the whole issue is this:

There’s nothing wrong with the OEM plastic cap if you don’t act like a total idiot. You can even be a partial idiot and it could outlast the rest of the truck.

The metal version is in theory better because it’s less prone to cracking if you are an idiot. But there’s the hassle of swapping over the tube. And at the end of the day you’ve gained basically nothing over a plastic version that’s treated with even a modicum of care.