Oil Change 2010 Prius - do it yourself

I am only intend to change the oil myself after 150K miles/warranty expired. Anything else beside Toyota dealership's service is just a cheaply/stupid thing to do.

But do stock up on Toyota OEM parts since I heard those new Prius have different parts now, which is suck if compared to BMW universal standard.

 

There are some bad and incompetent service departments at some dealerships.

Also, I've had my oil overfilled 2x by two different Toyota dealers after an oil change (one which I'd never dealt w/before and one which I'd taken my car to regularly in the past, for service).

 

Thanks for that, Bazil. The Prius Repair Manual indicates the same range of acceptable oil viscosities.

:deadhorse:

 

Yes I think so, same car different manual. My page 560 is similar to your page 480 but my chart only has 0W20 indicated on it. The other viscosities listed on your chart are missing and the verbiage has been changed to recommend only 0W20 except for the one sentence at the bottom.

Thanks for showing us that page. That seems to indicate that the strong recommendation for 0W20 in the U.S. is to satisfy our EPA bureaucrats not our engines.

 

I went by my dealer today to get the oil, filter and drain plug gasket for an oil change. The parts guy said that he had to check to see if they still had the quarts of 0W20 synthetic now that they had gone to bulk. He came back with quart bottles of Quaker State oil that he said that the Parts Manager said was equal to the Toyota oil.

I gave it back to him and said that I would rather use Mobil1 if they did not have the Toyota brand 0W20. He gave me a grin and said he did not blame me. Another parts guy walked up so he added that Mobil1 and Quaker State were the top two oils in lieu of Toyota brand.

 

I purchased a Scangauge II last month and am using the "ICF-Inverter Coolant Temp" XGauge to monitor inverter coolant temperature. I wanted to check the inverter coolant temperature after closing off two holes in the engine undercover below the inverter. On a 45 degree day, the inverter temperature was 50 to 55 degrees.

More eye opening was the range in engine coolant temperature (FWT). When the engine was running the maximum temperature was 190 to 198. When the engine was not running it was as low as 170. 170 to 198 is a wide range and a fairly cool operating temperature for an ICF which may explain why Toyota recommends 0W-20 engine oil.

 

deleted .... wrong thread

 

I've ordered my 10 oil filters, 10 drain plug washers, and the 64mm oil filter wrench. I'll purchase Mobil 1 oil. I'm wanting to go by Napa and pick up some extra thumb screws or what ever you call them, the one that hold the air dam up. Someone posted a pic and number of the napa part. Anyone know where its at?
Oh by the way, got 32k mile on 2011, have it a year in Feb. I get about 50 mpg. My wife drives it most the time, she has a heavy foot. I've not had any problems so far with Prius. My tires are half wore out so pleased with that, will get another 20k easy.

 

I wrote down the Napa part numbers for the little plastic push pin things, don't remember who posted them:
small size 665-3278
large size 665-2388

I haven't tried them yet so please let us know if they really fit or not.

Check Napa's price on Mobil 1 while yout are there. When they have it on sale it's $5 a quart, but their normal price is higher than Wal Mart.

 

Below is a reprint of my original post:

The small OEM Toyota push pins do not refasten securely after they have been removed and replaced a few times. NAPA has push pins that fasten better than the OEM Toyota push pins and they cost less at $4.49 (plus tax) per six or seven pack. The smaller NAPA push pin is part number 665-3278; the larger NAPA push pin is part number 665-2388 (see attached picture).

The small OEM Toyota push pin that connects the oil change door with a tab to the undercover is one that does not refasten as good as I would like. I cured this by using the larger (665-2388) NAPA push pin in this location (see attached picture of pin with red dot). The larger NAPA push pin seems a bit too tight the first time you push it in, but after it is in and out a couple times, the plastic holes in the door and undercover stretch enough to make it a perfect fit. The larger NAPA push pin is also an exact size replacement for the larger OEM Toyota push pin.

​

 

A year after buying a used 2010 Prius, I've decided to change my own oil. The dealer charged me ~ $80 a year ago for an oil change and an Indy hit me up for $100 more recently. That didn't make me very happy. I picked up Rhino Ramps 8000 so far along with 0w20 from Mobil 1. I have to get the oil filter still from the dealer. I experimented at prying off the oil filter housing w an old spring-loaded removal tool but didn't have enough torque for the job. Is the Assenmacher 64mm 14 flute stll considered the go-to device for the job?

Oh yeah, getting under the car, I noticed someone removed the plastic cover. Should I be glad? Concerned?

 

Yes, that is the tool.

You do not have to remove the cover entirely. Just two push-pins holding a flap below the filter-housing. You will have to pull the flap forward and up to clear the ground when on the ramps. Others have had the flap tear but mine is just fine after five changes.
[edit] - Oh, you are missing the entire under-cover?

 

Save time and money! do it yourself!

Yes got mine at amazon $16.99 Have the same ramps too,They work mint! Yes you will save time and money! Last oil change I had at the dealer took a hour and a half,Forget it!20 minutes tops on the Prius to do it myself.

 

You don't have to remove the entire cover, but apart from my first DIY oil change (in a grand total of 2) I have been taking the whole thing off. It's a bit more work, maybe 10 minutes for take off and same for reinstall. Benefits:

1. Preserve the fragile hinge.

2. Better access.

3. Better view of all components.

 

btw, i picked up Mobil 1 0W20 5Q container at Walmart in Ohio over the weekend for $27. Walmart worker said they can't keep it in stock "from all of the Toyota and Honda owners". Actually got it off of his cart before he could restock the empty shelf.

Filter was $5.83 at Toyota dealer.

 

I always changed my oil - after I found out that a local private owner changed my oil with 5w20. Now I change my own oil with Mobil 1 - 0w20 and I use the Rhino ramps for 8000 lbs.

Problem I have is removing the oil filter, oh yeah that is a big problem. Soon I might have to change (replace) the housing unit, the entire plastic cap.

Thank you all for the posting. I'm ordering the 64mm wrench now.

 

Got the 64mm Assenmacher oil filter wrench this week and went to change my oil and realized Toyota sold me the wrong oil filter. Went back and when I asked to buy another, they gave me the 2nd for free (awfully nice!!). Got home and realized it didn't come w a crush washer. Not sure if it was supposed or not? Oil change finished now. Used the previous washer.

 

No the filter comes with the O-ring but not the crush washer. I think they are a little over a dollar.

 

Correct-I have no cover.

 

Thanks-what size is that?