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another victim of the "too tight oil filter cap"

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Maroon, Mar 18, 2013.

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  1. Maroon

    Maroon Member

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    So, bought my "new to me" Prius with 66k miles and now at 76k miles it's time for an oil change. I knew I didn't have the special tool for it, but having done many oil changes, how tough could it be? Well, I found out. Gentle prodding with a hammer and screwdriver didn't work so head to Advance and grab a cheapo stamped filter wrench, no go, it won't grip. Remove jackstands, lower floor jack, and put tools up while cursing the wrench monkey who over-tightned the crap out of the thing. Grabbed a beer and went inside to order the "tool" at Amazon. I'll try again this weekend.

    I know this is probably a familiar thread to the old hands here at Priuschat, but I'm new and wanted to share my frustration.
     
    #1 Maroon, Mar 18, 2013
  2. DAFTEK

    DAFTEK Junior Member

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    I bought a oil vice tool from autozone that i found worked the best.
     
    #2 DAFTEK, Mar 18, 2013
  3. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

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    You will break the damn thing before you can get enough rotational force to make it turn using a hammer and screwdriver.

    I am seriously thinking about getting a new filter cap($28) and filling the wrench head with epoxy and gluing the cap into filter cap wrench head. That way it will have a permanent bond and a socket and nut on the cap. The way it should be on all cars.
     
    #3 gliderman, Mar 18, 2013
  4. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

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    #4 mrstop, Mar 18, 2013
  5. Maroon

    Maroon Member

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    That's what I use on my Passat, but the cap is too close to the block and that kind of wrench is just too big for the job.
     
    #5 Maroon, Mar 18, 2013
  6. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

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    #6 mrstop, Mar 18, 2013
  7. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    #7 El Dobro, Mar 18, 2013
  8. Maroon

    Maroon Member

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    #8 Maroon, Mar 18, 2013
  9. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

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    #9 gliderman, Mar 18, 2013
  10. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ...the biggest problem I have with DIY oil change is not being able to get the oil plug/filter off.
    When I do it myself I put them on handtight (Filter) or with socket wrench so I know I can get em off again.
     
    #10 wjtracy, Mar 18, 2013
  11. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    With so many of us reporting this issues from all over the country, would lead me to believe the techs are readying an incorrect torque specification from the maintenance manual...
     
    #11 spiderman, Mar 18, 2013
  12. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    I'd be surprised if they're even torquing the housing down. It's not just on the Prius they're cranking it down.
     
    #12 El Dobro, Mar 18, 2013
  13. Maroon

    Maroon Member

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    It's all about liability. Better to hunker down on it than to leave it loose and have to buy a customer a new engine. The good thing is this is the only time I'll have this problem as I'll be using the correct specs going forward.
     
    #13 Maroon, Mar 18, 2013
  14. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    There's a spring that keeps the housing from backing off that you have to lift to unscrew.
     
    #14 El Dobro, Mar 18, 2013
  15. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    #15 Mike500, Mar 18, 2013
  16. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    you can take the whole filter assembly off,only 4 bolts from the front passenger side wheel well, clamp it down with vice, use a plumbers wrench to take filter off.
     
    #16 tankyuong, Mar 18, 2013
  17. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

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    I got a cheap (maybe too cheap) strap wrench and cut the strap to the most effective length to get that dang cap off. I did not want to damage the cap and the strap wrench goes a long way to making sure your hands and fingers get damaged instead of the cap. At some point I'll stop being bull headed and get the right tool.
     
    #17 FL_Prius_Driver, Mar 18, 2013
  18. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

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    Auto technicians that want to do the job right use torque wrenches. Technicians that want to do the job quick use whatever wrench is close (if any). Which class of technician is assigned to change oil?
     
    #18 FL_Prius_Driver, Mar 18, 2013
  19. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    OP - these cartridges are notorious for sometimes being difficult to remove, even if properly tightened. Get the proper filter cap wrench from Snap-On and it will be a lot easier.

    http://image.snapon.com/international/pdf/ofwtoy3kt_npa.pdf

    Most flat-rate technicians do not get paid enough to use torque wrenches. This is unfortunate, but true. However, I would wager that most techs (or even seasoned DIYers) can have a ballpark feel for torque.
     
    #19 The Critic, Mar 18, 2013
  20. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    BAH!

    Snap-On is now made in Taiwan?

    I have the Toyota one. It is still made in USA by OTC.
     
    #20 Mike500, Mar 18, 2013
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