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Filter wont come off...Ideas?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by TheKracken, May 29, 2017.

  1. TheKracken

    TheKracken Junior Member

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    I had a 2008 with the package 4 (nav and back up cam and a few other nice features). My wife crashed it and I debated if I wanted to spend more and go for a gen 3 low mileage or a gen 2 low mileage....and I decided on the gen 3 package or model 2....so I downgraded on the extras (I miss the back up cam....and the 3 door unlock stuff) but overall I am glad I upgraded. The power difference and handling difference is pretty amazing. My 08 had 245k miles on her and burned oil. I will do a comparison between the gen 2 and 3 when I get some more miles on her but overall I am glad I upgraded to a 85k mile 2011.
     
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  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I took a look at 4th gen offerings in Canada, see similar frustrations. I really wish you could mix-and-match features a bit. I wouldn't mind the Blind spot monitor, and the other one that helps when backing out of parking spots. But to get it you lose spare tire? (n)

    Or: I hate the white porcelain interior, but to avoid that you have to get base model, which loses 3 door unlock? (n)

    Frustrating potential customers is never a good tactic, lol.
     
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  3. danlatu

    danlatu Senior Member

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    I would give you a thousand likes for that link. The 2016 oil filter conversion looks awesome. I never have a problem removing my filter cover. My problem is the other way around. Its just that the adapter gets stuck on the plastic. I was half tempted to do a quick drain valve and a oil filter relocation kit that is threaded and tapped off the timing chain cover.

    hose can come off after change, no more spills.
    Screen Shot 2017-05-31 at 3.42.21 PM.png
    relocation kit
    Screen Shot 2017-05-31 at 3.41.06 PM.png
     
  4. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Yes, my filter housing socket gets stuck on the filter housing too. I tap it off with the ratchet handle, worrying all the while I may crack the housing. ;)
     
  5. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Thanks, I use a Fumoto valve with a hose as well. So mess free. (y)

    The appeal of an oil filter relocation kit for me would be the possibility of using a larger filter. The oem filter media looks so small.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I think it's fine..., as long as Mongo didn't spin it on. :)
     
  7. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    This happened to me today... grrr!!!
    When I last put the filter on, I oiled the o-ring, put it into the groove on the housing correctly, and dutifully torqued to 18 ft-pounds. Certainly not over-tightened.

    Today... no luck at all. The filter wrench that worked before wouldn't work. I tried a socket on it with a 1/2" breaker bar, and the nut snapped off of the filter wrench, which is now stuck and showing no sign of coming off. I then pounded on the plastic housing to spin it off, and managed to knock the plastic tooth off, but that filter housing, and what's left of the filter wrench, are still firmly in place. Yes, I'd removed that stupid metal clip, and yes, I turned in the right direction. It's just plain stuck.

    I'm open to suggestions.
     
  8. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Put a strap style wrench over it? Sounds like it's really seized-on though. How long has it been on, a year? I'm always taking mine off every 6 months after torquing to 18 ft/lbs. Is your oil filter socket cast aluminum? Maybe look into the Honda socket, it is the SAME size, no little slots for the stiffeners, and heavy gauge all steel.
     
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  10. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    It's only been on there 2 months(we did @Rebound 's oil change at the meetup):(.

    Once you have another wrench, you couldtry:

    • going a slight turn clockwise to tighten, then try to counterclockwise to get it off?
    • Try a breaker bar
    My wrench is made of aluminum and I ended up snapping 2 teeth off at the meetup myself:(.

    You could try one of those filter wrenches, but if you couldn't do it with the correct wrench, it will be a challenge.

    If nothing else, can it wait until the 24th?

    Good luck.
     
  11. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    A stap type filter wrench (metal band) will slip. I coated the inside of one of mine with silicone rubber and let it harden. It would then grip the housing. But I worry the housing is not designed to take the pressure that type of tool puts on the housing. I then got the housing socket and use it. When the socket gets stuck on the housing (it does every time) I tap it off with the ratchet handle, first one side then the other. It eventually comes off. I could probably leave it there. I'm tempted to just glue it in place. ;)
    Pearl S typically goes 18 months between changes. The filter housing was hard to remove only the first time (factory installed).
    I don't think time has anything to do with it getting stuck.

    As I posted earlier, I DO NOT torque the housing in place. I turn till it bottoms and stop. So far it has never unscrewed on its' own, even after 18 months. It starts out slightly hard to turn then turns with resistance until off.

    The socket I have is not a perfect fit, which is why it sticks on, I think. It's slightly too big. Tape (electrical) makes it too small inside to get on, so it's not much too big.
     
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  12. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    The filter wrench is stuck on. I applied a LOT of torque trying to remove it. I think I'll have to remove the entire housing. It's about $100 in parts.
     
  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Have you tried a punch or screwdriver with a hammer and force it off? Rubber mallet and tapping the wrench?
     
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  14. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    This relocation kit looks it replaces the plastic screw in housing and screws on the front just like our Prius'. I would like to get this one as you don't have to remove the rear housing. Where can I purchase this package? I also like the braided house and how you can mount the filter in an accessible area.
     
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  15. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Tapping? I tried using a cold chisel and a hammer. The plastic prong snapped off. That's why I think I should replace the whole thing... if I keep pounding on it, I might break something.
     
  16. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Do you have the old school adjustable filter wrench? What I might try would be to have the adjustable wrench on the filter wrench and tap the wrench with the hammer while pulling on the adjustable. Both forces might be enough to remove the wrench.

    Just a thought.
     
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  17. kc410

    kc410 Active Member

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    Try tapping the filter wrench off - perhaps a flat steel bar 1/4" thick with a nice square edge & at least 1' long (longer is better). Lay the bar against the filter can & slide/tap towards the filter wrench. Tap on one side then the other. Keep alternating sides & it should come off.
    Take your time :)
    Good Luck!
     
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  18. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    I ordered my tool from here:

    Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc. Toyota | How To Order

    With the part number from the service literature.

    I just did the second oil change last week on our v. The filter came out just fine, but the filter wrench was stuck. I used a large screw driver and plastic mallet. Placed the screwdriver on the edge of wrench pointing in the direction of off, and tapped carefully with the mallet until it came loose. This was after I had already assembled the new filter and torqued it to spec. I remember the same issue last year....

    To get a stuck filter off, I'd try giving a good wack with a hammer on the handle of the wrench, kind of like the effect of an impact wrench.

    I WOULD NOT GO IN THE TIGHTENING DIRECTION, THAT WILL JUST MAKE IT TIGHTER OR BREAK IT IN THAT DIRECTION. THE GASKET IS NOT IN A POSITION FOR THIS TO MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. I wouldn't do this for a spin on type either...
     
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  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    My old style Honda oil filter socket had a cut-out, handy for loosening a stuck socket. In the pic,the bottom socket is the current Honda socket, works fine on Toyota Prius size, heavy gauge steel. Coupled with Jet breaker bar style ratcheting 1/2" drive, I've never had a problem taking them off, after 18 ft/lb. I guess there's always a first time, but it's maybe 12~13 oil changes so far. It just fits with the flutes, not extension and slots onto the stiffeners. Works for Honda or Toyota. You could pick one up at a dealership, or through Amazon.

    IMG_6928.JPG

    IMG_6930.JPG
     
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  20. NavyLCDR

    NavyLCDR Active Member

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    I've had problems with the socket getting stuck on the filter cap too, but never the filter cap itself being stuck and not able to be removed. I've learned to just be very careful to keep the socket completely squared and aligned on the cap and haven't had problems with it getting stuck lately.