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Oil Filter Housing Over Torquing Nightmare

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by geeter, Jun 24, 2011.

  1. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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  2. sLick415

    sLick415 Member

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    Old thread but I might as well comment while we're here. If you're having trouble removing a dealership-tight oil filter, assuming you're using a ratchet and filter socket, position yourself so your head is sticking out of the front of your car. Then use your leg to push the ratchet. Works everytime.
     
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  3. Siward

    Siward Active Member

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    Torque is the proportional to the length of the wrench and the force applied.

    If it's too tight, I break out my breaker bar. It adds two times the length for double the torque. Although, I have to be careful as I am more likely to snap the filter housing due to the excess force. Make sure you are turning it counter clockwise!

    I would be careful if you are kicking it. If your wrench isn't straight/aligned, you can snap something.

    I simply don't over-tighten the filter housing. It should come off easily next time.
     
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    See, now, that, right there, is why I keep hanging around here.

    I have a Prius, I have sockets and ratchets, I have feet, I even think of myself as reasonably mechanically clever. And doing it that way had never occurred to me. :)

    There's nothing wrong with that advice in the general case, and probably works well in this specific case if you have a hoist, tall ramps, or other way of getting enough clearance underneath the car.

    My experience removing the dealer-tightened cap for the first time, with the front only up on a jack and stands, was that I felt very lucky when the cap finally budged just before the end of my breaker bar handle was bent all the way to the driveway. With a long handle, there's only about one choice of starting angle. Shorter handle gives more choices.

    I don't imagine kicking it would be necessary. I remember I was astonished when I was first in college, and wandered into the gym out of curiosity, and somebody showed me I could leg press 400 lb easy as you please, and I didn't consider myself muscular at all. Legs are strong. As you said, torque is force ✕ radius, so with that force available, a calm push on the shorter handle could be all that's needed.

    A calm push could also be more advisable than kicking, if much of your body is beneath a heavy object supported on stands.

    Also excellent advice, but I would caution that there does seem to be something going on with that cap besides mere overtightening. I always install it with a torque wrench, and never a hair over the spec'd 18 ft-lb, and I always oil the O-ring first, and still it is almost always noticeably stubborn coming off next time. Nothing like the first time, but still noticeable. I think the rubber O-ring gets pretty friendly with the inside of the bore.
     
  5. sLick415

    sLick415 Member

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    Definitely not kicking it. You'll need to apply a little bit of pressure in the wrench with your foot to keep it in place. Once you're in position, give it a nice healthy push and it should break loose.

    We're so used to getting things done with our hands that we tend to forget the strongest part of our bodies is actually our legs.
     
  6. FnRedPrius

    FnRedPrius Active Member

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  7. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    I am getting close to my first dealer oil change and I am concerned about them over tightening the oil filter. I will remind them.
     
  8. FnRedPrius

    FnRedPrius Active Member

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    I'm not really sure that they are on average, over-tightening, but we just normally don't have the correct tool to get the best grip like they do.
     
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  9. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I think I have the right tool. I use the same tool now that I did the first time. But the first time, it was a bugger to get loose.
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    There are some sweet ratcheting long handled wrenches.
     
  11. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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  12. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    How many teeth? :)
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Oh don't start that, isn't that the tool thread bug bear lol.

    Mine might be this:

    Jet 672929-1/2" Dr Flex Head Ratchet Wrench-Heavy Duty
     
  14. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    48 teeth on that one.

    Too bad they didn't make it 47....
     
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  15. Fostel

    Fostel Member

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    Which one are you referring to? Draper (silver) or Motivex (black) as I linked both?
    Thanks.
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I was wondering if this still the case, and it is. 2019 Honda Fit Owner's Manual excerpt attached.
     

    Attached Files:

  17. FnRedPrius

    FnRedPrius Active Member

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    Motivex. I'll try to remember to make 100% in the morning when I get home.

    These in the fifth pic look interesting.


    Since I am going to have an extra canister, I may try mating one of the composite ones to the canister with ABS cement.
     
  18. FnRedPrius

    FnRedPrius Active Member

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    Got home and looked... My socket has no markings, but fits the canister better than anything that I have found, but that lip that creates all that torque in the flange will not pass between the canister after the canister has started on threads and will not make the clearance' Great tool, one boo boo.

    here is the link to the tool..
     
  19. Fostel

    Fostel Member

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    I can't see your links (pictures). What's wrong?
    Selection_138.png
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Probably need to turn off an Ad blocker.

    I use a Honda Automotive oil filter socket, heavy-gauge stamped steel, no extended shoulder with tricky slots for stiffeners. They're purchasable at any Honda dealership, I believe Honda only uses one size filter now (I've used it on Civic, Accord, Pilot), it works on our Prius (and maybe most other Toyota?), and fits the oil filter on 2018 Mazda CX-5 as well.
     
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