How to Change the Oil on your Prius with Pictures

I check the brakes whenever I have the wheels off to rotate the tires. Usually, I just look at the pads and (rear) linings and make sure there aren't any leaks or other problems. At the 30k mile service, I measured the thickness of the pads and checked the runout of the front rotors.

 

Yes, if you invest in a hydraulic floor jack and a couple of jackstands, that will make it easier for you to change the engine oil/oil filter, rotate tires, and inspect brakes.

In case it was not apparent, the rear drum can be removed when the parking brake is released, just by pulling it off with your two hands. In the event that the parking brake is tight enough so that the drum won't pull off, or the drum is rusted to the hub, you can use a couple of 6 mm bolts screwed into the threaded holes on the drum to force the drum off the hub.

 

Tire rotation can also be a DIY job, and some don't rotate at all. I have it done every 10K miles or so.

I rely on our state's annual safety inspection for brake inspection. Prius is easy on the brakes and it doesn't need to be done every 5000. I have 67K miles on the car with the original brakes, and there is no indication they'll need replacement in the foreseeable future.

I change my own oil in large part because I want to make sure it's done correctly.

 

Does your state inspection station actually pull off the wheels to inspect the brakes? In my state they don't do that.

 

Sorry, I missed this when you first posted. Yes, they do.

 

Thanks
What is the Purolater part number for filter? I am afraid of Fram.

 

double oversized filter PL20195 purolator pureone. got on amazon, buy 6 filters to get free shipping
it is a big filter like 3 or 4 times the size of the toyota oem. same size as my 4runer filter or lexus gs400 filter. both v8 engines
fits nicely though. i just installed today on my 2008. added some oil to the filter before i installed, so first start would not take so long to pump the oil around the system.
ended up with close to 4 quarts total, because filter holds 1/3 to 1/2 quart total, alot more than the stocker...
easily get 10k miles with mobil1 5w30 synth.

 

Have you actually installed one on your Prius? I just talked to the Purolator tech line, and they say it won't fit!

 

i just put this filter on my prius, it is slightly bigger diameter, rubber gasket is just a bit larger diameter.
it fits fine. seals fine. i closely inspected everything because the filter is sooooo much bigger.
it is huge compared to the OEM filter. but the oil filter mount accomodates it just fine.
already put around 500 miles on the car.
fill up the filter with some oil first.
i think 3.75 quarts total would be ideal. that includes what you put in the filter.
i added 4 total.
i am at the top line of the dipstick, not over filled. but full.

 

search "PL20195"
has been discussed as far as being a good match, high quality filter, and others are using it.

 

here is one thread...
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...9-why-people-using-oversized-oil-filters.html

 

Thanks. This was insightful to read.

 

Also, O'Reilly Auto Parts stores will take your old filters and your used oil.

 

A note on disposal of filters (and used oil!): In some areas (like all of Canada), used oil and filters are classed as hazardous waste, and it is illegal to put anything used in the process of an oil change in the regular garbage. I have often found that local garages will let you dispose of used oil and filters for free; if not that, I take my leftovers to the dump, where they have disposal areas for hazardous goods - including oil and filters.

 

Even before I had a Prius, my other cars could not quite fit over the ramp (that is, the front edge would hit the ramp top). So I built two little risers with some 1 x 6 lumber. The front tires first rise up about 1", then about 2", at which point they reach the ramp incline. The 2" part is grooved to hold the cross-piece of the ramp. Before I had this arrangement, it was sometimes easy to have the ramp get pushed forward by the car's motion (especially on a rear wheel drive car).

 

cost of oil $26 and oil filter, $6, is around $32. I can have a local shop change my oil for $40. doesn't seem worth it doing it myself

 

Service writers, and the car companies seem to revel in coming up with ever more obtuse descriptions for commonplace items.

 

I bought a set of the rhino ramps from Pep Boys. They were almost to steep. I thought they might just keep getting pushed forward as I was trying to mount the car on them. I pushed them up against the tires with not a 1/64th of an inch to spare and the car climbed right up on them with no problem.