The hex wrenching pattern on the top of my 2010's plastic oil filter housing is finally rounded off, making it impossible to remove by ordinary means. This common failure is noted in a lot of posts about Prius maintenance. I purchased a die-cast aluminum wrench that is designed to engage keys/flutes at the base of the oil filter's housing. I think the engineer who designed the plastic housing knew that the hex on top would eventually wear off. However, Toyota has placed the oil filter housing so close to adjacent engine structures that my new aluminum wrench won't fit. Does any one recommend a thin-walled aluminum filter housing wrench that engages the keys/flutes without crashing with the motor?
I had to deal with this once... An outrageously terrible design Toyota did with this... How I finally got it resolved is a standard cheap oil filter socket that's thin-walled like you're looking for, but you have to modify it so the tabs are bent further in and have to be careful to only put breaker bar pressure on it to the extent it doesn't slip. Obviously the thin steel ones are easier to bend the tabs without breaking, unlike the cast ones. Once you finally get it off you can either buy and adapater or unbolt the whole mount that threads are attached to so you can replace it with a different part that uses standard oil filters that all Prius use. Toyota learned this design was terrible the hard way and switched back to Gen2 version when the Gen4 Prius came out. The main problem with this system is that shops who have an expensive socket kit that works on every possible oil filter tend to use those tools with an impact driver which puts the filter on so tight its hard to remove, causing the crappy plastic design to fail when untightening it.
I would also convert it to spin on. While you could get a kit from Hybridpit for $185 you can also buy the parts from online Toyota dealers for less. Prius Gen3 Oil Filter Conversion Oil Filter Bracket (15609-0T060) Union (90904-04006) O-Ring x2 (96723-24020) Flange Bolt x4 (91551-F0835) Oil Filter (90915-YZZF2) Instructions for 1.8L Toyota and Lexus Tech: Lexus CT200h Spin-On Oil Filter Conversion – Ptetra Automotive For “visual” learners
I think you can go to LKQ and snatch that off of 2ZZ Corolla engine and I think I've seen them on eBay for sale for I don't know maybe $80 something like that I would just go that route I had to take this off one time and a poor situation and I just used my I don't know what they are 12 or 16-in channel locks turned it right off without doing anything to the plastic
I don't know where I got it, but I've been using a Performance Tool W54120 for a few years on my Gen 3. It's got slots that engage at the places you've circled, and I've never had any problems with it hitting other things when I use it. https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/performance-tool-canister-type-filter-wrench-fits-toyota-oil-filters-w54120/11373219-P
I went with Amayama. It might have been my only option up here, but besides that was one heck of a lot cheaper. Here's my invoice, with 2 wiper inserts as well. I deleted them in a spreadsheet calc, assume shipping charge as shown, and converted (roughly) to US dollars, about $75 USD all-in, not extras, taxes, duties, COD or whatever: ^ over $100 USD cheaper than Hybrid Pit Stop, with shipping, all-in... Note, there are several iterations of the main bracket, mine has a protrusion to a point at the bottom. Not sure of it's purpose, maybe to direct the drip. It works fine. And to OP: with a spin-on you get a fresh interface for your oil filter wrench. If you want a VERY durable, no-nonsense one, consider Honda's. It's the same size, compatible with Honda (obviously), Toyota and Mazda, in my experience. This I believe is the latest part no: 07AAA-PLCA100
Thanks, guys, for great suggestions. I'm surprised that no one has duplicated the spin-on adapter and made it available for cheaper, although US$75 is probably a fair price for a machined aluminum part. But I'm not surprised that such a bad oil filter housing design survived so long in production. My employer used to sell to to a multinational automaker whose name starts and ends with S. Once everyone and everything is PPAP'ed and production begins, it takes an act of God to change the design.
The reality is if the factory housing is not installed by gorilla grips at Jiffy Lube, it comes off easily.
