Oil Change 2010 Prius - do it yourself

Per page 423 of owners manual

 

Thanks Mr. Bill. The oil change went well. But, I have trouble keeping those white gloves clean.

Once the car is up and supported, the job isn' difficult. I've changed my own oil for a couple of decades, but I still haven't figured out a way to not to drip / spill / splash somewhere!

 

Me too.. but on that note I just had an epiphany!

After breaking free the canister or cartridge, we could use a large zip lock bag!
Simply place the "heavy duty freezer" zip lock bag over the canister or cartridge and unscrew.

All the messy oil would drip into the ziplock and when done, simply zip it closed for a clean job!


Of course the other way is to use disposable rubber gloves and an oil rag "my normal way".. but on hot days I hate those sweaty gloves.

 

The zip lock bag is an interesting idea! I've already gotten oil on my hands by then, however. Getting that drain plug free without dropping it into the oil pan or getting a finger bath is a trick that I haven't mastered.

Marty

 

LOL!.... yep that ones tricky too!

I wanted to use a valved drain plug that you could hook a hose on to temporarily but I don't think there is enough clearance with the shield to install one... I have my magnetic one ready when I do my first oil change.

Other folks swear by pumping it out with a drill pump from the top... but I like knowing I got it all out so when I put the new in, I know its the right amount.

 

Good grief Alan just wash your hands when you get done!

 

Yep.... I don't mind blood or dirt all over my hands.... not real fond of oil, vomit, or feces. It takes a bit of persistence to get it all off!

 

Hi Everyone, or at the the DIY'ers in the audience, In the Denver area, Checker Auto Parts is running a Mobil-1 coupon special until October 20, 2009. Buy 5 quarts of Mobil-1 and a Mobil-1 oil filter for $29.99. That's a not-bad, so-so sale; I figured I paid about $32.50 for oil at Walmart and filter from Toyota. But, Mobil-1 didn't have a filter listed for a 2010 Prius in their application guide.

So, my local store sold me 5 quarts of Mobil-1 0W20 oil for $3.40 per quart. I'll swing by Toyota to get a filter and now it's a pretty good sale price. If anyone is interested . . . --TK

 

Why did Toyota choose to use the "old fashioned" paper filter in a canister instead of the standard one piece "can"? I haven't used a paper filter ring since my old Triumph TR7 motor! (which was a pain to change!)

 

Welcome to the Forum Carnut... I ran across this today and remembered your question.. it took me about 20 min to find your post!..

But basically when running long times between changes, there is mistrust about whether the O ring that seals the spin on type will not get old, brittle and crack before the change is done.

With the newer high pressures in the engines these days, it would only take a few seconds to drain an engine of oil.

On the other hand, the cannister type is much more secure.

Here is an article about it. Take it as a grain of salt realizing they are trying to sell a product.

 

I think another reason cartridge filters are becoming more popular (again) is because they are more environmentally friendly. You just throw the filter material away instead of the filter material and the container that holds it.

I like the BMW design better than Toyota's. You open the hood and there is the filter right in front, remove the cap and pull the filter out of the cartridge. When you pull the filter up it breaks the seal at the bottom and the oil drains down into the oil pan. Much easier and cleaner than putting it under the car. The BMW filter is at least twice as big as the Toyota filter.

 

Wow!.... sounds like a dream.... lets do it!

That reminds me of one of those old Toilet roll filters I had when I was a kid. I installed it on my first car.... who knows if it really did any good!

But yes, if they would do that type of filter you mentioned combined with a valved drain plug, it would be a very clean job!

Hey Toyota.... you listening?

 

I owned three generations of Camrys and Toyoya put the filter on top on those. I could change the oil in a suit and not get dirty! Thanks for the posts everyone. LOVING the new Prius!

 

LOL!.... yep, don't forget washing and polishing your car, maybe rotating the tires.... yep, that about covers it!

 

In addition to oil changes I think there is still a few other things we can do ourselves:

Changing the PSD fluid shouldn't be to hard, I plan on doing mine at 10K or 15K and at about 30K intervals after that. My dealer has the Toyota ATF-WS for about $8 a quart.

The coolant (both engine and hybrid system) needs to be changed every 4 or 5 years.

I think the brakes would be fairly easy but they shouldn't need to be changed for 100K or more.

I will do the spark plugs when they are due (if I still have the car) and I would like to be able to change the brake fluid every 5 years of so. I'm not sure if we will be able to do brake fluid or not?

There a few other things as well, install a new 12V battery when due, install EBH, etc.