DIY Oil change questions

Correct. TOY640 is the Assenmacher part no. DEFINITELY not $40+ dollars. Typically <$20.

 

You can fins the filter wrench on ebay. Shop around and you'll find it for about $10.

 

Funny, but because they are only a dollar a piece, that's why I would change them every time.
That's pretty cheap insurance, especially given the usual Oil Change interval on a Prius.

 

Reading this I must say I never messed with the clip. The instructions I archived note not to remove it. The OE cap wrench fits perfectly fine without haggling with the clip. I don't think it comes close to touching it due to different design than some of the aftermarket ones in question.

moto g(7) power ?

 

I think there's some oil filter socket designs that extend down onto the stiffener ribs, and hit that clip. My Honda socket (purchased in the 90's, similar still available, per my previous post) does not extend that far. I don't need to do anything with the clip. I really don't think the clip serves any useful purpose.

 

if ordering off amazon search the reviews 1st to make sure it fits your prius. theres a TON of "heavy duty" labelled toyota oil wrenches that say they fit, but they dont. EX. the oil wrench i have for my FJ, doesnt clear the oil pan part forward of the filter on the prius, it fits nicely when its off the car tho

 

Because the filter housing cap is plastic they put the clip there, in the god forbid event the plastic threads utterly fail, and the cap becomes loose. My '14 Scion iQ has a metal filter housing cap. There is no such clip there.

moto g(7) power ?

 

The clip keeps the housing from backing off.
The tool I use moves the clip out of the way. But laying on my side/back trying to hold the housing in place
as I turn it, is a pain. It takes about 2 seconds to removing it and install it. Extremely simple.

It must be nice to spend a dollar on a seal. I only have 35 years of changing oil so I don't know much
about drain plug seals.

 

You're saying it's a wasted dollar? Guess I've been changing oil about the same number of years. I'd rather play it safe.

 

Wehn I searched on eBay for a filter housing, I saw a metal one, but it says it doesn't fit a 2015 Prius. Is there a metal one for the Prius?

 

Probably not. This is the correct part, fwiw:

Genuine Toyota 15620-37010 Oil Filter Cap Assembly

This might be more-or-less identical, and more readily available:

Dorman 917-039 Oil Filter Cap

I've done about 18 oil changes on ours, with the Honda filter socket I mentioned in post #10. Always torqued to 18 foot pounds. No problems with the cap, still looks like new.

 

It's YOUR money. Spend it how you want.
You know, I have some real nice waterfront property in south Florida for you, really cheap!

 

My cap wrench does extend down over the stiffener ribs, and I've still never noticed any issue with the clip being there. My wrench doesn't do anything special to the clip. The clip just sits there, and my wrench turns the cap.

 

Mendel kindly tried to answer this question, but I have not confirmed it will work in leu of the plastic one. (I don't change oil in both cars at the same time to get a chance to check the thread location and pitch). The filter element is the exact same size from my research, and I actually use the same filter for both...

Interestingly there is a way to swap the filter housing base on the Prius engine to use a spin on filter. This is absolutely not possible on the Scion iQ.

moto g(7) power ?

 

According to parts.toyota.com, the new Oil Filter Cap Assembly is 156200T010 -- superseding 15620-37010

 

It might be nice to spend a dollar on a seal...wasn't that a punchline to a joke? ...Two seals walk into a bar.......

Anyway, no disrespect intended.
But really, my opinion is, given what most people spend on their daily "designer" coffee...spending a buck for new seal when changing your oil is worth it. I'm going to say, go online and buy 10 of them, and your set for about 8+ years.

Plus if you have new ones, or get in the habit of changing the drain plug seal every time? You aren't tempted to push the issue. That is you're not putting the same seal back on the 3rd or 4th oil change, because it worked before, and you don't have a new one handy.

 

Oil change instructions (Toyota Techinfo) explicitly state to replace the gasket. I believe I got the Dormans at Rock Auto at $0.48 a piece in multiples of 25. There's also a pack of 10 (brand I'm not familiar with) for less than $3. You don't want to risk oiling your under panel. Also oil is the engine's life blood. There isn't much volume you can afford to risk losing as well.

If you're local and prefer a Toyota filter, Alhambra parts is the place that would give a gasket with filter purchase...

moto g(7) power ?

 

Can't read now, I'm busy closing a deal on some Florida swamp land...

 

It's just an oil seal. It's getting WAAAYYY too much attention.

 

Ever since I binge watched the series " Dexter " I've been looking for some nice waterfront property in Florida.