Oil Change 2010 Prius - do it yourself

[hobbit]

How much oil comes gushing out at you when you crack the filter
housing??
.
It's nice that they made the access door big enough that oil
isn't likely to splash on any edge of the hole and pool up on
the underbelly panels.
.
_H*

[Mark57]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bill

Here is a helpful mechanism for those do-it-yourselfers out there.

Enjoy! Bill

Great job, thanks. I particularily liked the "white gloves" that ended up clean.

[radiocycle]

Originally Posted by el723

Where do you buy your filters and plug washers?

You can get the washers here: http://www.magneticdrainplug.com/Aut...lugs/AP03.html

[jm1515]

Originally Posted by hobbit

How much oil comes gushing out at you when you crack the filter
housing??
.
It's nice that they made the access door big enough that oil
isn't likely to splash on any edge of the hole and pool up on
the underbelly panels.
.
_H*

Quite a bit of oil will come out of the filter housing. I loosened the housing slowly and let it gush out, continued to loosen & drain etc until the cartridge came off...then poured a good amount from it into the drain pan. Took a couple of minutes....

Also, it takes a while for all the oil to drain out from the oil pan. After the inital surge, it dribbled out, maybe 2~3 drops/second, for seemingly a long time.
I let everything drain for about an hr....

[spinkao]

Originally Posted by jm1515

Also, it takes a while for all the oil to drain out from the oil pan. After the inital surge, it dribbled out, maybe 2~3 drops/second, for seemingly a long time.
I let everything drain for about an hr....

Did you remove the filler plug before draining the oil, in order to provide an air intake? I did not find that step in your guide, so that's why I am asking. This should speed up things a bit, although the last dribbles always seem to take forever...

Good job and thanks for the guide!

[Mark57]

Originally Posted by spinkao

Did you remove the filler plug before draining the oil, in order to provide an air intake? I did not find that step in your guide, so that's why I am asking. This should speed up things a bit, although the last dribbles always seem to take forever...

Good job and thanks for the guide!

I always do and the dipstick as well. It helps.

[spinkao]

Originally Posted by Mark57

I always do and the dipstick as well. It helps.

That is correct then. I thought you did, as otherwise the oil would probably not go out at all (or *really* slowly), just wanted to make sure. Perhaps you might add the instruction to do so into your guide?

Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience with the rest of us .

[a64pilot]

The oil will drain rather quickly even if you don't loosen the filler or pull the dipstick because air will enter the engine through the PCV valve. Of course your removing the filler plug and dipstick anyway so why not.

[topkick]

With my 2007 Prius I always did the oil change and filter myself. With the 2010's trap door I find it is easier to provide the dealer with 4 qts of Mobil 1 and a Toyota filter cartridge w/o ring and oil plug washer and let them do it.

A local dealer here does the labor for $12. I still plan on doing the wheel rotation myself, but for $12 I will let them get under the vehicle.

[fjpod]

I'm havin a hard time believing the price many on here are getting synthetic oil for. In my area (Staten Island, NY), you cannot buy Mobil 1 0w20 for less than $7.00 per quart.