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Official Toyota Filter Wrench Won't Work On 2013 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by keymusic, Jun 10, 2014.

  1. keymusic

    keymusic Active Member

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    I found out today that the wrench the dealer sells won't work on my 2013 Prius. I attached a picture of a similar looking one. It fits properly onto the oil filter housing if it's off the car, but there's not enough space to fit it on when the filter is installed. Any ideas on a wrench that will work?

    image.jpg
     
  2. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Are you sure it doesn't fit? Maybe the clip is in the way.

    SCH-I535
     
  4. PriusInParadise

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    Ignore this post. I thought you had the filter wrench for the larger 4-cyl and v-6 engines, but after a closer look, it appears to be the correct one.​
     
    #4 PriusInParadise, Jun 10, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2014
  5. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Any regular 64 mm 14 face socket will work fine. It's that extra portion with the irregular slots that's interfering, I think.

    I'm using the Honda oil filter socket, fwiw.
     
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  7. keymusic

    keymusic Active Member

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  8. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    yep
     
  9. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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  10. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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  11. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    Does the official Toyota one have notches? If so, what's their function?
     
  12. keymusic

    keymusic Active Member

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    Yes. There are 3 tabs on the oil filter housing that 3 of the 6 notches line up with. That wrench fits the housing perfectly if the housing is out of the car. The problem is there's not enough space to get that wrench onto the housing when the housing is installed, at least with the '13. Maybe in previous years there was more space.
     
  13. civicferio

    civicferio Junior Member

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  14. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Something doesn't sound right. The housing is part# 15620-37010 and is used from 2009 up to 2014 and fits several models.
     
  15. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    I wonder why Toyota went with a plastic filter housing and a replaceable element over a standard metal filter cartridge, which I would think is better. I can see this plastic housing cracking some day and leaking. Give me metal over plastic.
     
  16. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I think it's commendable.

    It's the first car I've ever had with this setup. The steel/rubber/paper combo of the disposable oil filter is very hard to recycle. I believe in the early days of the automobile it was more the norm for just the paper element to be replaced.

    As to durability, time will tell but it seems to me if you're using a decent socket on it, and not over-torquing it'll be fine for the long run.
     
  18. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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  19. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    I'm more concerned what heat will do to this plastic over time. If this filter leaks you lose your oil and the engine gets damaged. Seems like a risky part to save a few bucks over.
     
  20. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    GM and VW have been using plastic oil filter caps for years. There may be others.