Requirements for a correct oil change

He may be referring to the drain plug gasket which is supposed to be changed every time, although some people reuse them. There is already an o-ring that comes with every new filter. Hope this helps.

 

2001-2009 Prius have an oil filter that lives within a disposable sheet steel canister. The 2010 has a different type of oil filter: it is an exposed cartridge that fits into a canister mounted to the engine. The canister has a removable cap, and that cap has an O-ring for sealing purposes. This is probably the O-ring that your friend was referring to.

The benefit to the 2010's filter is that there's no sheet metal to throw away, thus it is less wasteful.

 

I always change my own oil and have never seen a O Ring, maybe the 2010 is different?

 

How much was he charged? When I ordered my filter from Amsoil, they put the O-Ring in for free. The new cartridge style filters are great at reducing waste but even better for increasing my bad word vocabulary due to the lots of extra work involved, (including changing out the O-Ring).

 

Both the 2010 Prius and 2010 FJ went to a cartridge-style oil filter system. The oil filter is no longer a metal spin-on canister, but an open element that fits inside the factory cartridge housing

 

An interesting choice by Toyota. HVAC systems always used open oil filter elements in the past, but now they have shifted to spin-on canisters.

JeffD

 

I would simply have your friend ask for further explanation. If it's the O-Ring that evidently comes with the filter, you'd think it would be simply included in the price of the filter assembly (insert). To provide it as a separate entity and charge a separate charge seems strange to me, while I think it could easily be part of the Oil Cartridge change, I also think it should simply be included with the filter.

But I would just politely ask the mechanic why it's being separated out as a separate charge.

 

Because it's a separate part, which Toyota sells separately.

 

+1

The filter comes with a big o-ring that fits on the permanent oil filter cap. It replaces the old one.

You need to buy a separate gasket-washer for the oil pan bolt, to replace the old one.

The big o-ring needs to be placed in its slot and well lubricated to avoid this.

There are already two complete procedures on the subject of do-it-yourself oil change for the 2010 Prius:
- http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii.../67747-oil-change-2010-prius-do-yourself.html
- John1701a’s procedure on his own web site: http://john1701a.com/prius/documents/Prius_Maintenance_Changing-Oil.pdf

Both will give you pictures to answer your question.

Note: This thread is in the wrong forum: it has been placed under Gen II but the question is on Gen III.

 

I second that, should be moved to the Gen III forum

 

Less wasteful yes, but this system costs more and since it is placed horizontally on the engine, removing it spills oil.