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DIY Oil change questions

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Chalicekey, Oct 12, 2019.

  1. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Only because your experience says not necessary to change every oil change. This is a newbie changing his/her oil for the first time. Of course with your years of experience you may have a good feeling of how hard to press the wrench, but a newbie? This gasket has been a source of oil leaks due to non-replacement. It is a headache to deal with if you do end up with it leaking, as torquing it down may overtorque creating another bag of worms, ie. stripped threads. Some of us are using expensive oil, mine is $35.xx per 5 qt jug at Walmart currently (Mobil 1 Annual Protection). It would also cost me this precious oil if it seeps out. I don't want to misdirect someone who is new at changing oil, unless you're willing to torque his/her drain bolt for him/her...

    moto g(7) power ?
     
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  2. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    For my twice a year oil changes, the cost of the Toyota filter, 0W-20 oil, and drain plug gasket just makes sense to me.

    One thing to note for the OP is that the drain plug gasket has a tendency to stick to the oil pan. Be sure to gently remove it and replace with a new gasket.
     
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  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    How about choice of filter?
     
  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Again, :eek: It's just an oil seal. It's getting WAAAYYY too much attention.:sick:
     
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  5. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    I haven't yet done an oil change on my Prius, but some of the pictures I see online of the opened Toyota filter package show not only the filter but also the o-ring and the drain-plug gasket.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah I've noticed that. Plain aluminum ones tend not to do that? I loosen the drain bolt a couple of turns, then have a look, and invariably the washer's glued to the oil pan, so I pry it loose with a small flat-blade screw driver.

    Here's some info, in case someone's shopping for alternative, plain washers:

    Engine drain bolt washer:
    ID: 12.1 (mm)
    OD: 21.0

    Transaxle fill/drain bolt washers:
    ID: 17.9
    OD: 23.9
     
  7. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The filter element and the O ring officially come in the box.

    The drain plug washer officially doesn't, but my dealer (almost) always sticks one in the box when I stop in to buy the oil and filter, and (usually) doesn't charge me for it. One time they did, maybe it was a new guy.
     
  8. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I'm droppin' the gloves on this one people....change em' if you have em. Have em, if you change em.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I always get that new guy... :cautious:
     
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  10. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Uh oh. Here comes another 20 pages of posts!

    I am using Fram Ultra Synthetic XG10358.

    If my pic doesn't come out clear, the filter is labelled "MADE IN USA", and note the interior mesh to help prevent collapse. 1571198190143.jpg

    moto g(7) power ?
     
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  11. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    Could find it only at Amazon and eBay (not at Autozone, Advance Auto, NAPA, or O'Reilly), and it costs more than the OEM one
     
  12. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Walmart is where I buy them.

    moto g(7) power ?
     
  13. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    At our meetups, ive seen oem filter media bending, warped and mashed up right before 5K mile changes. That’s why the ultra synthetic have cages inside to hold structure and long rigidity. Both top ends are well glued, pulling them apart was difficult. I needed 2 pliers to hold each end, the filter media tore so neither end that was glued came loose. This was the Mobil 1 filter that was 15,000 miles in. Oem is 5000 miles and no structure protection, I wouldn’t use it.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I've never had a problem with the OEM filter. Changing it every 6 months though, very low miles.
     
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  15. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    I started with the Mobil 1 Extended Performance filters, the latest version with "A" appended at the end of the part number are rated for 20k miles to match the Annual Protection oil. I still have quite a few when I stocked up. The spin ons that I have around 3 different ones are made in the USA, the one canister type I have is made in China. The canister one does not have the mesh inside to prevent collapse. Also why I switched was the micron rating, Mobil 1 was "above 30 microns", while Fram says "above 20 microns". I saw on the Walmart app it is just under $11. If you drive a lot in one year, ie. 20k miles, I would not hesitate to take the oil and Fram filter to that limit. Mobil ran tests on their Annual Protection oil, teared down engines, and posted like new pictures.

    moto g(7) power ?
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    How does it "collapse" if pushed onto the steel inner cylinder in the oil filter housing? I'm not saying it doesn't, just curious.

    The Toyota filter btw, has rigid plastic inside wall.
     
  17. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    For you Toyota filter fans:

    04152-YZZA1 10/04152-YZZA1 | Conicelli Toyota of Conshohock

    They are so cheap I'm concerned about the "you get what you pay for" saying...

    (Sorry not sure which section of the forum I'm in. That filter is the one the site gave me for our '12 Prius v. Similar discounts on other filters for sure)...

    moto g(7) power ?
     
    #57 jzchen, Oct 16, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2019
  18. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    If we calculate roughly $0.50 for the gasket, then $3 for the filter. If the gasket is $1, then the filter is only $2.50 each, for a pack of ten, not sure about shipping I confess...

    moto g(7) power ?
     
  19. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    RRxing and jzchen like this.
  20. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Thanks. I realized I might be in a different section of the forum than my usual 'v', and tried to note it in that post. Thank you for notifying me of my mistake.

    moto g(7) power ?