Decided to start doing my own maintenance, any tips on tooling needed.

You don't need any special tools for the Prius. You can buy a complete metric set with basic sizes of wrenches and sockets. You may want to pick up some good screwdriver sets too. That's it

8mm - 14mm

 

Here is the wiki page with the skinny on your access to the real manuals.

There's a thread on what are your most common tools? here, that digresses occasionally, but has some good suggestions.

Something for asking your car what it's telling you when it's telling you stuff will be useful all the time. If you search here with the word techstream you will get a lot of ideas.

Probably you already have a multimeter for basic electrical checks? If not, that....

The special socket for your oil filter cap.

14mm spark plug socket. You can get by with 9/16 if that one's in your SAE set.

At least one torque wrench covering the range of torques for things you're planning to work on. If you start with one, probably one with a 3/8" drive will cover the most useful part of ordinary-maintenance torque ranges.

 

In addition to the thread that @ChapmanF kindly linked, see my answer to a similar question in another thread.

I’d agree, in the general sense that ordinary metric hand tools are sufficient for most tasks.

The term “special tools” (Toyota’s “special service tools,” SSTs) refers to tools that dealers are required to provide for their technicians, in principle because they are unique to specific makes and models of vehicles, and thus shouldn’t be expected to among the common hand tools that technicians must own and bring to the job. Toyota SSTs are specified in the Repair Manual (more info) and listed in the master indexes on the Bosch Automotive Service Solutions website; a technician can go an entire career and not use them all.

The oil filter wrench is a Toyota special tool (09228-06501), but since it’s used so often, there are many aftermarket equivalents. It’s the only SST needed for routine maintenance work on Prius cars.

 

Better tools make the job so much easier. Slowly building my tool collection and in addition to above posts, I'd recommend 3/8 and 1/2 breaker bars to help loosen stubborn bolts. Prius related, they made breaking the transmission plugs, and removing the oil filter easy.

 

Honda oil filter socket works well with Toyota filters, same size. For either spin-on or the $*#! other style.

I tend to get tools as I need them. Not the most economical way I'm sure, but works for me.

Floor jack with good lift, say 3 ton. 3 ton and 6 ton safety stands, 4 of each. Heavy rubber wheel chocks, four of.

Funnels, oil drain pans.

Multimeter, charger, electronic load tester, test probe, jump pack.

Torque wrenches: 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4. Start with 1/2 I guess. Even the cheap ones have worked fine and held up, at least in my experience.

A multitude of ratchet wrenches, big, small, short and long. Solid and swivel head. Start with a regular 3/8 I think. But for breaking loose tough bolts a 1/2" drive with extra long handle will save your knuckles.

 

Guess oil filter changes will be done at the lube shops

 

Been there and done that. You can search for DIY garage shops around, they have lifts and every single tool imagine or needed. They'll charge you by the hour and it includes all tools at no charge. The one that I go to charges $29 an hour + oil recycle fee if changing oil, just let them drive your car onto the lift and you do everything yourself. If you doubt that they don't have a specific tool, just call ahead of time and they'll find a way to have it there.

 

I bring my oil and filter to a shop and pay them $10 to do it. I don't have tools for oil changes

 

Interesting how every independent shop (which honestly all too many) I've been to in NorCal and socal hasn't let me do this years and years. Never bothered to ask a dealer.