Trouble getting oil filter off

Whoever did it last probably over torqued it. Use a breaker bar to break it loose and then use a 3/8 ratchet to remove the rest.

 

Yes, remove the metal clip. I just pushed it with a flat screwdriver and it popped out. Then I had to use a breaker bar and push with my foot to get the filter loose. LOL the plastic bag that contains the new rubber o'ring warns do not over torque.

 

I wonder with these cases I've been reading about do people find the o-ring has come out of it's proper groove wedging everything stuck together?

I tried to measure my OEM tool with a caliper and found it to be 64 mm so you've got the right size as far as I know.

Someone noted attaching a tow strap to some sort of wrench and using a vehicle, a truck if I remember correctly, to pull it unstuck!

 

I've never touched the clip on mine; (a) the manual says not to, and (b) I've never noticed it being any kind of impediment to getting the cap off. My cap was really stubborn the first time off, but it wasn't because of the clip.

It kind of reminds me of a padlock that was in an apartment building where I lived after college. At the top of the stairway was a ladder to the roof. There was a hatch cover up there, and on the wall just below it was a hasp with a padlock. Both halves of the hasp were screwed to the wall, and securely held together by the locked padlock. None of that involved the hatch at all, which you would just lift off if the night was nice and you felt like enjoying the view from the roof.

One morning I heard a weird noise, and it was a roofing crew the landlord had sent over to make roof repairs. They saw the padlock and hasp there, so they took a crowbar and busted it off the wall before they opened the hatch to go out on the roof.

-Chap

 

And just like that hasp and padlock, the metal clip on the oil filter housing serves no useful purpose.

 

There's no telling how many tenants that hasp and padlock may have successfully kept off the roof.

-Chap

 

Prevented adventurous children from endangering themselves by climbing onto the roof?

Service literature says not to touch/remove the clip, but does not explain why. As an engineering student, I wouldn't put something somewhere without any reason....

 

The metal clip is a red herring, does nothing. Sounds like dealership overtorqued. Use an ratchet with generous length, like @NutzAboutBolts suggests. And good luck.

I've had ours off about 12 times now, always torque to 18 ft/lb, no subsequent problem taking it off. Using a 1/2" drive ratchet with handle around 18" helps. But yeah, sounds like some idiot put it on.

 

Yeah it's basically a longer handled wrench, 16~18 inch. I started with a cheapo, then recently got a 1/2" drive jet which is very handy: ratchets and has swivel head.

Jet Ratchet Wrenches | 1/2" DR Flex Head Ratchet Wrench Heavy Duty :: SureWerx

 

MatcoTools got some nice breaker bars bought mine for 100$+, well worth the money because I don't want to use brute strength on certain bolts.

 

I have a '10, and even though I use a torque wrench to install the filter, it is always difficult to break loose 10,000 miles later. I, too, use a breaker bar, which was originally explained to me as a tool to use when you think you might break the internal teeth of a ratchet. They can take more loosening torque, but only up to a point -- I have managed to break one, but it probably came from Snap-Off (also known as HF).
@Nutz, thanks for your youtube videos! I was helped today by the one on changing trans fluid -- my Haynes manual had me looking for the drain/fill plugs on the wrong side, but your video put me straight.

 

I've had the same issue when first doing my own oil with this car. You're 100% right in that it's harder to get this filter off than most other cars. My regular filter wrench, strap wrench, and oil filter cap were unable to remove it the first and second time. It's VERY easy to over tighten this, even doing it yourself. My other cars have had instructions to "hand tighten". For the Prius that's far too much.

First, I strongly recommend getting a Prius-specific oil filter cap. They come with little grooves cut in to them to lock in to the tabs on the oil filter housing. It will have a hole for a 3/8" drive ratchet and a hex cap for a socket to go over. The one I have needs a 27mm socket. You must use the socket to remove the oil filter housing! If you try to remove it by sticking a 3/8" ratchet in there you will crack it. Then a breaker bar on the socket to get things moving. Like some of the replies above, I have never worried about the metal tab.

I've gotten breaker bars from Harbor Freight for $10. But I got a ratcheting TEKTON 24" breaker bar from Amazon for a little more and would strongly suggest it. TEKTON has a great product guarentee so I don't feel it's necessary to spend any more than that.

And again, when re-installing, don't hand tighten it. Use a torque wrench to get it to spec and no more! If you don't own one, I got one at Harbor Freight for $10 as well. Make sure it goes down to 18ft*lbs. Most 1/2" torque wrenches don't, I use a 3/8" torque wrench for this.

 

Just an FIY, I've never torqued my oil filter cap. I just hand tighten with a 3/8 ratchet until it stops. The engine pressure will cause a suction which will tighten the oil filter cap more. I've never had any problems removing the oil cap by hand with a 3/8 ratchet.

 

That's good to know. I recently did my first oil change on myPiP. It was no problem to remove the filter. But after reading the horror stories, I didn't want to over tighten it, but I FOR SURE didn't want to under tighten it.

BTW, I didn't notice a clip on my filter cap. I wonder if it has one. Apparently, I don't need to be concerned.

 

the clip is of no concern, I'm not even sure whats the purpose of it, but I have changed the oil filter cap with the clips and never messed with it.

 

Today I replaced the oil filter bracket, and installed a Fumoto valve while I was at it. This is the filter bracket which takes metal oil filters instead of the cartridges with the plastic housing. Mine got stuck and wouldn't come off. Access was a little constrained; I needed long extensions, but once I cracked the four bolts loose with a breaker bar (not too tight at all), they unscrewed very easily.

To access the bolts, it's necessary to remove three plastic clips, like the splash shield clip.

Now I can use metal oil filters. I still can't get the plastic cartridge off of the old bracket. Sorry about the poor picture quality, but I was under the car and all.

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