1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

oil filter difficult to remove

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Gnarly, Feb 17, 2020.

  1. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,295
    1,005
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Not sure I would do this. If/When the filter gives, the car may (possibly) lower onto the jack. This would press the under cover in that area and if not quickly released whatever is above the cover...
     
  2. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That's exactly the one I use. Fits and works perfectly.

    Yup. Too much oil on that o-ring is almost enough. And make sure it's properly in its groove.

    I have done quite a few oil changes now on the PiP and Prime. I've never touched that clip. Never had any kind of difficulty either. (y)
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  3. 2012 Prius v wagon 3

    2012 Prius v wagon 3 Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2019
    281
    276
    0
    Location:
    Redwood City, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    No, the car itself never moves. The car always remains fully supported by the rear tires and the front jackstands.

    And unlike pulling hard on a wrench, where once it breaks free or slips off, all that force you are applying instantly releases and turns into momentum, possibly leading to something bad. With a jack, the only stored energy is in the very minimal flex in the tool itself (including the breaker bar handle) or the jack's very slightly deflected structural members. So there is no similar danger. It's actually very safe.

    For most people in this situation, I will guess that the most likely thing to happen would be that their filter tool is ill-fitting (which is why they're in this situation), and will cam out and off the filter housing. But at least they will know that they pushed hard enough and the problem is with the filter tool, so they can get that remedied. There would be no need to buy a bigger wrench or pull harder, possibly dangerously.

    With a good filter tool, the only way I can see this failing would be that the filter housing itself has somehow fused internally, and will be non-explosively destroyed in this slow torque procedure.
     
    #43 2012 Prius v wagon 3, Feb 20, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2020
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Maybe if you're just up on ramps, 6" or so lift. If you've got a 3 ton floor jack with decent lift, and some safety stands, you've got more elbow room:

    upload_2020-2-20_13-50-22.png
    Put a set of these at the other end:
    upload_2020-2-20_13-50-53.png
    And some safety stands:
    upload_2020-2-20_13-51-28.png
    And I like an insurance policy :):
    upload_2020-2-20_13-52-8.png
    (A squat tree trunk section, under a main beam.)

    Just roughly, when settled onto safety stands, it's maybe a foot raised, at the front wheels.


    Nah, it's not even doing that, as evidenced by the topic of this thread. It is some engineer's pipe dream, basically.
     
    #44 Mendel Leisk, Feb 20, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2020
    jerrymildred likes this.
  5. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,295
    1,005
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Whenever you say this, for some reason those two wheels rolling off without a vehicle keep coming to my mind. Although in the second case it looked like the guy driving was a mechanic. Had a big smile on his face while making the turn. (Wheel went on straight after it came loose). Then I saw him get out and run after the wheel. Sad but that car was riding on the brake disc or whatever was left as it leaned into the turn.

    Someday we'll come on here and find the "I popped my oil cap" thread. I have "Butter Lovers" microwave popcorn ready!

    I still think trying the steel pipe extension would be good. It's what I use whenever something is stuck The longer it is the more leverage AND control you get. Large motion is translated to a tiny amount of turn... I still worry that the power of the jack pressing up may temporarily raise the vehicle, which I must confess would likely also happen with my extension idea. But the (much) longer arm will give you more control of the motion...

    moto g(7) power ?
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Imagine your chagrin if they come off when you're driving someone else's vehicle. :LOL: This was in Honduras. A coworker/friend driving our boss's Nissan Patrol. Thankfully, only one wheel rolled into the ocean and that house in the background was the boss's house. Oh, and no damage. Whew!!

    DSC_1983 copy.jpg
     
    jzchen and Mendel Leisk like this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    A longer handle is better, for sure, but slipping a pipe extension over a shorter ratchet, you may bust it. Or not. Better to have a ratchet or breaker bar that came longer, hopefully designed to take the greater forces.
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Is that guy related to Jim Carey...?
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  9. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    No, but the whole story would be funny enough to somehow involve him. :ROFLMAO: