DIY oil change

Oil filter is supposed to be loose enough that a firm grip on it can unscrew it. Sometimes though it's tighter than that and you can match up a cheap oil filter socket to the replacement filter, or use a big pair of channel locks instead.

Other tools that help are a power ratchet or screwdriver gun with a socket extension so when the bolt and oil filter start gushing out oil when you unscrew it you don't get your hands covered in oil.

 

I’m using a Honda oil filter socket on my third gen, same size. Very heavy stamped steel, lasts forever.

Genuine Honda Oil Filter Wrench (65mm) - 07AAA-PLCA100

Search for that part no on Amazon, or order through a Honda dealership parts dept.

Torque is 13 foot/pounds.

 

I use a hard plastic filter wrench that I bought from Walmart many years ago. To confirm the fit, just pull a Prius compatible filter out of the box at Walmart. I also use an extension on the ratchet, so that I have plenty of space to rotate the ratchet when loosening.

 

I bought a oil filter socket at walmart. I believe the attached pic is the oil filter that I bought.. I think I paid less than $4. If you purchase such a socket then be careful to not use the socket to install the oil filter. As the oil filter should only be hand tight.

 

Toyota says 3/4 turn or 13 foot/pounds.

 

Get the right tool the first time and be done with it. The stamped steel filter sockets will slip when trying to remove an over tightened filter. Get a 64mm 14 flat cast aluminum filter socket with 1/2" drive. It's only a buck or two more, but 10x better. My local walmart usually has them on the shelf.

When you insert the 1/2" drive extension into the stamped steel version, the end of the extension sticks up through the bottom of the socket, preventing the socket from fully seating on the filter. That makes it slip even easier. The cast aluminum version has a bottom attachment point that's about 3/4 inch thick. Allows full engagement on the filter. And yes, the spec is 13 ft-lbs. My 'hand tight' is much different than yours and his and theirs and so on. Fortunately, it will still seal just fine, even under a wide range of 'hand tight' + some. Just don't crank down on it to the point the gasket compresses so much that the filter metal digs into the engine block seating surface.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-Tough-64MM-Oil-Filter-Wrench-Model-4207/836772683

 

I agree with Mendel that the Honda wrench socket is the strongest tool, as it is the one that Honda dealer technicians use. I have the Toyota SST, too, but that cost twice as much. Get the Honda.

Honda Genuine Parts - Wrench (64) (07AAA-PLCA100)

 

yep, I got size 13 feet so I can precisely measure and mean it when I say it that:

13ft. pounds = firm grip

 

Tighten till first contact, then, with a white/silver sharpie make a mark on the face of the oil filter, say at 6 o’clock. Then, if you can hand-tighten to 3 o’clock, you’re square with Toyota lol.

I think at least one object of the hand-tightening is to avoid stock-on oil filters? I've done about 22 oil changes on our 2010 now, used 18 foot pounds with the filter-in-permanent-housing style the car came with, and 13 foot pounds, since converting it to spin-on style, and never a problem breaking it loose. It is on there good, I'd warrant you couldn't break it loose by hand.

 

My Gen 3 with the replaceable-element filter is the first car I ever bought a bespoke oil filter wrench for.

Up until then, my one decades-old oil filter strap wrench has removed every oil filter of every size that I've ever needed to remove, and also turned pretty much every other random object I have ever wanted to turn. It's a pretty versatile tool.

 

Wondering if this advice is same for Gen2?

 

Yeah I learned that lesson the hard way once... Funny part is I did an oil change on a 2017 plugin Prius once and because all I knew other than that was Gen2, I assumed all Prius oil filter cartridges were the same. Lol...

 

Yeah second gen oil change info (from Repair Manual) in post 6.

 

Armmando,

I'm trying to help you out. I put a link in my last post. That adapter WORKS. I have a half dozen Gen 2s in the extended family and friends that I take care of. I have a 2005, 2007 and 2008 in my driveway right now. My son has my 2006. I do all the normal maintenance on them. I'm going by hands on real experience. This filter wrench has gotten the job done every time.

 

I got mine in '89, for a Honda Hurricane (motorcycle). At the time Honda automotive oil filters were signifincantly larger; I got the Honda automotive oil filter as well. Then Honda switched their automotive over to the motorcycle sized filter.

Anyway, I must have used that '89 oil filter socket. for over a hundred oil changes now. It works on Toyota, Honda and Mazda in my experience. It fits snug, can take a tap to jar loose, when the filter's off and in your hands.

The cheap, black stamped steel filter sockets will likely work, I've got one of those too (for another filter size, by PT Performance Tool), but for how long it'll last, and with a stuck filter? Checked the thickness of mine:

Honda: 2.4 mm
PT Performance Tool: 1.3 mm

Try a local honda dealership parts department, see what they're asking for it; might be simpler/cheaper than Amazon. Maybe not, but a phone call doesn't hurt.