Easy oil filter cap tightening guide with no torque wrench.

I did my own oil change at 3,300 miles a year, ago.

Before removing the filter cap, I marked the position of the cap at the "clip" with white paint, before taking it off. No torque wrench needed.


When I replaced the oil filter, I repositioned it exactly at the point of the clip.

I had the dealer do the yearly oil change in February. The oil in the dipstick was a little darker than the 0W20 Mobil 1 that I used last July. I always wondered, if the dealer changed the oil and the filter.

Today, I removed the entire bottom splash panel to install my oil change door hinge kit.

Fortunately, I can verify now that the filter cap was off, because my white paint mark was not exactly at the tip of the "clip." I have uploaded a photo.

I just hope this is useful and helps others on PriusChat.

 

Another turn? That would have to mean that the very hard 70 Shore durometer Viton "o" ring had to be compressed a full 1.25 mm or 3/32 inch. That's the thread pitch of the housing. Not likely, at all!

 

The "v" uses the same oil cap and "o" ring as the Gen III 2010+.

 

Peter,

I marked the oil cap as it came from the Toyota factory.

It has been determined that "torque angle" is a lot more accurate method than "frictional resistance" in determining how tight a threaded fastener is. When tightened, the threaded fastener, oil cap included, is actually tensioned axially.

Almost all manufacturers have realized and use "angular torque" in the assembly of critical bolted systems.

The torque angle method actually works like a micrometer, and everyone with any experience knows how accurate a micrometer is.

In 2001, I patented a totally digital torque wrench and a real time gang torque wrench that certifies and records a digital record for every fastener of an aircraft or spacecraft. Unfortunately, it has NOT YET been adopted by the industry. I believe that it will become standard in the industry in the future.

 

Sorry, I got the wrong guy.