Oil Change 2010 Prius - do it yourself

How much oil comes gushing out at you when you crack the filter
housing??
.
It's nice that they made the access door big enough that oil
isn't likely to splash on any edge of the hole and pool up on
the underbelly panels.
.
_H*

 

Great job, thanks. I particularily liked the "white gloves" that ended up clean.

 

You can get the washers here: http://www.magneticdrainplug.com/Automotive_Drain_Plugs/AP03.html

 

Quite a bit of oil will come out of the filter housing. I loosened the housing slowly and let it gush out, continued to loosen & drain etc until the cartridge came off...then poured a good amount from it into the drain pan. Took a couple of minutes....

Also, it takes a while for all the oil to drain out from the oil pan. After the inital surge, it dribbled out, maybe 2~3 drops/second, for seemingly a long time.
I let everything drain for about an hr....

 

Did you remove the filler plug before draining the oil, in order to provide an air intake? I did not find that step in your guide, so that's why I am asking. This should speed up things a bit, although the last dribbles always seem to take forever... ray:

Good job and thanks for the guide!

 

I always do and the dipstick as well. It helps.

 

That is correct then. I thought you did, as otherwise the oil would probably not go out at all (or *really* slowly), just wanted to make sure. Perhaps you might add the instruction to do so into your guide?

Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience with the rest of us .

 

The oil will drain rather quickly even if you don't loosen the filler or pull the dipstick because air will enter the engine through the PCV valve. Of course your removing the filler plug and dipstick anyway so why not.

 

With my 2007 Prius I always did the oil change and filter myself. With the 2010's trap door I find it is easier to provide the dealer with 4 qts of Mobil 1 and a Toyota filter cartridge w/o ring and oil plug washer and let them do it.

A local dealer here does the labor for $12. I still plan on doing the wheel rotation myself, but for $12 I will let them get under the vehicle.

 

I'm havin a hard time believing the price many on here are getting synthetic oil for. In my area (Staten Island, NY), you cannot buy Mobil 1 0w20 for less than $7.00 per quart.

 

Here it is $6.27 at Walmart. That is the only place I have found it. I find it some times and not at some times. They only have it in the Quart size, I have not found any in the 5 quart size.

 

Price is slowly going down. It was $6.38 per quart two weeks ago at Walmart.

 

Here is a good place for the filter wrench.....

I "m trying to decide if I want to order a magnetic plug like I use for my GenII or a valved plug... looks like there is little or no room for anything that stick out and I don't dare cut a hole to provide a place for it to stick out as that would only be a good spot to snag and rip a hole in the oil pan.

 

YIKES!

I get Mobil 1 here in SAN for $4-5 on sale, or with a coupon.

 

I wouldnt buy more than you need.. the price should drop according to this.

 

Just like the guy's at BITOG, I ain't buying this.

Genuine Toyota Motor Oil 0W-20 contains a Toyota specific additive package within it, making it not interchangeable with other synthetic oils of the same weight such as Mobil 1.

 

I agree... doesn't "everything" have some special additive?.... every brand of oil, or grade of gas does something to be unique and possibly some are better than others, but mostly additives are just that.

Walk in an autoparts store and see how many additives you find for everything under the sun.
For years everyone has been trying to do something to be unique and corner the market...... most people don't buy it either.

 

LOL...we don't have a WalMart. I did manage to find some by mail order through amazon, at about $6.50, no tax and no shipping.