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

Oil change with ramps?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by spiff72, Sep 12, 2013.

  1. spiff72

    spiff72 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2011
    184
    37
    0
    Location:
    West Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Just curious whether I would have sufficient access to change the oil on a prius using only ramps (no jackstands)? My main question areas woukd be whether the access door can be opened up fully and whether the filter can be accessed. I think my ramps are 8"?

    Thanks!

    Galaxy Note 2 - pardon the typos...
     
  2. Indy John

    Indy John Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2008
    75
    33
    0
    Location:
    Indianapolis
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    My plastic/foam "Race Ramps" are 8" lift and are just enough to allow full opening of the access flap. A floor jack under the front jacking point (an added wood block may be required) and a pair of jack stands lets you go higher.
     
  3. alekska

    alekska Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    435
    138
    0
    Location:
    Atl
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Yes. The cover that you will need to move back is somewhat flexible, so you can bend it and fold away, opening the access to the filter and drain bolt.
    - Alex
     
  4. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,338
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Yes, as stated above, you will need to bend the access door back in order to be able to clear the ground and get the access door out of your way. It is flexible enough that I just push up on the back of it (hinged part) and then bend the access door slightly to clear the ground.

    Once the access door is out of the way there is adequate room to complete the oil drain and oil filter removal and replacement. It is tight working quarters but it is adequate. A floor jack and jack stands would give you additional room but it is not necessary.
     
  5. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I always use ramps for changing the oil, but I prefer to remove the entire bottom cover. I like to make sure things are ok under the car. ;)
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,338
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    +1 I remove the entire bottom cover every other oil change. I change my oil every 5k miles.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. spiff72

    spiff72 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2011
    184
    37
    0
    Location:
    West Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Thanks for the feedback, everyone... I changed my oil on Saturday without issue with my ramps.

    Two observations:

    1. I was able to use oil filter pliers on the filter cover.
    2. When I went to remove the oil plug, it was only finger tight. Yikes. I can't believe it wasn't leaking.
     
  8. Mide

    Mide Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2013
    14
    2
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Yup I have those Rhino ramps and I can change the oil with no problems. I would agree with other posters that it is better to remove the whole plastic undercover. When I tried to just open the little square "door" for the oil area it ended up ripping off...bad design.
     
    Fostel likes this.
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,468
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I've been having a similar issue with previous (non-Toyo) vehicle of ours, still in the family. I think the culprit is the new-fangled drain bolt washers, the kind with some sort of plasticized layer. Every time I re-install it I know it's torqued, and every time I go to remove it it's nearly free-turning.

    I think the plastic layer shrinks/contracts somehow. I miss the plain Jane flat aluminum washers, more dependable, easier to remove from the bolt and/or never stuck to the oil pan.
     
    Merkey likes this.
  10. spiff72

    spiff72 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2011
    184
    37
    0
    Location:
    West Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Yeah - the same though occurred to me. When many plastics have a stress applied to them for a length of time they can "creep". It is actually a well know principle in engineering.

    I can't recall now if it was completely plastic, or it was an aluminum washer with plastic coating on each side.

    Galaxy Note 2 - pardon the typos...
     
  11. Merkey

    Merkey Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2012
    250
    228
    0
    Location:
    Birmingham, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Noticed the same thing. Some oil around bolt so I re-torqued. I bet it is the washer material.
     
  12. hlunde

    hlunde Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2009
    419
    74
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Actually not creep (constant stress with strain increase) but relaxation (constant strain with stress reduction).
     
  13. Tande

    Tande Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2006
    497
    299
    0
    Location:
    Mich.
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    II
    With an oil/change/door that could have been designed by a 10 yr. old & the "Scary" engine "Hammering" on cold start/up......makes me wonder "What the he!! is going on over at Toyota!o_O .....
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,468
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    The Toyota Repair Manual says to take the whole cover off (and a couple more in the vicinity. LOL). That said, the flap seems purpose-built for oil changes. I used ours once, but never again, it didn't seem to like bending.

    Part of the issue: Toyota says NOTHING in the Owners Manual on the subject of basic maintenance like oil changes. My only other experience is Honda, they've invariably included oil change instruction in the Owners Manual.
     
  15. vito.a

    vito.a Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2013
    52
    17
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I agree. The flap is the right size and location for an oil change. If you can get the car up 10 inches, it works quite well.

    Toyota does not include oil change instructions because they want the dealer to service the car. The oil change is just a portion of the entire service.
     
  16. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    The flap is for access to oil changes, but it falls off from use.
     
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,468
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    There's actually two hinges in the engine under panel. There's a larger, full width hinge, but it would require the car to be raise much higher than a typical ramps or floor jack lift.

    Funny, we've got an 06 civic hybrid with similar under panel. It's got a hinge as well, but the plastic on that panel is about 3 times the thickness, and you could flex the hinge 'till the cows come home, it's softer plastic, more durable. That said, it's almost unusable for DIY, requires a very high lift to swing it right down.

    Here's the second hinge on the Prius panel (highlighted in yellow):

    Prius - 3rd gen - engine underpanel - with second hinge highlighted.JPG
     
    Fostel likes this.
  18. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,338
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I do not disagree that the oil drain cover could be better and heavier. I have folded mine back many times in 4 years and it is still in good shape with no signs of stress at the hinge.

    Thanks for pointing out the second hinge, I have never noticed this.
     
    Fostel likes this.
  19. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    763
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Ramps work fine.... Here are photos of my first oil change, last year...
     

    Attached Files:

    Fostel likes this.
  20. Fostel

    Fostel Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2018
    87
    25
    0
    Location:
    London
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Excel
    Do you use any clips removal tool or just flathead? How many clips are there to remove the whole thing?
    Thanks.