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Oil filter leak - please help

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by mfavro, Nov 28, 2012.

  1. mfavro

    mfavro New Member

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    I have a 2010 prius I bought in March and just performed my first oil change. When I tried to remove the filter it was really "cranked on" but with the right filter cap tool I finally got it off with a ton of effort. Put in the new filter incert, new rubber o-ring and put the oil filter back in, tightened it snug, not to tight. Had a small oil leak from the filter. Went out got a new rubber o-ring (assuming it was the issue), put it all back together and now it's still leaking from the oil filter. I'm totally at a loss for what it could be? Any one had this issue? Anyone have a pic of the exact placement of where the o-ring goes? I looked and it doesn't look like the filter housing is cracked, but I guess it's a possibility? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
     
  2. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

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    Buy another filter housing. I looked into it once and you can get it online for about $30 plus shipping. Dealer may be considerably higher. I dont know.
     
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  3. GaryD1

    GaryD1 Active Member

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    did you put the oil ring in the right groove?? You may have not noticed where it was at when you removed it? I think it would be the outer groove away from the engine, it seats in the double ridge grove. http://john1701a.com/prius/documents/Prius_Maintenance_Changing-Oil.pdf
     
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  4. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    There could be a fracture in the housing that isn't noticeable to the eye. Doubt it is the o-ring. Guess I would order a new housing from a place like parts.com.
     
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  5. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I second GaryD1. I would make sure you had the O-ring in the correct groove. If you are absolutely sure that you replaced the O-ring in the correct groove then I would check in to the new filter housing.

    I have had my filter so tight from the dealership that I had to use a breaker bar. One of the many reasons I do my own maintenance now. I have never had a leak from the filter housing.
     
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  6. DumbMike

    DumbMike Active Member

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    Solely from a cost standpoint, shouldn't he try just a new filter, first? My thought is that maybe the filter isn't fitting quite right (for whatever reason).

    Mike
     
  7. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    The filter cap is nylon, so there's probably a crack. I would replace it asap before you destroy the engine.
     
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  8. mfavro

    mfavro New Member

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    Thanks everyone for the recommendation. I'm going to try to replace the cap / filter / o-ring all with new parts and hopefully that fixes it. I found the filter cap on e-bay for $32 and $8 for the filter so hopefully only a $40 fix. Thanks for your help!
     
  9. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Is there only one o-ring on the cap ?
    I haven't done an oil change myself, but I saw pictures, on Ebay, of the paper filter for sale with two o-rings, a large one and a smaller one.
     
  10. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    One large oring only. Torque to 18 ft-lbs, which is basically as tight as you can get it by hand with the filter cup attached.


    iPhone ?
     
  11. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    In this case, just one as mentioned above. Our Kia van however had two; a large one like the prius and then a smaller one that attached to the rod that went all the way through the filter element.
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    When you're tightening it will spin relatively easily until the the o-ring gets back into the cylindrical cavity. Then resistance goes up, but you've still got aways to go, till the cap bottoms out. As long as the o-ring is well into that cavity I believe it will be tight. As long as the cap is not cracked somehow.

    Here's a pic of where the oil filter ring (item *2) should be:


    Prius - 3rd gen - oil filter.jpg

    There's a picture on the replacement filter box as well, I think. It should be in a groove, just beyond the thread area.
     
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  13. JasonB

    JasonB Junior Member

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    The small washer isn't an o-ring, it's the crush washer for the oil pan plug.
     
  14. Danny3xd ()

    Danny3xd () Member

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    Really old thread but wanted to double check ring placement. Thanks ML! Just what I was looking for.

    Still having issues with removing oil filter cap. Way to hard.
     
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  15. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Save your money and invest in changing the whole darn thing out:

    Part# 156090T060- Bracket for oil filter- $79.80
    Part# 9090404006- Union Bolt- #11.76
    Part# 9672324020- O- rings- $2.46

    Spin Oil Filters:
    Fram- PH4386
    Fram Extra- PH4967
    Toyota Filter- 90915-YZZF2

    All legit parts from your local Toyota dealer. Took me less that 15 minutes to change out.

    Go to: The 2016+ Toyota 2zr Engine oil filter conversion - Armstrong Family Blog

    For step by step directions with color photos!!

    Its worth it!!
     

    Attached Files:

  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    N'mind, read the link, understand.
     
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You put it on the last time?

    Really liberally oil the O-ring, both before install and after. Torque to 18 foot/pounds. When removing, helps to have a long-handled ratchet wrench. You can count on it requiring a wrench most of the way out, at least until the O-ring emerges.
     
    #17 Mendel Leisk, Jun 10, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2019
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  18. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    I agree mostly. If it wasn't overtightened, you should not need a long handle. It's easy!
     
  19. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Thought the toyota paper cartridges are only $4-$5 a piece, and that was the only thing to buy for oil change which kept cost down. Spending money on the spin on kit, and with spin-on filters much more expensive than paper cartridges, youre not going to save any money even after the kit is installed.

    And then your ecological footprint will be larger than before with the metal can.
     
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  20. Danny3xd ()

    Danny3xd () Member

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    Did that help with the "No mater what I do this Freakin' thing won't come off easily?" thing Montgomery? Out of around 6 or 8 oil changes, it came off like it should once! Once, I tell ya. ONCE! snork. I would invest if asured the 20 minute job every other month didn't turn into an ordeal. (I drive a lot)