Just replaced the oil on my 2015 prius. When I removed the drain plug, I was surprised to not see any washer between the drain plug and the drain pan. The drain pan had a raised washer like surface that I assumed was a gasket. However, I want not able to either peel it off or knock it off with some gentle taps using a small piece of wood. I wonder whether my prius did not have a washer? Can anyone who does their own oil change on a 2015 confirm if the drain pan has a raised lip around the drain or if in fact what I am seeing is a washer that is stuck to the drain pan. What is the best way to get a stuck washer off. I don't want to damage the surface or the drain pan. Thanks!
I can pretty much guarantee there was a washer, glued to the drain pan. What I do: back out the drain bolt a couple of turns, place slim flat-blade screwdriver at washer edge, gentle tap with hammer to break it free, then take it off together with bolt. Plain aluminum washer wouldn't do this; the Toyota washer has a plastic skin on both sides, very prone to stick. At this point I'd just leave it be till the next change.
Ok. Thanks for the information. Will use a screw driver or other sharp tool like that to knock it off the next time I change oil. I noticed some other people recommend a razor blade to also do this. Just did not want to be more aggressive since this was the first time working on this new prius. Was concerned they changed the pan from what I previously had when working with my 2005 Prius.
The second or third time I change the oil in my Prius, after I finished, I found the washer on the drain pan. I had put the plug back in without a washer, checked it a couple of times and no leak so next time I change oil, I used a washer. The washers do tend to stick to the oil pan, I have been an awful person and used the same washer over again, I did go to confession though.
I was very careful since this was the first time changing on my new prius I am 100% sure the washer was not stuck on the plug and also did not drop off into the waste oil pan. I have been changing oil in vehicles for some 30 years now and have not encountered a washer stuck like this. I read somewhere it may be because paint on outside of the pan. Does Toyota paint the pan after it is on the vehicle?
Hi Mendel, This is the part that surprised me. When I removed the bolt, I found no indication of a plastic, or any other type of material between the bolt and the actual metal of the washer that was stuck on the drain pan. It is why I believed that maybe Toyota had not used any washer.
Still using the original washer after three changes on Pearl S. Still used the original washer on Pearl after seven changes. On the eighth, it fell into the oil in the drain pan and I was too lazy to dig it out, so I used a new one. I do have lots of new washers on hand, they are just not really needed so I don't bother to change them. -IF- one ever cracks, or -IF- one ever shows signs of leaking, or -IF- one ever disappears into the oil in the drain pan, -THEN- it gets replaced (see, I'm logical).
Honda uses a similar coated washer. With that one (on a Honda) I find the coating seems to compress: I'd torque the drain bolt, and when I next went to take it off it was practically loose. I mentioned this to the parts guy and it turned they also had plain aluminum washers. I got one of those instead, and no further problem with loosening bolt.
