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2011 Prius ATF Drain and Fill

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by calirider, Jun 5, 2015.

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  1. southtxprius

    southtxprius Junior Member

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    I've never had the ATF fluid changed. Bought the car used in 2012 with 48K on the ODO. Nearing 87K now. Planning a road trip. Is it risky to change the AFT fluid before the road trip? I thought I read this somewhere on Priuschat to wait...
     
    #21 southtxprius, Jul 30, 2015
  2. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    No risk...as long as the mechanic doesn't leave a plug loose. Your car will love you.
     
    #22 frodoz737, Jul 30, 2015
  3. calirider

    calirider ECOmobile

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    I can not see any risk in it. It's super easy and you will get better MPG's with fresh fluid in there.
     
    #23 calirider, Jul 31, 2015
  4. FroggyTaco

    FroggyTaco Member

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    A 10mm allen socket to loosen the drain & fill plugs. Ideally a torque wrench to tighten them(29ft-lbs). And I used a funnel with extension tube to add the fresh ATF.
     
    #24 FroggyTaco, Jul 31, 2015
  5. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    A short ratchet extension helps reach the drain plug. A breaker bar, good floor jack, jackstands. Washers for the fill and drain plugs.
     
    #25 xliderider, Jul 31, 2015
  6. calirider

    calirider ECOmobile

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    I thought this video was helpful. The only thing I did different was use a couple foot long tube attached to a funnel rather than a oil pump.
     
    #26 calirider, Jul 31, 2015
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  7. Spindifferent

    Spindifferent Member

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    Thanks for all of the tool info!

    I like the idea of using a long tube and funnel instead of what seems to be problem-prone fluid pumps.

    What is a good length for the tube, and what size diameter?
     
    #27 Spindifferent, Jul 31, 2015
  8. calirider

    calirider ECOmobile

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    Mine is a little over 3 feet long and 5/8" outside diameter and it is perfect. You can't go any larger than 5/8" outside diameter or it won't fit in the fill hole.
     
    #28 calirider, Jul 31, 2015
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  9. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    the hardest parts are getting the car simultanously level, getting it safely high enough, and removing the cumbersome undershield. Once all that's done, the actual fluid change is a piece of cake.
     
    #29 CR94, Jul 31, 2015
  10. FroggyTaco

    FroggyTaco Member

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    That seems easy enough if you have a level garage floor.

    For the front tires use a pair of ramps for elevation, support & lateral leveling. Then use a jack at the rear jacking point & measure the distance between the floor & the pinch weld in front. Continue to raise the rear of the car until the rearward pinch weld is at the same distance from the floor as the front pinch weld.

    Then it's safely level & high enough.
     
    #30 FroggyTaco, Aug 1, 2015
  11. Spindifferent

    Spindifferent Member

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    Much thanks, appreciate the info!
     
    #31 Spindifferent, Aug 1, 2015
  12. southtxprius

    southtxprius Junior Member

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    #32 southtxprius, Aug 3, 2015
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    ^ those MIGHT work, but the ball head is not optimum. Stanley ( for one) makes a set with straight sides, that would be better.
     
    #33 Mendel Leisk, Aug 3, 2015
  14. southtxprius

    southtxprius Junior Member

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    Thanks. I may try going to the dealer for this, as I don't own jack stands, etc. How long does the drain & refill usually take? I want to make sure I get charged accurately for the labor. I will also take the repair manual pdf excerpt I found on this forum in case I get confused looks at the dealer, lol!
     
    #34 southtxprius, Aug 3, 2015
  15. calirider

    calirider ECOmobile

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    It took me less than 2 hours but I bet I could do it next time in 1. Removing and reinstalling the plastic undercarriage is the biggest pain. I'm also not a fan of the ball head hex sockets.

    Only other advise I would say is make sure to remove the fill plug first. Because if you can't get it removed after the drain plug your in trouble.
     
    #35 calirider, Aug 3, 2015
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  16. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    #36 xliderider, Aug 3, 2015
  17. Boston Jim

    Boston Jim Active Member

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    I talked to my dealer this morning asking how much it would be to change the ATF fluid and he said about $400 (really???), everything is electronic now and takes a few hours. Maybe he was talking about flushing the whole system rather than a drain and fill. Um, ok thanks but no thanks.

    But he did say it should be good for the life of the car for the most part, but if you do want to change it, change it before 60k and keep changing it every 30-50k.
     
    #37 Boston Jim, Aug 4, 2015
  18. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    They always misquote for the service based on a conventional automatic transmission. The Prius transaxle fluid is a simple drain and fill.
     
    #38 xliderider, Aug 4, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2015
  19. FroggyTaco

    FroggyTaco Member

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    #39 FroggyTaco, Aug 4, 2015
  20. calirider

    calirider ECOmobile

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    That's why they're called stealerships.
     
    #40 calirider, Aug 6, 2015
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