I recently purchased a gen2 (2005) Prius with about 108k miles and was doing some fluid swaps and did the transaxle. I got the ATF from Toyota and the gaskets. I actually raised the front car up facing downhill on my driveway so that I could get the car level. However, when I cracked the fill plug, the transmission fluid started coming out (and it was hot because I had just used the car to get the gaskets and ATF.) I wasn't expecting this because I was thinking the fluid level would be at or below the fill plug, but maybe this is expected because the engine was warm. When filling it back up, I only filled it back up until it was dripping out of the fill plug. It took 3.7 quarts. However, I'm wondering if I should put in a little more as it seemed like there was a bit more in there before I started. Does anyone think I should get back in there and put in a bit more? It doesn't seem like it shifts differently, but I don't know if I would be able to tell. Thanks in advance.
Nah, somewhere around 3.75 quarts is perfect enough. Either your "level" was slightly front end low or your factory fill was slightly over or previous owner did a swap and slightly overfilled. My "level" takes 3.8 quarts (3 quarts, 26oz.) before it runs out the fill hole. Regardless, no worries at 3.7 quarts. The factory manual recommendation of 4 quarts simply will not fit if the car is reasonably level, at least with regard to our '07.
Owner's Manual for second gen says 3.8 US quarts to refill: Maybe that 4 quarts is spec for initial fill? I think as long as you've got it level, and fill till it starts coming back out, you've got it spot-on. If you've raised just the front end, have a definite slope, you are going to be off a bit. Is the fill bolt towards the back or the front, filling with just the front raised will cause the level to low or high respectively, albeit not by a lot. Bottom line, get the car raised and level, no problems.
You are good at 3.7 qts, don't over/force fill it. Vehicle lowered and on level ground fill to it runs out the plug's hole. Torque the plug back down with new crush gasket, done. Good for you for paying attention to how much came out and for trying to replentish the same amount.
That is where I went for it. Bought four of them and used three already. Wondering how necessary it really is to use a new washer.
New washers everytime to guarantee no leaks (assuming the drain plugs/bolts are torqued to specs). If manufactures said you could reuse crush washers, and problems arose, the manufactures would be liable. However, I know some people who use aluminum crush washers twice. 1st) The first tightening will leave an indentation on the washer, where it met the face of the oil pan or transaxle. 2nd) On a subsequent fluid change, wipe the crush washer, then use a sharpie to mark the side that got slightly dented against the face of the oil pan/transaxle. Flip the crush washer over. The dented side will face the drain plug bolt head, and the flat side of the washer will go against the oil pan/transaxle. Your call. Easy to just buy a bunch of crush washers from Amazon or Camelback Toyota.
There's an inference there, that all the stress deformation happens only on one face, I'm not sure that's the case. I don't even think about it, just use fresh washers, every time. Again, if circumstances somehow dictated I didn't have a new washer on hand I'd have no qualms about making an exception, but planning ahead, when I'm buying supplies I make sure to buy the washer(s).
The autoparts stores recommend Valvoline ATF MaxLife Multi-Vehicle Synthetic transmission fluid. Is this a safe and high-quality equivalent of the Toyota ATF WF?
I would stick with Toyota ATF WS. You'd have to be a mechanical engineer to know if alternates are safe and compatible, and even then... The Owner's Manual has a very emphatic caution, to use only the Toyota fluid, or risk damage. They don't use that caution for anything else. They come close, with the coolant, but they do say you can use alternative coolant, if it meets this, has that, doesn't have the other. But the transaxle fluid, I would play it safe. Dealership parts departments should have it readily available. Last time I purchased (in Canada) it was $9.14 (CDN) per liter. I recently read another Toyota document, that cautions to only use fluid from freshly opened bottles. In other words, don't save left-overs for next time, it doesn't store well. Maybe similar to brake fluid, it absorbs water over time? Anyway.
Now you’ve done it. Here comes another transmission fluid war. Some people here swear by the valvoline some here say your transmission will blow up if you use it. I say price out 4 quarts of ATF at the dealer and then ask yourself if the price difference is worth the piece of mind of using the recommended fluid?