Inverter and Engine Coolant Change

Yes, the inverter and engine use the same coolant.

2 gallons will not be enough. 3 is needed. If you fully drain the engine coolant you will probably need 6.5 quarts. The inverter/transaxle will need around 3 quarts.

 

I wouldn't do a full drop of the engine coolant. Engine pretty easy on the ice coolant but Inverter very hard on the coolant.

For engine just dump the rad only and flush out the overflow bottle. Do that again in 5,000 miles it will look pretty good and not invoke the dreaded air lock so many people report with this car. Air bleeding is difficult because of the coolant heat recovery canister (CHRS) which must be jumped out and cycled to get any air out of it. With no temp gauge you may never know till its too late you have an airlock and the engine overheats. Dangerous. You can start the bottle with techsteam mini vci but you may not have that.

The Inverter on the other hand is quite easy to bleed and you will get a real good bang for your buck there. Should see instant mpg gain after a successful Inverter coolant change. I change the Inverter coolant every time i do the trans fluid about every 50K miles. Why not I'm under there bustin out the trans bolts. The dump bolt for the Inverter is right there.

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Thanks for the information, I plan on doing this in a few months if not sooner.

 

I have an 05 which I brought up from Puergo Rico to Harrisburg for daughter. I want to winterize it so want to put coolant in it but really don't know if it is full of coolant.liquid does not look pink so wondering if just doing radiator DD ump and flush overflow tank will be enough. Procedure for draininv e VB erything looks pretty complicated. What do you think.

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Since you are uncertain about the existing coolant then you must fully drain and replace all coolant in both the engine and inverter/transaxle coolant loops.

 

I was afraid you would say that and I am watching the you tube video on it and read the link I think you put up from exclusively Hybrid. The guy on you tube looks like he drained everything from under the heater so and only took out a gallon and a half so I don't think that was everything as the link says you have to open the drink at the heater resovoir and the radiator. I ASKED Pep Boys if they knew how to do and they yes and for 76.00 but I don't know if I trust them. I heard the job costs 180 to 196 at the dealer. It's now very cold up here in Harrisburg like 40 degrees, and I don't have a garage to do it in and have to buy the hoses and such. So I thinking just tell my daughter to make an appointment with Toyota as I will be going back to PR on Tuesday. What do you think?

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I have already changed the inverter coolant when I had to change a faulty pump after it had been replaced the first time under warranty before I brought the car, that was easy and not a problem. Just have not done the engine side.


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OK, there is more chance the dealer tech will do the job right vs. Pep Boys.

 

Anyone drain the engine block? Whenever I've done this on Hondas there's always a torrent. But apparently not much on the Prius?

 

On the G2, my experience is that if you drain via the coolant heat recovery system canister drain valve, 95% of the coolant will come out via that valve. No reason to open the radiator drain valve, and only a tiny amount will come out of the engine block drain valve.