How to: Change Transmission Fluid ATF WS

Nice post...thanks.

 

Like!

Best post ever.

 

Bookmarking this page.

 

Is the ATF in your drain pan what you drained out?

It's pretty clean/clear still (if it is the drained ATF)...and 30k might be a little overkill

 

I think he posted this thread because it's not on Toyota's recommended service intervals?

The fluid does look pretty clear, but there are a couple other threads I read here where people changed it at 30k'ish and it was apparently very dark. I'm thinking I'll change it out at 50k. I'm don't drive the car hard, so I'm not too worried about it.

 

Let me congrat you on excellently kept car. I love this Gun Metallic color.
Very comprehensive and well explained DIY.

 

What is the size of the fill plug hole or what outer size of the tube is needed to fit in?
I've got the ATF and tools. Just tube size and washers are needed.
Are there 2 washers needed (fill and drain)? Anyone knows the Toyota part number?

Thanks!

 

My Prius C has 83000 miles and never changed the transmission fluid. Some say I have to change it and in the shops they say to me that if I didn't changed at 30000 never change it because it dislodge build ups that can cause more damage now. I don't know really what to do now. Thanks

 

I would change it ASAP! No sludge issues with this type of fluid and trans. It's going to be black black when you change it with lots of wear metals.

 

Not to be diametric... but why? I haven't seen a single person complaining of their transmission failing. You say ASAP like it's a must do thing.

 

Absolutely! For one thing this trans is oil cooled with no exterior heat exchanger. The oil heats and turns black much faster then the other HSD cars.

 

At 83K miles? I'll give you a couple of reasons:

1. First and foremost: it's cheap and easy. Not a big effort or expense, so why not?

2. I've changed the flluid 3 times on our 2010: first time at the one year mark, around 15K kms. The drained fluid at that first change was by far the darkest. It really seems like the break-in period is the most detrimental to fluid quality, at least judging by visual appearance.

The second change fluid was darker, but not by much.

The third time the fluid looked almost like new, and I pretty much resolved to wait a LONG time before doing it again.

A few cautions:

1. Use only Toyota ATF WS fluid, from a freshly opened bottle. According to Toyota, the fluid doesn't "keep" well.

2. Replace the fill and drain bolt washers. Have the car level when filling, and fill till it starts coming out. Torque value for regular Prius is 29 ft/lb (both). I don't have Prius c info, but hopefully that's close enuf.

3. Remove the fill bolt first, just in case.

 

Those are great reasons to do it... but still no real cause for the reasons. I'm not trying to be dissensious, I promise. But it's one of those scenarios that people are doing it because other people are doing it... not because a failure has occurred in anybody else.

Have you seen any failures reported, Mendel?

Note: I agree it's easy. I've been too lazy to do it myself, so I guess I'm control group A and you're control group B. We'll see what happens.

I've read many reports that the first change is always the nastiest and then basically pointless after that.

 

That explains why people that change it consider the first to be so dirty, but wouldn't that mean that the second and third time (even with longer intervals) would be dirtier due to less efficiency? How then would you explain them seemingly needing to be changed less?

 

I think first drain, even very early drain, is darkest due to to manufacture solvent residue (cutting oils), increased wear as freshly machined gears mesh, and so on.

 

I just did a service myself and was going to post everything.
Found your post and thought it was helpful plus a lot of others who posted this info previous to my endeavor. I went with the Toyota 0W16. I had used this oil for my previous services with good results.

This is the 1st time I did the transmission fluid and it did eliminate my vibrations with heavy throttle. Now with the new transmission refill the vibration went away. I think my fluid might have been low like many others before have reported less drained then what was supposed to go in.
I used a hand crank oil pump to fill the oil from under the car. Next time I am going to use a electric one!

 

My car is 2017 Prius C One with around 35000 miles and I did not change the Transmission oil. Why? Because base on booklet, I did not see they request to change. Each people have some reasons to explain why they do it, but the simplest thing is just follow the booklet.
I think we should watch the video which I attached. Example like I heard a lot of people say that we should change the engine oil every 5,000 miles or 6 months which is comes first, but in the booklet, it says 10,000 miles or 12 months which is come first. Don’t just Auto repair shop or even dealer. They just need one thing: “money”.
All everything I will do with my car: just follow the booklet. Period.
Video:

 

The stealerships are so bad. I knew a pharmacist who had to drive 40km to work and 40km home on a daily basis in Canada British Columbia.
The stealerships told her that because her vehicle is small so she needed to change her oil every 3000km if she is commuting on the highway for 80km+ everyday.
They also scare her by telling her that her engine died and she couldn't go to work if she didn't follow that strictly. Pool girl ended up changing oil within two months for two years. She nearly quit her post at the pharmacy because of this.
My dealers and service tells me to do a oil change every 5000km.
I do every 10k km.

 

So I changed the Trans fluid. Followed this thread, but instead of the difficult threading of a tube through the engine bay from top to bottom, we chose to buy an Outboard Motor fuel line that included the squeeze bulb. It made the whole ordeal much easier to say the least..

GZYF 3/8" Marine Outboard Boat Motor Fuel Gas Hose Line Assembly W/ Primer Bulb - Walmart.com - Walmart.com

Mileage on the C is 50,444. So yeah, a bit early I'm sure but the Trans fluid was the blackest gunk I'd ever seen come out of a Transmission. I would not have expected that color at that low mileage if it hadn't been for similar reports of others noticing the oddly dark color themselves. I did notice the typical vibration we Prius C drivers encounter right around that spot / speed of 40 or so mph when your car could go full on electric or stay gas was significantly reduced.

Anyways, the whole ordeal took me just a tad over 30 minutes to complete. Very easy to say the least.