How to Change Your Transmission Fluid

You’re dealing with a dollar or two here. It’s a crush washer.

 

The dealer does not always rip you off. I almost always try to buy dealer parts and fluids now. Too many fake things on amazon and ebay. Been burned a few times with cheap knock offs failing.

You should always check the dealer anyway. I always used to get my wiper blades from the Toyota dealer ($7 or so). then they stopped selling them.

 

At dealership $2~3. But this is once every 4~5 years? C'mon splurge, lol. You're getting the Toyota ATF-WS there?

 

WS was needed. New washer (which I had, just in case) wasn't. Wanna bet it will leak when I reuse it a second or third time? I see no reason to believe it would.

 

You'll win the bet I'm (almost) sure.

 

It usually is a weekend as that works better schedule wise.

I try to do a couple of weeks prior and then a private message a week before to those that sign up on the meet up thread.

More to come but should be soon.

 

I used washer @jerrymildred suggested on #52 How to Change Your Transmission Fluid | Page 3 | PriusChat for my recent transmission fluid change on PRIME. It worked fine. I also picked up 4 qts of Toyota ATF WS from Amazon at the same time. Not much saving on price compared to a dealer, but my dealer is over an hour drive from my home. Convenience of home delivery and time saved were worth it.

 

That's a lot of crush washers.

 

Yeah, the life time supply (five changes). But I will likely to loose them before my next transmission fluid change due in 4 years. lol

 

You should see the drawer that @The Critic has if you think a bag is a lot .

But he stays busy on the side, so explainable .

 

When I buy a new car, I typically load up on items like this - crush washers, filters, etc. Buy in bulk not so much for the cost savings, but to have consumables when you need them. Nothing worse than getting ready to do a service and having to go fetch parts.

 

I'm more a just-in-time kinda guy.

Well, except for Costco purchases (I really should quit that store...): I just picked up a twin pack of Kirkland plastic wrap. Probably have to include the second one in my will...

 

I have mixed feeling on stocking up. I also hate to go buy stuff before I can start the job. Most times, by the time I get back with them, I'm out of time and have to wait till the next weekend

On the other hand, besides having five more fingers, I have lots of specific items for cars I no longer own. Well, I did till we moved to Honduras. I wasn't about to haul it down there! Then there's the stuff I know I bought a while back but can't find now that I need it.

 

I have 7 quarts of Honda ATF for a Civic that was totaled. Can't seem to even give it away locally. I hauled the oil filters and crush washers to my brother (on an airline), but couldn't transport the ATF. Still, I'd rather have the stuff and not need it, then need it and not have it when I'm ready to service the car.

For each car, I typically like to have at least one service ahead in stock. Oil, fluids, filters, gaskets, etc. I buy plugs and long-interval service items as needed, but the stuff that gets consumed regularly typically has the parts in place.

As a bonus, if I sell a car, I toss in the service items with the car. Just a few bucks, but the new owners seem to value that above the cost of the parts.

 

Yeah, I now think that is better strategy for a car maintenance, unless you service many cars frequently enough to go through the stock quickly. I bought filters, oil, coolant, and transmission fluid for our other cars when I was purchasing for one car to save some shipping cost. But before I had a chance to use some of them, the car was either traded, disabled and sold, or totaled. I now have some parts and consumable for specific cars I no longer own.

 

If any of those cars were a 2006 MX-5 or a 2010 Outback or a 2011 Kia Sorento, I'll give those parts a new home for free.

 

Nop. I have tail light housing, and wheel well liners for Civic Hybrid, and CVT fluid which I think I can use for my son's CR-Z. Also filters and coolant I bought for Civic should be OK for CR-Z. A case of Toyota Type IV transmission fluid I bought for Sienna. Mud flap and floor mats both brand new for Gen3 Prius. Also generic but brand new wiper blades for Gen 3 Prius which does not fit any of our current vehicles.