2012 Prius v wagon coolant change

@NutzAboutBolts has videos on inverter and engine coolant changes for regular 3rd gen Prius, near the top here:

NutzAboutBolts - YouTube

Obviously not Prius v, but I think very similar, worth watching.

The videos are also linked in a PriusChat thread here:

DIY Auto Projects (formerly Nutz About Bolts) Prius Maintenance Videos | PriusChat

But right now the links are broken, should be sorted in a day or two.

 

Maybe you could add an aftermarket air bleed valve?

IIRC @NutzAboutBolts doesn't use airbleed valve during refill. But I'd agree it greatly reduces air trapped, being able to leave a high point vent open while refilling, until fluid starts coming out.

I haven't done a coolant change on Prius yet, fwiw.

 

The older Prius model has the bleeder valves, they removed the bleeder valves for the newer models from 2012-2015. If you don't have the bleeder valves, it's not a big deal. Some people on here said they tried to bleed the air from the bleeder valve and little fluids passed through there, and didn't make a difference. Just follow our video on bleeding the engine and inverter coolant and you should be fine. Our Prius is a 2012 model so it's the same engine. Hope that helps.

 

Yeah the last car I changed fluid on was a Civic, which does have an air-bleed valve, at a high point on the engine. It was interesting as we (my son and I) were pouring fluid with the bleeder valve open, he pointed out: you could feel a definite jet of air coming out of the bleeder valve as the coolant was poured in.

This was at the radiator cap. Another anomaly of the 3rd gen Prius: no rad cap.

Still, maybe you could just splice one in, on the highest hose?

 

I believe the civic has a coolant plug or bleeder valve on the engine block that bleeds the air out of the cooling system, we never bothered with that since it was a pain to get to lol. And I'm not sure what that 3 way valve is for on your picture...

 

We actually did the drain and refill since our Prius was at 120k miles already. You can let it drip till its stop but we were fine with where the fluid was drain at.

 

How did this all work out for you? I've got 80k on my 2013 v and am starting to ponder my summer maintenance.

 

Ancient bump I'm sorry. Official instructions say to fill to the B line on the reservoir when refilling, third line, the one above FULL. Then set AC OFF before turning on maintenance mode. Heat at HI and one bar blower speed.

EDIT- Certification mode did not keep the engine on for me. It kept turning on and off. Then squeeze upper and lower radiator hoses at engine operating temp. (Forget that! I saw no good way to reach them? Maybe I need to find my extra long oven mitts?)

REVVL V+ 5G ?

 

Did the coolant level drop down some?

that’s odd about engine not staying in. Did for me, but after half an hour without fans going in I shut it down. Seems ok anyway.

 

Yes it did. I would guess it's about full now. I have it on Rhino Ramps in front and jacked up the rear then just ran the engine. Well first step of putting on EDIT- certification mode is turn IG ON, so I turned off AC as emphasized. I think I could reach the lower radiator hose but the upper one (other big one doesn't really seem that much higher on the other side of the radiator) is very near one of the fans. Not interested in testing my oven mitt vs fan I just buttoned up the main cover for now. (Ordered a replacement radiator under cover as my father cracked one of the mounting holes in front).

About the engine turning on and off, I noticed the HV battery was literally one bar from fully charged. I guessed that had something to do with it and that's all. The car is still sitting on Rhino Ramps in front but rear is now down hence the guestimate of the level.

BTW- It may be a mortal sin on this forum but I have lots of Peak Global Lifetime left over, not enough Toyota, so I filled with it. There's still a little pink area in a lower corner of the reservoir that for some reason did not drain out. I guess I replaced close to 1 3/4 gallon of coolant just draining and filling, tilting the back end up and down helped get some more out....



REVVL V+ 5G ?

 

I have done it many times. No squeezing required. Drain and you get about five quarts. Fill and run in maintenance mode. It does keep the engine on. I warm the engine with the cap off and it releases air fine. Finally cap it and drive. Check the level for a few days, it might drop a half inch.


Maintenance Mode to Continuously Idle Engine (Don't drive in this mode, damage may occur)
Useful for coolant change when adding new 50/50 antifreeze

1. Press Start button 2 times
2. Press Gas Pedal 2 times
3. Press brake and shift to Neutral
4. Press Gas Pedal 2 times
5. Press Brake and Press Park
6. Press Gas Pedal 2 times (hybrid warning light will start flashing)
7. Press Brake and Start button (starts engine, don't drive it, shutdown to return to normal)

 

Oops. I just verified with my wife that I'm now 46. Told her I just had a senior moment. I just verified with the instructions I have that I was following the certification mode instructions! Argh!!!

Thank you for correcting me!!!

REVVL V+ 5G ?