Toyota service center and not servicing as per Toyota schedule

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by mtl, Oct 1, 2022.

  1. mtl

    mtl Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2022
    55
    24
    0
    Location:
    Slovenia
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I had a bad experience with previous owner of this car. The car was serviced once a year at official Toyota service center as per schedule, but spark plugs and transmission fluid was not done as per Toyota recommended intervals. Has anyone had this happen that they would ''forget'' to do the scheduled maintenance?
    My guess is that this was done because the previous owner said not to do it, since he knew he will sell the car. But I find it strange that Toyota service center did not write this down on the invoice.
    Well, I have done it now and transmission fluid was completelly shot at 95.000 miles:
    5 - transmission oil.jpg
    I have immediatelly noticed on the first drive that the transmission is much ''peppier'', it moves much more freely and reacts really immediatelly. I have not noticed this before, but now I see that the transmission reaction before replacing the transmission fluid was much more sluggish, so I am really happy with the result. Also I think that when engine turns on/off while driving is less noticeable.
    I hope that no damage was done to the transmission due to this late transmission fluid change.

    What is your experience? Mine is that they usually try to add some additional service and not remove the most expensive parts of the maintenance :).

    Anyway, if you are buying used car do not just check that it was serviced at the manufacturers service center, but verify per maintenance schedule that everything was really serviced as it should be, especially the more expensive parts.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    111,181
    50,612
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    they often write, 'customer refuses xyz service', but idk if they always do. either way, it's good that you're doing it.
    i think your tranny will be fine, without a test, it's hard to know the condition of the fluid, and in north america, they don't even recommend changing it. they call it 'lifetime' :cool:

    how many km on her?
     
  3. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014
    2,653
    1,145
    0
    Location:
    Northwestern S.C.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    What are those recommended intervals in your country? They don't specify any interval for transmission oil changes in the USA. That's controversial, though.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  4. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2020
    3,880
    1,867
    0
    Location:
    NJ-USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    It would be helpful to know what the maintenance schedule is for your car.

    In the US market, the Gen2 schedule shows engine and inverter coolant change at 100.000 miles, and spark plugs at 120.000 miles. There is no listing for transmission or brake fluid.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    mtl likes this.
  5. mtl

    mtl Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2022
    55
    24
    0
    Location:
    Slovenia
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Lool, lifetime :).
    153.000km.
    That is what I meant: but there was no additional comment on the bill. I thought everything was done and it was good I went to buy the gaskets and just by the way asked the service manager to check what was done. My jaw dropped :) and he was also scratching his ears...

    This is stated in my cars service booklet:
    Oil and oil filter: 1 year or 15.000km
    Air filter: 4 years or 60.000km
    Spark plugs: 90.000km
    Brake fluid: 2 years or 30.000km
    Engine coolant: first at 150.000km and after that every 90.000km
    Inverter coolant: first at 240.000km and after that every 90.000km
    Transmission oil: 4 years or 60.000km

    Interestingly brake fluid change was done as per schedule although for me that is really an overkill.

    Anyway, I just did everything (inverter and engine coolant, transmission oil), now I only need to find time to replace the spark plugs and all should be ok. :)
     
    bisco and CR94 like this.
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    9,126
    5,528
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    It is highly unlikely changing your transaxle oil made it more responsive or your engine stop starts smoother. There are no hydraulic actuators, clutches or gear shifting/engaging in the transaxle of a Prius. The oil does lubricate planetary gears which are constantly engaged and helps cool the electric motors. Which is why the fluid is considered lifetime by Toyota in the US. On the other hand, changing can't hurt UNLESS the wrong fluid was used which potentially could impact the motors.
     
    mtl and CR94 like this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,971
    39,995
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    That’s a Toyota publication, saying 4 years or 60k kms for “transmission oil”, specifically for Prius?

    North American Toyota schedules make zero mention of transaxle fluid change. FWIW, I’d recommend a first change around 16k kms or 12 months. Then one more, around maybe 60k.
     
    mtl likes this.
  8. mtl

    mtl Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2022
    55
    24
    0
    Location:
    Slovenia
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, official Toyota service book.
    Transaxle fluid change is stated together with the transmission oil, so I was under impression this is the same oil.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  9. mtl

    mtl Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2022
    55
    24
    0
    Location:
    Slovenia
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Than that is due to oil change. I will test it with next oil change.
     
  10. johnHRP

    johnHRP Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2014
    539
    159
    0
    Location:
    tally, fl
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Hybrid transmission is like differential, all gears and magnet, drain and refill 99.99% got changed. The recommendation is 60-100k miles for the ATF in hybrid but it is not as critical as torque converter type transmission. Just change it every 60k miles if we do towing and carrying 4 passengers all the time.
    As most Prius owners in North America, we concern more about oil consumption and 5k miles interval is still the most important thing here. No one ever have transmission problem in Prius 3rd gen, but millions with oil consumption.
    Toyota WS and Dexron VI are very similar in the characteristics and Tesla uses Dexron VI for its transmission. Some people in BITOG stated Dexron VI has better characteristics standard and licensed to other brands. Toyota WS is not licensed to others but often can be substituted by DexronVI fluid like Valvoline Maxlife Dex/Merc, Dexron VI supertech, etc. if you cannot find WS fluid.
     
    #10 johnHRP, Oct 2, 2022
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2022
    mtl likes this.
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,971
    39,995
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    One thing: Toyota Canada maintenance schedule for our 2010 Prius is a single document used to describe the requirements for ALL their vehicles. Accordingly it’s almost unreadable; mentioning every service for every vehicle, with various caveats and exclusions, mentions of four wheel drive fluids, conventional transmissions and so on.

    To understand how it applies to a specific vehicle almost necessitates a rewrite, preferably in table format, say with months/miles columns and description rows.

    IF your schedule is similar, applies to multiple Toyota vehicles, perhaps the transmission fluid change was applicable to another vehicle??

    again I’m firmly in the change it camp, just a little incredulous that Toyota broke their usual silence on Prius transaxle fluid.
     
  12. mtl

    mtl Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2022
    55
    24
    0
    Location:
    Slovenia
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I have seen your maintenance guide and it is not the same.
    It is specific to my car and it says exactly this: automatic transmission/front differential fluid: every 4 years/60.000km
    I have left out mentioning differential fluid in my first post, since it is the same fluid.

    I really do not get what Toyota is doing by having obviously vastly different service intervals by country. That is just plain crazy and just another piece of puzzling the owners. For example transmission/differential fluid lifetime vs 4years/60.000km.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  13. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    9,126
    5,528
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    There is little doubt that fresh fluid in the transaxle will largely remove any contaminates that may be floating around. On the other hand, Toyota developed the Prius largely to meet a California regulation for a near zero emissions, high mile per gallon, low carbon vehicle. Part of that thinking was extended 10 k mile oil changes and no transaxle fluids replacement reduces the amount of hydrocarbons used by 50%. It became cool to have a Prius when fuel prices doubled and the rest is history.
     
  14. mtl

    mtl Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2022
    55
    24
    0
    Location:
    Slovenia
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I do get this. But with not requiring correct service interval for systems in the car, they lose in longterm Toyotas best value: reliability
    On the other hand they require 60.000 service for ATF in Europe. Is this really needed? Would a 100.000 service interval be ok? Is this just to get more money from european customers? I really do not get this.
    Also to get all the parts and everything it was a real pain in the nice person with this car. I service all my cars for the last 25 years and I was not aware that it can be so hard to get all the necessary parts, starting with as simple as oil. And finally I have went for Toyota coolant and Toyota gearbox oil as recommended. The first one is for me a really extortionate price, but that's it.
    Anyway, now that I have all the info and part nr. it will be easy to service it.
    And I have to say that changing the transmission/front differential oil is really easy on this car. Also coolant, no problem. At least this, if the price for the parts is high ;).
     
    #14 mtl, Oct 3, 2022
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2022
  15. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    9,126
    5,528
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    The oil, fluid, coolant and filter prices have stabilized and are actually being discounted in the US recently. It is hard to say gen3 Prius reliability issues have anything to do with oil change frequency.

    Some manufacturer's vehicles have intervals of 15k miles. The gen3 Prii have bad engineering causing reliability problems, starting with flawed pistons, rings, pcv and egr designs. The engine was significantly redesigned for the gen4s to resolve all these issues plus benefit from improved cylinder cooling strategies and revised head gasket geometry. Fluids are the same in gen4s as are the extended intervals but the redesigned engines are showing vastly improved reliability.

    Most of us believe increased oil changes in gen3s "may" keep the flawed rings free longer. Interestingly, the gen3 transaxles are reliable even with no fluid changes in the US.
     
    #15 rjparker, Oct 3, 2022
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2022
    mtl likes this.