2011Prius 98k miles and have not changed engine/inverter coolant

Just text it with text strips for coolant like you do a pool . See how bad it's not. Nice and pink etc? probably good to 150K . And can be dumped and changed in a few minutes at home .

 

With the high labor rates in CA, I would just look for a coupon at a local dealership's website and have it done there. I don't think it's much cheaper at an independant shop in CA. It's best to have the right coolant put in vs going to an independant and them putting in the wrong stuff and saving you only $20. This is a once in 50k miles service, the $20 just not worth it

 

Personally I would not have this work done, but that’s just me

 

Unfortunately Toyota has a lifetime transaxle fluid, but not a lifetime coolant

 

After reading numerous PriusChat tales of woe after simple service items, I stand by my opinion
Only let someone you know and trust personally touch your car.

 

Interesting reasoning. Have you read all the drownings that occur in CA and Hawaii? That hasn't stopped you from moving away from the coastal states. I know, what a crazy thing to say

 

Touché

I’m very careful where I swim

 

In Cali. You money's spread very thin All over issues that need attention. And yes I got out of the coastal areas a long time ago because after living all over the world I know how quickly that can become a real bad disaster so I live inland a little bit on purpose for my house my property things like that I can be at the coast in a few minutes if need be under an hour practically so there's no reason to have my house sitting and possible disastrous events taking place. Similar with my vehicle and a lot of the things that I own I don't let repair people touch almost anything I own I'll just generally repair it myself I can solder and weld and all that nonsense until my car went over to a buddy of mine to have the engine put in it I hadn't had anything serviced or touched by another human in probably 50 years No kidding. Other than my dry cleaning.

 

Just get it done.

Toyota Canada says to do both the engine and inverter coolant at 160k kms (~100k miles) or 10 years, whichever comes first. Which I did in November of 2020, the 10 year mark, around 90k kms. I DIY’d them, was not that involved. Used Toyota Super Long Life.

For engine coolant change through dealership, you shouldn’t need to pay more than $150 USD. The inverter coolant change (if-and-when you're getting it done) is simpler, say $125 USD.

 

I wouldn't be opposed telling someone to watch a youtube video on how to change the engine coolant. Its really just opening the petcock valve on the radiator and the resevoir lid and letting it drain out, and then refilling. Very simple procedure. Just remember these cars use pink coolant, not red. I see people throw in red all the time. So make sure to grab super long life coolant from Toyota.

 

Technically you can use either pink or red. The only difference would be the service life of the fluid, the red being a non super long life coolant, has to be changed out every 30k miles.

The OPs car has almost 100k miles and over 10 years old. Maybe it's time to just spend $1000 and do all the stuff that's coming up in the next 20k miles?

1. Spark Plug change
2. Coolant change (both loops)
3. Clean EGR circuit
4. Possibly change electric water pump when doing coolant
5. Change all filters
6. Change brake fluid

 

The red (Long Life Coolant) is also full-strength (if I’m not mistaken), likely cheaper thus (once you dilute to 50/50).

Also, if you ever do a water flush, which will leave residual water, the full-strength will allow you to refill to 50/50. More thoughts on that in my signature (flushing out…).

 

if i went to a dealer, could they hook up tech stream to see how clogged my egr is, or would they have to open it up?