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Fluid changes at 50K for 2018 model

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Lightcycle, Jun 9, 2023.

  1. Lightcycle

    Lightcycle Junior Member

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    My Toyota dealer sprung a surprise on me during my last 5K maintenance and said I really needed to have three fluids changed as a standard procedure at its mileage (the car is now at 68K). They want to change the Transmission fluid, Inverter coolant, and Engine coolant. Cost: $875.

    Does that service need to be done?

    Is $875 a reasonable price for service in the Boston suburbs?
     
  2. Doug McC

    Doug McC Senior Member

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    The Maintenance Schedule doesn’t call for the coolants to be changed until 100K for the engine and 150k for the inverter HOWEVER, it DOES call for having them both inspected for condition every 5K and changed if needed based on the condition. You could skip and increase your chances of head gasket or exhaust heat exchanger failure on the engine side, and inverter failure on the inverter side. The coolant additives degrade over time and those additives include corrosion protection.
    As far as the transmission fluid goes the schedule doesn’t call for it unless there is a leak HOWEVER it is good preventative maintenance.
    The Car Care Nut recommends the very same service your dealer is recommending at about this point (and even having the brake fluid changed). If you’re planning on keeping the car I would recommend it, but many on this site prefer to ignore preventive maintenance and then blame Toyota for parts failing. FWIW
     
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  3. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    None of those services NEEDS to be done according to the OEM service manual and $875 to me is excessive. Then again I can perform those services, myself.
    The ATF (automatic transmission fluid) I would consider doing for less than $150. I did my 2012 Pruis C @ 25k miles and it was significantly dark, compared to the dealer ATF I changed it with. I did another ATF change on the same car at 80K, it was cleaner than the 25K mile change. This time the ATF had about 55K miles on it and it stayed clean. No change in the way I used/abused the car - so I attributed the dirty ATF to breakin and assembly dirt. It's a simple drain and fill procudure that shouldn't take more than a hour.
    I'm surprised the dealership didn't offer a brake fluid system flush at that mileage and location. A moisture test would validate and support such a change recommendation. A litmus test would be used to validate and support the coolant replacement recommendation.

    Hope this helps.........
     
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just do the tranny fluid if you're going to keep her beyond 150,000 miles
     
  5. Doug McC

    Doug McC Senior Member

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    You can do math (I hope) so you do realize that the car will be 15 years old at that point based on his OP? Like I said “many on this site ignore preventative maintenance….”
     
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes, the tranny is the most reliable system in a prius, without fluid changes
     
  7. sclevine

    sclevine Active Member

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    For what it's worth, it cost me $425 to replace all 3 in my 2017 at 100k miles, but that was in 2019, so 3.5 years have gone by and we know what's been happening with prices... Mine was done in suburban NYC (westchester)
     
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  8. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

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    If it were me, yes. I don't let ANY fluid go longer than 100,000 miles or 5-years, whichever comes first. (Wife's 2017 Prius only had 26,000 last year when it hit 5-years and I, still, changed all radiator fluid from engine/traction and transmission and brake fluid.)

    Oil/Filter Every 6-months or 5,000 miles (Daughter's Palisade is every 3,000 miles)
    Air Filter As Needed (check every 6-months)
    Cabin Air Every 12-months (Charcoal)
    Radiator Coolant Every 5-years or 100,000 miles
    Hybrid Coolant Every 5-years or 100,000 miles
    CVT/AT Tranny Every 5-years or 100,000 miles
    Power Steering Fluid Every 4-years/50,000 miles (Not Hybrids)
    Front/Rear DIffs Every 3-years
    Transfer Case Every 3-years
    Lube Every 12-months (if app)
    Spark Plugs/PCV and PCV Valve Hose/ Radiator Cap / Gas cap Every 10-years/100,000 Miles
    Brake Fluid Flushed Every 4-years/50,000 miles
    Throttle Body Cleaned Every 25,000 Miles
    MAF Sensor Cleaned Every 25,000 Miles
    Tire Rotation Every 5,000 Miles
     
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    That’s 3 services; do you have a breakdown for each?

    just my 2 cents:

    transaxle fluid change: $90 USD
    engine coolant change: $150 USD
    inverter coolant change: $125 USD

    the transaxle fluid id do, if the price is reasonable, but the others are way premature, by miles or months (per Toyota USA Warranty and Maintenance Booklet); tell them to take a hike.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you're living in the past mendel (pre covid) :p
     
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  11. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

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    Yep, my dealership, last year, quoted me $315 just for draining/filling the transmission in the Prius. I guess that's their "set" price for all vehicles so makes sense for a Tundra but not for a Prius.
     
  12. Doug McC

    Doug McC Senior Member

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    You are one of the few on this site that realize that time is just as important as mileage in regard to these fluids.
     
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  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Yeah that’s nuts. If the car on a lift for an oil change, the transaxle drain and fill bolts are right next door: remove both, drain, reinstall drain bolt, funnel/hose from above onto the fill hole, 4 quarts (~$40 USD) in, install fill bolt.