Maintenance Priorities

brake fluid a good idea
tranny fluid as well
struts if the car is wandering or bouncy
same with shocks
good idea to check/clean the filter and fan, very easy
sparks 120k or now is fine
inverter coolant 150k? check your maintenance schedule, maybe 120k
definitely the egr circuit
oem everything, too many counterfeits out there

 

If the engine coolant has not been replaced, I would add it to your list.

Also cleaning of the throttle body if it was never cleaned.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I clean my throttle body's about every 25,000 miles or 3-years...whichever comes first. When I'm at it, I'll also remove and clean the MAF Sensor. (Auto parts stores sells specific cleaners for both...you don't want to use anything else, like brake cleaner.)

As a preventative measure, I, also, replace my radiator caps at 10-years if my vehicle has one. (They get rusting inside there where the spring is.) And, of course, the serpentine belt gets replaced every 10-years or as needed. (Prius doesn't have one.)

It's good to see folks taking care of their Toyotas...I saw a beautiful but VERY neglected Avalon the other day....poor thing was falling apart and they duct-taped one of the mirrors back on.

 

For your reference, a table format summary of the 3rd gen Prius Toyota USA attached. Two of them are MS Excel format, fwiw.

^ DEFINITELY look into this. Toyota doesn't want to talk about it much, and the head gaskets keep blowing. Ideally should be done by 100K miles at the latest, then 50K therafter. Even better: every 50K. Sync with engine coolant changes is opportune.

See top two links in my signature (on a phone turn it landscape to see signatures). Second link has some thoughts on avoiding coolant spillage, if coolant change is not needed.

 

not me, sorry

 

the method is to refill until it starts coming out of the fill hole. then put the plug in

 

yes, but it looks like he's just topping it up.

always remove the fill plug first, have new washers on hand. most people finagle a way to get a funnel and tube down to the fill hole, so they don't have to deal with the fluid transfer pump.

 

Very sloppy!
It's easy when the car is 5-6 feet in the air. When it's 1-2 feet and you're on your back, it ain't!
You need to make sure the car is level or you won't get acurate amount of fluid in it.
You don't really need new seals. The bolts do no need to be super tight. And there is no pressure
that might cause a leak.
Just use a drain pan, you're going to throw the old fluid out.
A 3-4 ft clear tube is cheap and you can feed it through the top, with a funnel at the top. SLOWLY pour
3.5 quarts of WS fluid in and stopping at time to allow the fluid to drain out of the tube.
Then get under the car and remove the tube. If fluid starts leaking out, install the fill tube bolt.
If it doesn't, re-install the tube and go back up top and about 1/4 of a qt in, repeating until the fluid flows out.

The hardest part will be getting the car LEVEL.

Use Toyota fluid, no a cheap copy.

 

Fill with the car level, till it starts coming back out. Will take about 3.5 quarts/liters. Use Toyota ATF WS from freshly opened bottles, don't save the old stuff, just recycle with your motor oil. For more info see my signature (on a phone turn it landscape to see signature).

 

Yes, that will work.
You need a longer breaker bar. Sometimes putting a lot of pressure on it and smaking it with
a hammer will break it free.

Make sure you break free the FILLER plug, at the top, before the drain plug.

 

you didn't read post 13, or have me on ignore. not that i blame you

 

Yep, post 13.....

Plus.... sometimes, you just gotta use some common sense.
If you had removed the drain plug first and drained all the fluid out, how would you fill it with the new fluid?