Maintenance Priorities

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by ShihFa, Sep 18, 2023.

  1. ShihFa

    ShihFa Junior Member

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    Hello All,

    I just came back from the dealership, and they recommended a pretty long list of maintenance items, so I was wondering if I could get some guidance on what to prioritize:

    1. Brake Fluid Exchange (Done once around 30,000 miles)
    2.Transmission/Transaxle Fluid Exchange (Not been done)
    3. Front Struts Worn; strut boot torn. (Not been done)
    4. Rear Shocks Replacement (Not been done)
    5. Hybrid Battery Filter Service (Not been done, and is this necessary?)
    6. Spark Plugs (Not been done)
    7. Inverter Coolant Exchange (Not been done)

    Car has 112,000 miles, and I am interested in DIYing as much as possible, so any recommendations regarding parts to use would be appreciated as well. I will most likely go OEM with fluids unless most of you disagree with that approach. But I am wondering if it is worth going OEM with the spark plugs and shocks and struts.

    Additionally, on another thread, I read about Professional EGR Cleaning on another thread. And I can look ito that as well, but I thought I address the above list first.

    Thank you for your thoughts!
     
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    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
     
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  3. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    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.
     
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  4. ShihFa

    ShihFa Junior Member

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    Engine Coolant done with water pump that malfunctioned.

    Throttle body cleaning: how often does that need to be done: I have done it myself before.
     
  5. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

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    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.
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    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.
     
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  7. ShihFa

    ShihFa Junior Member

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    Is this easy to DIY? Or can anybody suggest a good place in the Bay Area, California to do this if the dealership will not?
     
  8. ShihFa

    ShihFa Junior Member

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    For shocks and struts, the last time I did it, I bought the shocks and struts together as a strut assembly. Does anybody know if I can buy OEM in this way?
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not me, sorry
     
  10. ShihFa

    ShihFa Junior Member

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    Does anybody know how much transmission fluid drains out of and goes into the Prius? Somebody suggested that I just put it back how much drains out, but I can’t think of how to do this because if I drain the old fluid and measure it with one container, I would have to use another similar container to measure the new fluid; I do have two similar containers, But if I put the new fluid in a different container from its original packaging, don’t I risk contamination? Please let me know if I am overthinking this.
     
    #10 ShihFa, Sep 29, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2023
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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

    ShihFa Junior Member

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    Like in this video?
     
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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    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.
     
  14. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    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.
     
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  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    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).
     
  16. ShihFa

    ShihFa Junior Member

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    I had trouble removing the drain plug for the transmission fluid; will spraying it with PB Blaster do any harm? Video above says rust penetrant, and that’s the only penetrant that I have.
     
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  17. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    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.

     
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  18. ShihFa

    ShihFa Junior Member

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    I didn’t know about this. Thank you!
     
    #18 ShihFa, Sep 29, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2023
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Yep, post 13..... :whistle:

    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? (n)(y):whistle: