Differential Fluid/Gear Oil

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by priusdriver223, Feb 17, 2025.

  1. priusdriver223

    priusdriver223 Member

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    Hey guys,

    today I did my differential fluid on my own, and was wondering if using Toyota Genuine ATF WS was the correct choice, I have done some research myself and, from my knowledge, the previous gen hybrids all use ATF WS for both transmission and their axel fluid (aka diff fluid, right?). I have also read that Toyota recently introduced Toyota Genuine E-trans axel fluid and they’re slowly rolling it out to the 5th gen hybrids and EVs. I have made calls to Autozone, Advanced, and the Dealer. Autozone and Advanced both told me that they have no such information in their system, absolutely blank, Dealer strongly suggest that I should not be using ATF WS, and that I should be using Toyota Genuine E-trans axel fluid, is this a big deal or is it just Toyota marketing? Thanks!
     
    #1 priusdriver223, Feb 17, 2025
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    From your Owner's Manual:

    upload_2025-2-17_12-8-29.png
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Feb 17, 2025
  3. priusdriver223

    priusdriver223 Member

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    Hey there, yes I saw that, the reason I’m asking is because people have said it makes no difference and the price between the two is significant. I’m looking for more of a technical explanation of those two fluids and if they are interchangeable for Differentials. Cheers!
     
    #3 priusdriver223, Feb 17, 2025
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  4. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    I would change it to TE. The viscosity is different and they're designed to do different things. The transaxle in the gen5 is not the same one as in the gen4, and it was designed with TE in mind.

    For an AWD, you need two jugs of this: 08886-81986. Unfortunately, you're going to have about 3/4 of a jug leftover as you need 5.1L and it only comes in 4L jugs.

    If you buy in the next 11hrs, you can get two 4L jugs of TE for a total of $105.55.
    E-Taf,Te
     
    #4 Hammersmith, Feb 17, 2025
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I’ve found a Toyota doc regarding their ATF WS fluid, states to only use it from freshly opened bottles. The new fluid may have similar edict. Ah well.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Feb 17, 2025
  6. priusdriver223

    priusdriver223 Member

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    @KMO
    Hey there, I read your post from awhile back on the trans axels in the gen5 compared to the previous gen, any thoughts on this? Cheers!
     
    #6 priusdriver223, Feb 18, 2025
  7. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

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    My only thought is do what the manual says - use the TE.

    There are cases where you could plausibly argue that previously a car was specced for one thing, and they revised the manuals to allow new fluids without changing the car, so there's no obvious reason the old guidance wouldn't still be valid.

    But in this case it's a new design, that has always been specced for TE, so seems wisest to assume it was designed for TE and not to be tolerant of WS.
     
    #7 KMO, Feb 18, 2025
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2025
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