45k miles, low coolant levels?

No its something you should learn to do yourself. Just buy a gallon of Toyota SLLC at the dealer. Its around $27.
Then buy a nice funnel at Walmart.
Get a black magic marker sharpie and highlight the writing on the tanks so its easy to see fill lines. Do that on all reservoirs. Pour in slowly the SLLC which is used in both the Engine coolant overflow tank and the Inverter coolant reservoir. Pour in enough to bring it to full line on level ground on both reservoirs.

There..... just saved yourself 2 hours standing around at the dealer.

 

When we bought our Prius III model 5 three years ago, I noticed the coolant levels were just above the "low" marks on the reservoirs - engine was cold, so I didn't think too much about it. Two years later, when I bothered to look again, the levels were still just above the low marks. When I commented on this to the service manager where I get the car serviced, he said they check coolant levels every time they change the oil and add as necessary...

 

You check under the hood every 2 years? To avert disaster you should check the oil & reservoirs every time you fill up.

Disaster meaning there is no dashboard temp gauge so if you pop a coolant leak and the engine overheats its will not throw a check engine light that it is overheat till its way way overheated possibly causing major damage to the engine. Especially if your like most people and continue driving even with the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree.

A simple 3 second glance at all reservoirs every fill up could save you thousands of dollars. Most of time its a slow slow leak but if you never ever check under the hood it will get you eventually.

Use that hood time to vent the tank. I timed it the other day after a poster lamented how time consuming it was.
It took me 50 seconds from sitting in the car to opening the hood & checking and glancing to my butt back in the seat.

 

Yeah, you're right, I'm pretty sloppy about checking things. Fortunately the car's basic reliability has seen me through so far - hopefully the dealer service department has done it's job too. Now that it's getting older (72000 mi) I certainly need to watch things more closely.

 

I just happened to look at my levels this evening, even tho I just had a 5000 mile check. I had marked the level it was at when new = about 1/2 way between marks, so I topped it up to mark. Same with the brake resevoir, so I filled that to top mark. Personally I don't think the service people do a thing, unless it's below the bottom mark. I don't believe the factory fills these reservoirs either.

 

Which is why you have to check it yourself every fill up. The car won't alert you its sprung a leak was my point. Not necessary to mark it where its at just keep it at the fill mark. Thats the mark to watch.
50 seconds to check all fluids.

 

Reply is above. One day I will remember to write after quote, instead of infringing, sorry.

 

Yes the brake fluid will go down over time as the pads wear. Needs to be watched if you drive alot. And the coolant needs to be checked on level ground when its very cool. It changes slightly between cold and hot. You can check at either temp by looking at overflow tank level but comparing between the 2 may confuse you.

 

If you believe they check the coolant level with your oil change at Toyota, I have a bridge in Brooklyn you may want to buy. Just make sure you check the oil before you leave the facility. They may not have changed it or they didn't put oil back after they drained it.

 

For the record, if the slow coolant loss is due to evaporation, it should be topped with distilled water and not coolant. Not that it's s big deal, unless incompatible coolant is used.

 

I have 40k on the car and level just ON the low level marks on both I wouldn't worry

by the way the level was just slightly above the low when it was brand new not even close to the high in either cases ...

so after 40k miles the level went done what 1/2'-1/4' even less ... unless you see real abrupt change I wouldn't worried. But the suggestion of top it of is quite right ... this you can easily do ... by the way have you not topped off windshield fluid ??? this is about the same ... just make sure you get the right stuff (check manual and get what toyota requires) puring it in should be easy.

 

What ??? I already bought that bridge ...

They even "forget" to rotate the tires !!! I went back and showed them how I knew !!! bastards I bought TAC .... stupid stupid stupid .... (at the time it was 5k oil change over $60 a piece so kind of close call unless DIY ...)

 

My car is just over three years old with 52k miles and both coolant reservoir levels have never dropped below the Full marks. So I would discount evaporation. I would definitely top off with SLLC.

 

LOL. My car is almost three years old with near 30k miles and ICE coolant reservoir level have dropped to the Low mark. I bet it's evaporation. I will top off with distilled water. Same in my other non-hybrid cars. It's really hot down here.

 

I am not sure where you live in the SE but it must really be hot or you drive your cars a lot harder than I do

I drained and refilled both of my coolant loops about a year or so ago and they both still have never moved below the full line. Same thing with my wife's Honda Accord.

 

Both my reservoirs have not dropped either in the last year. I look at every fill up.
All my cars.
They look different when hot and cold. The ICE moves around a litttle bit. I always check those hot.

 

Just checking: Is this Toyota SLLC coolant ready to use, or is it supposed to be mixed 50/50 with distilled water?

Both coolant reservoirs are open to the atmosphere, the actual engine and inverter coolant systems operate under pressure and are not.
I believe water can evaporate from the coolant in the reservoirs leaving a more concentrated mix. I think you can bring the level up with distilled water, but you should not bring the level to the high mark unless the systems are hot.

You should not top off the brake fluid. It is designed to go down as the pads wear. When new pads are installed the level if pushed back up to the original level. If it was topped while the pads were old you create a mess when new ones are installed.

Interestingly, these high-tech cars do not have a low coolant sensor to warn you before an overheating incident occurs. Once the overheat warning comes on it is time to pull over and shut the car off.
My previous VW TDI's had a level sensor in the coolant reservoir. The Volt now has one in the battery coolant system.. after a situation where coolant leaked into the battery itself causing big problems.
It's very handy to be given a warning before bigger, badder things happen!