What to do about transmission fluid

My dealer in CT charges me $100 for the drain/refill but would probably have balked at doing the first one at 30k miles until I showed him the lab data (attached here). Note the high metallic load at 61k miles and the lower numbers at 120k and at 180k. Make sure that he is not quoting the cost for an ATF "flush" (costs more than a simple drain/refill) as that is not required for a Prius.

JeffD

 

Jack one side up with any jack (the one for changing the spare tire will do). Then place a jack stand under that side and let the car down on it. Repeat for other side. Don't get under the car without a fixed support. I've got some ramps purchased for use with an older car, but the Prius doesn't have the clearance to drive up them. But they work fine to hold the car up after jacking it.

$180 for a procedure as complicated as an ordinary oil change is rather steep. As a DIY project, just be sure to use the Toyota specified oil, remove the fill plug first, and know how you're going to get the oil in the fill hole before you drain the old oil...

 

It's been a while since I changed the transmission oil on my Gen2. What I did was to back the car into my slightly sloped driveway, and jack up the front end. The drain hole looked low enough to get most of the oil out. I refilled from the top with a funnel and a long tube. It took the expected amount of oil, and probing the fill hole showed the level right up to the hole. The car was maybe 3 or 4" higher at the front than back, and the tilt didn't seem to upset anything.

The wrenches required to remove the drain/fill plugs are unusual. I think one is a square drive, and the other some sort of allen. Finding a funnel with a long enough tube was another project. These are all non-issues for a mechanic who regularly performs the service, but as a DIY type, I had to go purchase the sockets and funnel required for the project. It would be useful to have another car available to go on a shopping trip while the Prius is up on jack stands...

 

I raise the front end with a regular (not low profile) floor jack, set it on safety stands, then raise the rear with the floor jack and again set it on safety stands. Before setting the rears down I put a level on the rocker panel and try to get it to settle down close to level.

The rear safety stands I put on the rocker panel support points, as outlined in the Manual. But for the front ones I put them a little inboard, at the front of a rail that runs front to back.

Then, before getting under, I push a section of tree stump under there to keep me company. It's a bit thicker than me, makes me feel secure.

 

I called my local dealer, first they quoted me $300.00.
When then found out I only have 36K, they refused to do the change!

Gotta make some more phone calls!

 

Yes, I'd phone around, between the price and digging in their heels like that, there's got to be better.

The fluid and washers should come in under $40. The labour, realistically: 1 hour. I mean, second time around, I could practically do it in an hour. For the dealership with a hoist...


My sense of when to do it: first change should be quite early, and then spread out the following changes. I did a change (myself) at end of year one, and intend to do bi-yearly changes from here on.

 

Your dealer is confusing the fluid change method of the Tacoma and the Prius. The Tacoma requires a thermal fluid flush which is MUCH more involved. The Prius is just a drain and fill. The dealer charges 1/2hr labor and about $40 for the fluid and washer. Have them call Magnussen Toyota in Auburn, CA to verify if they can't figure it out. They were the only ones in my area who knew what the hell they were talking about. Everyone else wanted $280+.

 

BINGO, Justin, you nailed that right on the head.
The guy got into telling me about getting the oil to temp, hook up computer, blah, blah, blah. I kept insisting it was a simple drain and fill, he just would not listen!
Next call I make, if the new service tech tries that bit, I can remind him, Prius, not Tacoma!

+1 Pal!

 

Good luck, brother!

I'll get the name of the service guy at Magnussen's for you so you can reference them if needed.

 

If he can read, tell him to read the Toyota Prius factory repair manual. The instructions are basically the same as a manual transmission oil change except is uses WS.

 

Depending on how this works out for you, I may follow your lead. Please take a couple of pics, I would love to see your results!

 

Here are the Gen III transmission oil change instructions from the Mothership's repair manual

 

My local dealer here in NJ didn't give me any problems when I requested they change my ATF at 73,000 miles. I was ready for a battle but they quoted $89 so I took them up on their offer. BTW, you folks in Northern California could always avail yourselves of Luscious Garage in San Francisco. I have no skin in their game but if I lived out that way they seem to have excellent references and reviews of their business practices. Luscious Garage | Hybrid Specialists

 

Here are a couple of my UOAs from the transaxle of my 2010 Prius. I'll send in another sample when I change it again at 80K to see if there is still a high aluminum content.

Here is an old thread that may be of interest, post #35 contains a procedure for transaxle fluid changes that works pretty good. DIY Transmission Fluid Change? | Page 2 | PriusChat