Transaxle Fluid Drain & Fill (DIY Easy as 1-2-3)

Thank you for the pictures and explanation.

I am planing on replacing the transmission fluid next weekend.

I have the 2010 prius - with over 95,000 miles on it.

I believe you all, that I should have done the change earlier. I called the dealer several times in the past and asked about the trans fluid. Well, of course I was told everything is fine, don't worry, it's not needed to be replaced.

Looking at the pictures and reading the response, I realize it easy to do, just like an oil change.

1st question:

If I have the ramps on the front tires and then I can level the back with a jack? This should work just fine, correct?

I did some search on here and some are saying that you should drive the car before draining the fluid?

This was the hot fluid will flow easier? Easier to drain?

2nd question:

Is there anything that needs to be done at the converter engine in the front?

3rd question:

If the plastic cover is not removed? Can I have easy access to the filler and drain plugs?

4th - I keep my fingers crossed that everything will be fine.

Once again, thank you all.

Joe

 

That is what I plan to do this spring. Place jack stands on each side the take the weight off the jack.

Always a good idea so that a majority of the oil comes out. Don't need to drive it that far/long.

Yup.

? Nothing on the ICE side of things.

Removing it looks to make things easier... not necessary. I plan to.

I play to say a prayer.

 

lolz... I don't believe drain and refill on the transaxle would be that hard. Its not like your messing with any of the computer modules in the vehicle or sensors.

 

Yeah, I agree, changing the brake pads was a lot more work - insuring the 12V batter - negative charge was off and the ABS brake fuse was out, before I started to remove the brake pads.

I am wondering when will the inverter coolant need to be replaced? How many miles or months?

So there is the ATF (transaxle fluid) and then the inverter coolant?

Thanks

 

I just did mine and it took all 4 qts. No excess came out and I did not spill any.
I had the car accurately leveled.
Just like The Critic reported above, but I only had 4 qts available.
I didn't try to check the level through the fill hole.
I lowered the car to the ground, classified the job as "Good Enough" and called it a day.

Are others seeing this and just not reporting it?

 

I think you are having the same issue that I did. If you took a 5th quart and added just a few ounces, I think you will see fluid begin to flow out.

As the manual states, anything between 0-10mm under the fill hole is considered acceptable. Remember that ATF does expand significantly once it warms up (remember the cold and hot regions of the old-school tranny dipsticks), so your fluid level right now is probably fine.

 

Critic,
Thanks for the info regarding using 4qts, plus "a few ounces".

And thank you Toyota for being so vague on this subject also.
Dang those * asterisks *,, from the owner's manual:

Fluid capacity* 3.5 qt. (3.3 L, 2.9 Imp.qt.)
Fluid type Toyota Genuine ATF WS
*: The fluid capacity is the quantity of reference. If replacement is necessary,
contact your Toyota dealer.
Page 563

They only missed this important spec by more than 0.5 qts.
This important info should be included on all threads concerning ATF changes.

Hey, I am adding my 7k miles of Mobil 1 ATF oil analysis to my thread:
ATF fluid changes ARE Required. | PriusChat
I just got the results last night and have to add notation to the report to make it understandable.
Well, maybe not today. I don't have Adobe Creator at home...

 

I bought my car at 110000 miles, I think I will ask them if they replaced the transaxle fluid yet!

 

I didn't have to remove the panel and it didn't make a mess at all.

 

Kensiko,

I bought mine at 108k and changed the ATF at 112k miles.
I did an oil analysis on the old ATF. It was SCARY.
I would just do the ATF change and not trust what the previous owner says.
It costs $15 to have the oil analysis done.
This would add to our knowledge base if you could post the results.

I started this thread dealing with my experience: ATF fluid changes ARE Required. | PriusChat
There are a total of 4 different analysis reports on that thread.

 

I will once I get to have the time.

 

I just went to Toyota to buy the oil and they warned me that if I don't do it correctly I can easily destroy the transaxle. But the guy didn't know what could be done wrong. I don't know how it could be so dangerous to do it.

 

This is a common thing.
Look at some of the threads on ATF changes.
We don't know where these dealers are coming from.

It is as simple as it gets: Drain the old, fill it with the new until it drains out, close the fill plug.
However, I and a few others had our cars accurately level and the transaxle took more than 4 qts. of ATF.

I'll be curious if your fluid is as bad as mine was after 112k miles.
The analysis kits can be had at Caterpillar/Heavy equipment service centers. $15 postage paid.

 

I just replaced the oil today, it was dark black.

FYI, my father is a mechanic and he helped me today. He said he wasn't worried about the oil and that it' meant to last very long.

I will look on where I can get the analysis done. Some oil overflowed, the transmission had enough after 3/4 of the last liter.

 

Yeah Bill your fluid was scary.

All the dealer parts guys hear the mechanics bitching about what a pain in the nice person it is to change the WS fluid in a Tundra. need Techstream to do it right etc....

So they think anything to do with WS fluid is a nightmare and hard to do.

No one I bet except the peeps on this forum even think about getting there trans fluid on a Prius changed.

 

Thanks to everyone for the information! I picked up the fluid and gaskets and plan to do mine soon w/ 75,000 miles. Will post back with condition of old fluid.

 

Great post! Thanks for taking the time to do it. You helped me a lot!

 

I hate to bump an old thread, but I noticed you didn't replace both the drain and refill gaskets. Is that a requirement? I found another thread where the other person did and referenced this part number, 90430-A0003 . But is it necessary or overkill? I mean for $3 I guess its a why not, my Toyota dealer isn't too far from my house.

 

They don't cost a lot, but should last forever anyway, if not abused. Keep the same side out if you reuse them.