Where is the inverter coolant drain on the Prius C?

This appears to be a duplicate thread. I suggest replies be posted on the other thread:
2013 Prius C inverter drain and fill procedure | PriusChat

 

should be right near the transmission drain plug....

 

And the information posted there was just as useful as your posting.
IOW, the question was not answered.

 

Sorry, I gave it my best shot there. I hope you can do better.

 

The closest I found was a sketch of the reservoir from a top angle. Post 3 appears to be the most useful right now.
Perhaps one of our hybrid specialist users will respond.

 

it looks like regular not a hex (like the tranny plug)

 

Hello. I am at 100K miles and have only to change the coolant for the inverter and engine to complete the recommended service items. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of info out there for the Prius C.

I changed the transaxle fluid (again) and while I was there, I really looked for an inverter coolant drain, but as someone said already, the videos that are out there are for the Prius, not the Prius C. Looking under the car, I couldn't see anything that looked like the inverter coolant plug.

I looked online and found videos for the Prius - not the Prius C. Well, I did find something, but it doesn't say anything about a plug to remove. Yes, it's a Prius Chat attachment:

I can't seem to locate the main thread, but hopefully this saves someone else the time I have in searching and not getting good info...

 

Here's the attachment:

https://attachments.priuschat.com/attachment-files/2016/11/116724_COOLANT_for_Inverter__REPLACEMENT_2013_MY_Prius_C_12_2012_-_.pdf

 

Well, I guess I will go out and check tomorrow. User Matt H has a write up for the engine coolant. If any one has a good write up, or video for the Prius C inverter change, I'd be happy to read (view) it. Thanks!

 

OK, so what I have learned so far with research alone is, there is no hex plug to remove on the Prius C (mine is a 2013). Instead, there is a petcock like the one for the radiator that you open and drain for the inverter. The ONLY video I could find that illustrates this is for the Prius C inverter removal. The video shows the drain at :28 seconds into the video and shows the draining of the inverter coolant at :53 seconds. The video is NOT an inverter fluid change video, but it shows the drain location. It is just toward the front of the vehicle underneath near the oil filter. The petcock is located in line and looks like it is retained in position by clips. You just reach up, get it out to where you can drain it in a catch pan, and open it up. Taking the cap off the inverter reservoir will help drain it. After it has drained, close the petcock and tuck it up where it was, making sure the hose is back in the clips. Here's the video:

I haven't done it yet, but after about two days of looking, I think I have enough to feel confident in attempting the job. I always like to know what I am getting into before I start. If I learn anything after I complete the job, I will certainly post it here. I think for a fluid change, I would rather know how to do it than pay the dealer (or shop) to do it. If you are careful, it's cheap and easy, and it is the first step in larger procedures if something goes wrong. That's my thought.

I hope this helps anyone attempting to perform this.

 

Hi AtkinsonCycle,

How did it go?

 

No problem! Piece of cake. Thanks for asking. Sorry it took me so long to post up a reply - I had an old email account linked in to priuschat, so I didn't get notifications.

 

This helped a lot. thanks!!!!

Is there a write up of how to install a new radiator in a Prius C?

 

I may replace my inverter coolant soon. I had the radiator flushed 2 weeks ago at 109k miles but they didn't and wouldn't touch the inverter coolant. I'm hoping they added a coolant that's as good as OEM.

My inverter coolant has 109k miles on it (and should have been replaced at 100k miles). I plan to replace it soon.
Everything else was replaced sooner than it needed to be.

 

I don't blame them. I don't want to touch mine either to be honest. I've read a couple horror stories here of inverter coolant changes, then the thing burning up. I'm guessing because they didn't get out any trapped air? Either way, not for me.

 

Toyota recommends 100k for the engine coolant BUT 150k for the inverter coolant, says so on the reservoir.
And this is a copy and paste from the maintenance guide....

Initial engine coolant replacement at 100,000 miles/120 months. Replace every 50,000 miles/60 months thereafter.
Initial inverter coolant replacement at 150,000 miles/180 months. Replace every 50,000 miles/60 months thereafter.

 

I saw a youtube video of Mark Methods replacing the Prius C coolant. I'm fairly confident I could do it myself with no issues. But I see no need to change them unless I feel I need to have red coolant in both parts of the system.

My inverter coolant tests very good so I probably don't need to fiddle with it for quite a while. But I currently have yellow-green coolant in the radiator (don't worry, it's not dexcool and it's compatible with red coolant) and red inverter coolant. But I doubt it matters to my car. Car runs real good.

 

But OTOH something inside me feels like I should have the same color and kind of coolant in both parts of my cooling system. That's really what would be ideal. He tells how to drain and refill the whole system at once, and when I do it, that's what I'm going to do. I may do it this week. The Auto Zone universal coolant is made to last 5 years / 150,000 miles so this might be a waste of good coolant if I go ahead with it. But it would give me more peace of mind.