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CVT fluid in 2010 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Nick tinker, Aug 8, 2020.

  1. Nick tinker

    Nick tinker Junior Member

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    I hope I have not made a mistake. The guy at auto parts sold me this cvt fluid for my Prius. It says it is compatible with Toyota CVT transmissions. I can’t paste a link because i am new, but it is made by Recochem, OEM, CVT fluid for Asian vehicles. It is red, not green, and it looked a lot prettier than the brown stuff I replaced!

    I have now replaced the fluid, but now I read that the Prius has a different type of CVT transmission That does not have belts, so needs lubricant rather than friction. Is this true? Should I replace the fluid with Toyota brand? Should I flush. Is it even safe to drive now?
     
  2. Majafamily

    Majafamily Member

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    I believe there are only a few Toyota approved transmission fluids. I'd recommend just sticking with OEM Toyota ws fluid
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    idk, but i would drain it and refill with toyota, before driving any more. and never listen to a parts guy without confirming, they're one step away from pushing a broom
     
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Owners Manual recommends:

    Genuine Toyota ATF WS fluid

    And follows that with a caution that using alternatives may damage it.

    There are members here who've used different fluids, and so far no negative outcomes attributable to them.

    But who knows. I would play it safe; too much at stake. Doing a drain-and-fill with genuine fluid will replace about 90%. If you want to be very thorough do a second one a month or two later.

    Up here the fluid comes in litres for $9.14 CDN per, so about $40 per change, with the two washers.

    When filling have the car level; level is correct when it starts coming back out. 29 ft/lb for both fill and drain bolts.
     
  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Right, no belts but there is a timing chain that enclosed. There’s a lot of reading to do about this car. Just don’t say put steel wool in the catch can when the time comes. That info was brought onto this forum from YouTube. And pressure wash the egr cooler, everyone wants to experiment with every chemical element on the planet, save earth and time by using the pressure hose.
     
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  6. Nick tinker

    Nick tinker Junior Member

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    Thanks everyone who replied. I got my money back from the store. They gave me a free litre of the correct replacement For ATF WS, a synthetic low viscosity Product and a deal on four more so I think I’ll run ‘this stuff for my next 90000km. I’m good at changing it now. Also, to everyone looking for a transfer pump, forget it. A hose and funnel is way easier and doesn’t waste fluid.
     
    #6 Nick tinker, Aug 9, 2020
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 10, 2020
  7. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    It’s seems it will be fine. But Toyota brand is always best as you know 100% it’s made with all the right chemistry.
    Per there website:
    Formulated for belt & chain CVT’s in Asian vehicles : Honda®, Hyundai®, Kia®, Mitsubishi®, Nissan®, Subaru®, Suzuki®, Toyota®

    Meets or exceeds the latest requirement of: Honda HMMF, HCF-2; Hyundai Genuine CVTF, Hyundai/ Kia SP-III; Mitsubishi (CVTF-DiaQueen J1, J-4/Sp-III; Nissan NS-2/NS-3; Subaru Linartronic CVTF, NS-2; Suzuki TC/NS-2/CVT Green 1/ CVTF Green 2; Toyota/ Lexus TC, and most OEMs CVT with chain and push belt elements.
     
  8. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    E="Nick tinker, post: 3065971, member: 186350"]I hope I have not made a mistake. The guy at auto parts sold me this cvt fluid for my Prius. It says it is compatible with Toyota CVT transmissions. I can’t paste a link because i am new, but it is made by Recochem, OEM, CVT fluid for Asian vehicles. It is red, not green, and it looked a lot prettier than the brown stuff I replaced!

    I have now replaced the fluid, but now I read that the Prius has a different type of CVT transmission That does not have belts, so needs lubricant rather than friction. Is this true? Should I replace the fluid with Toyota brand? Should I flush. Is it even safe to drive now?[/QUOTE]

    You can put 3 in one oil in there and it won 't hurt it.
    This works perfect....
    Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle Automatic Transmission Fluid - 1 Gallon - Walmart.com - Walmart.com[Your good to go as long as it's WS. WS mean World Standard.... Same thing as the non synthetic toyota fluid
    I have 1 quart WS and 3 quarts of Tekk 10 w 40 synthetic motor oil in mine.....
     
    #8 Tim Jones, Aug 10, 2020
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2020
  9. Vman455

    Vman455 Senior Member

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    The timing chain is lubricated with crankcase oil, not transmission fluid.
     
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  10. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Just stated only that there is a timing chain is enclosed and nothing about lubrications was said. And transmission oil is not even mentioned on my post #fakenews :LOL:
     
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  11. Vman455

    Vman455 Senior Member

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    OP wrote: "Prius has a different type of CVT transmission that has no belts"
    You wrote in reply to that post: "Right, no belts but there is a timing chain that [is] enclosed"

    That implies you think the timing chain is enclosed in the transmission, since that was the subject under discussion. It's on the opposite side of the engine and has nothing to do with the transmission.
     
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  12. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: Well then I expect you to also put every reply in-check if they go off topic for the rest of the posts in this forum.
     
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  13. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Maybe he was thinking of the Gen2 transaxle. It did have a small but very beefy chain inside. The gen3 got rid of the chain.

    anyway! I’ve been using maxlife ATF in many ford, Lexus, and Toyota hybrids planetary gear sets for years, with no issues.
     
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  14. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    Great!
     
  15. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    Is that a Actual Picture of you?
     
  16. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Yes. I am a cartoon and my son is Homer.
     
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  17. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    So my Suspicions were correct.....
     
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  18. magher

    magher Junior Member

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    ATF WS = Artificial Transmission Fluid World Standard. Should be lifetime type, if not should be changed sooner. The diferences between ATF lubricants are very small in terms of viscozity and viscozity index. About high voltage in Prius gearbox there is nothing to worries.The original Toyota ATF WS it is not an Oil Transformer at all. In our days we have a lot of ATF lifetime lubricants brands which exceeds the Toyota ATF WS specifications.