Can I ignore this service recommendation? My annual miles are way down and hover at about 12k a year now. And then there is the regular engine coolant — which I last changed at 100k three years ago.
I would follow the maintenance schedule that came with the car. That being said, I haven’t changed any of the fluids in my ten year old 80,000 mile gen 3
Gen 3s are tough! Our 2010 is going still strong with very little loving. I had been super conscientious about following the service manual recommendations on my 2016, but hate going to my local Toyota dealerships. Last trip they wouldn’t sell me a windshield wiper insert (wanted to sell me the entire arm) because “Toyota only has them for sale in bags of 10”. If I can avoid giving them any money without doing much damage, I will. And that one is much better than the next closest!
Canadian schedule told me to change both* coolant circuits at 10 years or 160k kms, whichever comes first. Honoured that a couple of years back, at 10 years, around 85k kms. Maybe overkill, who knows. DIY’ing, only cost about $50 for two bottles of the Toyota coolant. * Even verified with Toyota Canada. What they say is at odds with this decal: ^ Try Amayama, better price, less BS. Consolidating purchases avoids multiple shipping charges, and try to keep it from just one country (it’s either Japan or UAE).
Editorial comment on the above pic: I believe it’s a Canada-only bilingual label, English text states miles, and French is kilometres lol.
The additives (to prevent corrosion) degrade over time and with temperatures (of the system). Failure to change out the coolant could result in failure of the inverter assembly due to corrosion, which is terribly expensive. I wouldn’t risk it.
Inverter coolant change looks sim to 3rd gen, and is relatively easy. I'd guesstimate dealership charge should be around $150, it's easier than engine coolant change. For curiousity, or if you're open to DIY, see attached:
I believe the inverter coolant system also cools the transaxle so it would be doubly more important to change it.
Yeah drain bolt is in underside of transaxle. IIRC it's socket-head cap-screw style, takes a 10 mm hex driver IIRC.
Changing inverter is as easy as changing oil. Do the job yourself. Follow Mendel’s link for instructions. I just did both of these in less than 30 min at 100k. Coolant out of both was super clean, I know I could have gone way longer. But your vehicle’s coolant may be/look/breakdown differently.
