Too late? Transmission Fluid Change 170k miles, New Prius Owner

If you check the Toyota USA Warranty and Maintenance Booklet, I believe towing is one criteria it mentions, where Toyota concedes a transaxle fluid change should be done regularly.

There’s a link in my signature on this maintenance. 3rd Gen Prius and Prius v should be the same. On a phone turn it landscape to see signature.

 

Toyota does not recommend towing, however, Toyota does recommend transaxle fluid changes under severe service conditions.

Obviously, towing a trailer is severe service.

 

Is there any risk to changing the transaxle fluid at this mileage or even 111k miles?

Doesn’t make sense as to why, I’m reading a lot of things that say it could cause damage to the engine, even the YouTuber Scotty Kilmer recommends against changing it.

 

That's for a regular automatic transmission with bands and clutches.

The e-CVT in a Prius change of fluid can be done at any time. Clean fluid at any mileage for a Prius is better than dirty fluid.

 

Where's his braying horse meme when I need it.

 

Changing the transaxle fluid doesn't effect the engine.

And remember, "lifetime" fluid means, for the life of the warranty, not
the part.....

 

Toyota doesn't really say "lifetime"; they say... nothing.

 

What interval do you guys change the ATF at?

 

Yes, that was the rule for the older transmissions....but with the newer Toyota CVTs I've heard it won't harm anything.

 

I found the first change I did, at around one year and 10k miles, was the darkest. I did another around 30k miles, just a little darker, one more later on, the fluid looked like new. Bottom line: one change early on, and just one more, around 100K, and you'd be good.

 

I've done lots of ICE Toyota's (always dirty after 60,000 miles) and only one in my wife's 2017 when it was 5-years old (2022). She only had 28,000 miles and the stuff coming out was almost new looking. My 2021 will be hitting 50,000 miles soon so I may do a service on it to see how it looks.

 

I bought the car at 75k'ish, who knows if their stealership ever did one - probably not. I haven't touched it yet, so it's long overdue.

Sounds like the car will be good after this until well past the 250k mark...as long as nothing blows before then.

 

It seem that the first change is always the dirtiest in these CVTs.

No wet clutches or valve bodies on these transmissions. If you live in the mountains; I'd do 60K mile ATF changes until you get a handle on how the high heat is effecting the ATF. At 111K, I'm pretty sure your fluid will come out dark brown. If it's dark black cherry red, it's probably been changed once. The fill and drain bolts will come out easy - otherwise they are really tight out of the factory.

Hope this helps...

 

It's didn't come out dark brown....it came out dark black


Drain bolts were a PIA to get out....used my foot to torque them loose. I used the @Mendel Leisk method, picked up vinyl tubing and a brass connector at Habitat Restore for a ~$1.50 and then scored a short piece of surgical tubing from the guy down the street to put around a two dollar funnel. All in, about tree fiddy:



Re-used the crusher washers w/o issue. I just want to say this forum is a tremendous resource and you guys are awesome...I just did the major 100k mile maintenance for about $100 USD. (EGR circuit w/ all that entails, pcv valve, spark plugs, engine coolant change, ATF fluid change, and hybrid battery fan cleaning). Amazing.

 

that's the way I do mine too.

Here's the results after only 32K miles on a 2021 Prime, scroll down to #5. Gen 4 Prime ATF drain plug | PriusChat

If your feeling frisky, send it out for oil analysis. I'd be interested to know how well it will disperse heat and lube quality when compared to new ATF.

 

Wow, that looks like me mine at 111k miles. I was sure mine hadn’t been changed ever, but based on that thread you linked, it sounds like the fluid just gets burnt and that’s normal. Interesting.

Where does one get an oil analysis done?

 

Great job! I agree, we DIYers save a TON of money learning to do simple maintenance things ourselves. When my son-in-law bought an old 2008 Rav4, it had, obviously, been neglected so I spent a couple of days doing it all for him.....oil, transmission, differentials, coolant. His Dad heard about it and thanked me saving him, at least, $2,000.