ATF fluid changes ARE Required.

Persistence pays off.

 

49.20 euros currently equals 72.17 canadian dollars, works out to $14.43 (can) per liter, $11~12 US. Getting better anyway.

 

Finally I change them!!!! It looks black ⚫️⚫️⚫️
When I picked up the Atf att the dealer, he says:
(He)Why you change this oil???
(Me) Because it's needed.
(He) you have a leak, level low, or a problem with gearbox?
(Me) No, I have no problems... Just preventive maintenance!!!
(He) But isn't needed. We don't change this here. We normally don't have this oil in stock. It's Lifetime fluid!!!!
(Me) Don't exist lifetime oils.... and I want my car running more than a life.

..... .... ... ... ....

Finally, he agree with me!

Later I put pics.

 

Dealerships vary a lot in attitude; ours always has Toyota ATF WS in stock, and the fill/drain bolt washer, no hassles.

 

But lifetime oils do exist. In fact they have been around since WWII, when they were used quite successfully in kamikaze airplanes.

 

Here come some pics
First and final!



Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

tomorrow I bring more

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

A Few Takeaways from This Thread and personal experience that I found useful to improve the maintenance procedure:

• Take the entire engine bottom cover off for a cleaner job.
• Get some new clips because they tend to break eventually.
• Clips accumulate grit that locks the mechanism, so it's worth washing them after removal for easier reinstalling.
• The aluminum washer for the fill/drain plug is actually called a gasket by Toyota (LOL). The part number is 90430-18008 (Transmission Drain-fill plug gasket). If you prefer to use new ones rather than reusing them, this is the one to look for.

I bought my 2013 Auris Touring Sports (very similar to a Gen 3 Prius) back in late 2016 with 40k miles on the clock. Unfortunately, I learned too late about the necessity of transaxle fluid replacement—Toyota doesn’t include it as part of routine maintenance in their literature. I finally did the replacement in 2019 at 74k miles using a funnel with a clear tube attached.

Back then, I wasn’t sure if the car was perfectly level, so I inspected it 9 months later at 81k miles and ended up adding around half a quart. I recall using 4 jack stands at the time.

Now, at 106k miles, I’ve been busy with maintenance! Here's what I've done recently:

• Oil change and replaced the oil filter.
• Cleaned the HV battery fan (or "blower" as Toyota calls it ) and installed custom filtration using vacuum cleaner filter fabric—this Miele AirClean filter that I had lying around.
• Completed my first engine coolant change. I know, I did it late (11.5 years), but better late than never, right?

For the first time, I opted for third-party products instead of Toyota OEM parts because I can no longer justify their pricing. Here's a rundown:

Engine Oil: I paid £25 (~$31) for Mannol oil, while Toyota quoted me £126 (~$156) for their AFE oil.

Oil Filter: I’ve been using K&N oil filters that I bulk-purchased back in 2020 for $4.73 each.

Cabin Filter: Active carbon cabin filter Blue Print ADT32522 cost me €6.94 (~$7.55), while Toyota sells theirs for a whopping £116.78 (~$145). I assume, the price hike is due to the piece of sponge they added to the side—madness!

Coolant: I opted for LLC RED coolant at £32 (~$40) for 5 liters (makes 10 liters). Toyota sells PINK coolant at £54 (~$67) per 5 liters—that's £108 (~$134) for 10 liters. Not to mention, I dislike the "girly" color of the SLLC.

I’m sorry for the long post, but with this thread spanning 35 pages, I felt it was worth catching up!

Getting Back to the Transaxle Fluid Topic:
I have some questions and would love to hear your opinions:

1. As I've only done 30k miles since the last replacement, but it's been 6 years, am I due for another change? I keep reading that 60k miles is suitable for a second change, but does time factor in the same way as with engine oil changes (whichever comes first)? I assume yes.
2. Apart from Toyota ATF, what alternative fluid would you recommend?
3. Can I even do this properly with only 2 jack stands and a 2-tonne floor jack?
4. Lastly, what maintenance tasks would you suggest at 106k miles to keep everything running smoothly?

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Cheers!

 

IMHO; the first ATF change is the most important; dumping out break-in and assembly contaminates. The transmission is mostly a sealed unit with a vent cap - very little wear components and no combustion blow-by to contaminate it.
I'd stick to the Toyota ATF-WS or Aisin ATF, manufacturer of the transmission. Don't know how those multi-vehicle fluids will interact with the electronic components; may cause insulation break-down over long periods of time and heat cycles. The Toyota ATF-WS is a known variable.
I have a slopping driveway and place the car on my oil changing ramps. Use the floor jack to raise the rear and level out the car.
I may have missed it; have you flushed out your brake fluid system? Those drive-by-wire braking systems don't handle contaminates very well. Make sure it's an entire brake system flush, they're not just replacing the brake reservoir fluid.

Hope this helps.....

 

The fluid is poured in for long-term use and there is no point in saving.

Pour in the original.

Calculate how much the cost of one mile or a hundred miles will increase if you divide the cost of a canister with transmission fluid by 30-40 thousand miles.

Compared to the cost of fuel, this is a pittance.

 

After reading through these fascinating threads, I've made up my mind—I'll be changing the transaxle fluid as soon as possible, and I've decided against using Toyota ATF fluid.

Lexus Toyota "Lifetime ATF" - baloney
WS transmission fluid is garbage. Get it out of your transmission now
Verified alternatives to Toyota WS ATF - Automaitc Transmission Fluid
What ATF/CVTF to use for Toyota?

 

Why would you want to use the stuff designed for the car?
Throw any cheap fluid in it, it doesn't matter...fluid is fluid.
Of course you won't find anything the cost more than pennies less.

 

Thanks for your input, Dogman. I think there might have been some misinterpretation here. My decision to change the transaxle fluid isn’t about using 'cheap fluid' or disregarding what’s designed for the car. Quite the opposite—after reading through various datasheets and tests (including those shared in the last link), it’s clear there are fluids available that meet or exceed the specifications of Toyota WS, offering better thermal resistance and long-term performance.

Even the manufacturer, Aisin, which builds many Toyota transmissions, produces its own ATF and recommends fluid replacement, contrary to Toyota’s 'lifetime' claims. My goal isn’t to cut corners but to find a higher-quality, compatible alternative at a reasonable price.

I respect differing opinions, but dismissing researched facts and shared insights without reading them does no one any good. Let’s keep this discussion productive instead of jumping to conclusions.

 

You gave no other information about checking other fluids.

I never jump to conclusions. I base my conclusions of the information I'm given.
If you want to waste your money on anything other then the correct item, it's yours to waste....

So: ...but dismissing researched facts and shared insights without reading them does no one any good. Let’s keep this discussion productive instead of jumping to conclusions"



"After reading through these fascinating threads, I've made up my mind—I'll be changing the transaxle fluid as soon as possible, and I've decided against using Toyota ATF fluid."

 

Yes—replacement of shorted and burned MG2 stators was kind of an industry for gen 1 (which used a pre-WS oil Toyota called T-IV).

 

But wait: Toyota ATF WS is not “synthetic”, so…

 

Thank you for the response and for quoting my post! I think there might be some confusion about my stance. I explicitly mentioned that I'm looking for alternatives to Toyota WS fluids—ones that offer better thermal resistance and long-term performance. I want to steer clear of overpaying for the generic fluid Toyota sells, and my goal is to find a superior product that works well for my vehicle.

I appreciate the mention of Mobil1 and Redline—I'll definitely consider them as part of my research. As for the claim about WS protecting wires and insulation, I agree it's doubtful. It's reassuring to know that there haven’t been reports of insulation breakdown in Prius transaxles.

Thanks again for engaging in the discussion, and I'd love to hear more insights from your 13 years of experience with this topic!