Should I replace the transmission fluid on my 2008 Prius with 250k?

interesting. I replaced mine at 216k miles. I don’t know if it was the first time but I suspect it was, and mine was BLACK. Absolutely solid black.

 

One prius @ 30k and another prius "c" @47k I had super dark almost black. I suppose you could say dark red wine

Still had a reddish tint, but it looks like bansky's might have been changed before

 

This guy nailed- motor winding insulation and failure, so go with the Toyota recommended fluid.

 

Maxlife LV:$12, walmart

 

From a solution chemistry/solute solvent standpoint, it could possibly be detrimental to change the transmission fluid. If the WS has a maximum saturation point, then you start dissolving more solute into the fresh fluid...

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

That's the stuff.

 

Quick answer: You will have no problem. Easy job. Everyone is pretty much spot on with advice. The bolts were tight because they haven't been out in 250K miles. Reinstall with a little antiseize and the next guy will thank you. Use just a little because anti seize effects the torque value. I would still torque to 29ft/lbs. Drain it through the drain port. Note that the inverter coolant drain plug is in close proximity. So if you get red coolant instead of transmission fluid you have the wrong plug. Dark with a tinge of red is normal. A few metal particles on the magnet portion of the plug is also normal. Wipe the magnet clean before reinstalling. Use a new crush washer if originally installed and make sure to discard any old washers. Funnel and clear line to fill through the fill port and fill until it overflows. Make sure the car is level before changing the fluid. No clutches or bands in this "transmission" so nothing to worry about when changing fluid. A traditional transmission (non Prius) could sustain failure because the burned fluid and varnish deposits come loose when fresh fluid is introduced (transmission fluid has very strong detergents). So a traditional transmission that was just barely slipping its way through the gears would suffer dire consequences because the little bit of friction surface that remained would be removed by the new fluid and the transmission would then completely slip and fail. We're talking apples and oranges in difference.