Suitable substitutes for the Toyota ATF-WS transmission or transaxle fluid?

Why use a substitue? You can get the original on Amazon or Wal-Mart website

 

Welcome to Prius Chat .

Why not use the ATF WS.

For what I have seen, the cost difference isn't significant, so why not use the fluid it came with?

 

The one alternative I have seen used is the Eneos CVT fluid (helped a member put that into their 2010 awhile back). He got it from Art's Automotive in Berkeley.

But that price is the same as the ATF WS on Amazon currently.

 

Up here I'm paying $9 something (Canadian) for litres of Toyota ATF WS, through a nearby dealership.

You're overthinking this, lol.

 

I think Amsoil has two, one at even more cost, but may provide a mechanical breakdown warranty....

 

In their bulletin T-SB-0006-11, “World Standard Automatic Transmission Fluid,” Toyota writes:

• The use of Genuine Toyota ATF-WS is recommended.
  • The use of additives or aftermarket fluids that are considered compatible or substitutes may result in shift concerns and damage to the internal transmission components.
  • ATF-WS is NOT compatible with T-IV or Dexron ATF.

I realize Toyota wants to sell their product, but for any substitute, I’d be concerned about two things:

• Does it have all of the characteristics—which might include some unusual ones, like dielectric strength or compatibility with electrical insulating materials—that are needed when the fluid is used in a hybrid transaxle with high-voltage motor generators?

• If you’re planning to drain and refill the transaxle, rather than flush it (which may not even be possible), are the old and new fluids compatible? Even if the new fluid would be suitable for filling an empty transaxle, might it react in some way with the remaining Toyota ATF-WS fluid?

Valvoline’s product information sheet for MaxLife Multi-Vehicle ATF does say it is “Suitable for use in,” among many others, “Toyota WS,” but it also says, “Valvoline does not recommend MaxLife Multi-Vehicle ATF for use in most continuously variable transmissions (CVTs).”

For the modestly-higher price, compared to the cost if anything were to go wrong, I’d buy the Toyota ATF-WS fluid (from a dealer, so you’re less likely to get a counterfeit product). I wouldn’t buy a substitute unless the seller could state in writing that it is suitable, not only as a replacement for Toyota ATF-WS in general, but also specifically for use in a Toyota P410 hybrid transaxle.

 

This is something you do once or twice in the car's lifetime, the Owners Manual emphatically warns against using anything but, the transaxle is more-or-less the most expensive component on the car. Go with an iffy alternative fluid, one that as likely as not costs MORE? Hell yeah!

 

You mean once or twice if in different ownership than yours.

Seeing as though it has been done twice and there is less than 75 k km's, yours should last a long time .

Probably longer than the HV battery.

 

Delete

 

And if you are going to the trouble to change the transmission filter I recommend dropping the pan, cleaning it out good, and adding a rare earth magnet to collect fine particles. There is no filter.

 

This is Gen3 land where it is a simple drain and fill.

Nothing to take apart and clean.

 

There is no pan on the bottom that can be dropped?

 

Nope.

Design change on the Gen2 and on where it is a simple drain and fill.

Video of the job is #10:

Nutz About Bolts Prius Maintenance Videos

Makes life very easy .

 

not trying to be a smart nice person, how/where did you find toyota not expecting people to use the car after 200k miles?

 

It's only $20 savings if you go with oem, since the ATF is good for the life of the car then $20 more will be a wise investment and will go a long way.

By the way, did you log all those miles yourself?

 

I use the valvoline on both prius' and my ridgeline