Are you the original owner? Has the transaxle fluid ever been drained and replaced? How long are you planning on keeping this car? Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
No, but you probably should. Most owners, I imagine, never change it and don't have a problem. But it's cheap and easy, and it might prevent a problem. When you drain it, you might be surprised at how dark it is compared to new stuff. Just make sure it's the Toyota ATF-WS.
My opinion, the optimum time for transaxle fluid change is after the cars been on the road about 10k miles. So yeah, time for a change.
I have not seen an official transmission fluid replacement schedule, although I have seen on this forum that Toyota has mentioned 130,000 miles, in some context, so I changed mine at 120,000 miles and plan on changing it in 60,000 mile increments going forward. My old fluid looked fine. It was just a little darker than fresh fluid. I would go ahead and change the fluid at any mileage if you think it has not been changed. Unlike a traditional transmission, you do not have to worry about the transmission slipping after replacing worn fluid, you just want to keep the planetary gear lubricated. Actual failure of the gears seems to be rare but presumably the electric motors are at least partially lubricated by the fluid. Changing the transmission fluid is not much different than changing the oil. It does not have a torque converter, so most of the fluid drains right out. There are plenty of threads on replacing the fluid and there is a NutzAboutBoltz video. Just have a 10mm hex socket, two crush washers (Toyota calls them gaskets), 4 quarts of Toyota WS fluid, and a pump or a few feet of hose and funnel to refill the transmission. Also, make sure you can get the upper fill plug open before you open the bottom drain plug.
29 ft/lbs is the spec for fill and drain bolts. Level is correct, if you fill with the car level, till it starts coming back out. FWIW Toyota cautions to only use freshly opened bottles (of Toyota ATF WS).
but Toyota says lifetime fluid also? So no need to worry about fresh open bottles because no need to change
just looking out for the people who follows instructions carefully. There’s been 3 people who bought a charger because they were told on here to do so and there were no 120 outlets near their car to plug in the charger. Happened one feller yesterday
"cmon, just cus he said it’s like an oil change you start baiting him??" This is his essential (to him) task on PriusChat...
