30K Upgrade Service

[KJR]

This is the 30K service that an independent shop in California recommends. They state:

We feel that your Prius will last a lot longer if you do more than the skimpy service in the maintenance guide. We recommend that you replace the WS transaxle fluid, inverter coolant, ICE coolant, and flush the brake fluid in addition to the standard items. It also might be a good idea to balance the two tires rotated to the front with every service, so that every tire is balanced on a 10K schedule.

This page explains what we do during our version of the 30K & why. Like always, we'll do the service however you want it done, but hopefully this will convince you to treat your Prius to a better service.

Prius: 30k Service

What would be an estimate for all this work? The dealers around here charge $100/hr.

Kelvin

[paprius4030]

Now read the thread about services you don't need LOL. Flushing the brake fluid at 30k mi. is what put this place over the top for me.

[Mike Dimmick]

Originally Posted by paprius4030

Now read the thread about services you don't need LOL. Flushing the brake fluid at 30k mi. is what put this place over the top for me.

Standard practice to replace brake fluid at 18,000 miles/30,000km/24 months over here. Brake fluid is hygroscopic - it absorbs water - and you do not want the fluid to boil when braking heavily.

On the other hand, we change oil half as frequently and never rotate tyres.

Generally I think Art's know what they're talking about.

[paprius4030]

Originally Posted by Mike Dimmick

Standard practice to replace brake fluid at 18,000 miles/30,000km/24 months over here. Brake fluid is hygroscopic - it absorbs water - and you do not want the fluid to boil when braking heavily.

On the other hand, we change oil half as frequently and never rotate tyres.

Generally I think Art's know what they're talking about.

It's funny how different countries do things differently. I'm 54 and of all the cars I've owned the longest being a Dodge Caravan for 10 years and 280,000 mi I've never changed the brake fluid or ever had any trouble with brakes. I know about boiling brake fluid but think that applies mostly to large busses and trucks, hance the advantage for air brakes, but i don't think it's that much of a problem in a car. Although I'm sure somewhere somecar has had a problem with that.

[Patrick Wong]

European luxury car makes are more likely to recommend periodic brake fluid replacement, probably because the manufacturers expect the owners to drive fast and brake hard. I've owned BMW, MBZ and Jaguar vehicles in the past, and the service schedule for those vehicles recommended either annual or bi-annual brake fluid changes.

The Prius brake system is very lightly used, and evidence of this is that the brake fluid looks like new even when it is a few years old. On a normal car, the brake fluid turns dark after a short while.

Considering the four-digit expense of brake parts like the brake pressure accumulator pump, it might be reasonable to replace the Prius brake fluid periodically. I'd say that 100K miles is a reasonable interval. Art's Automotive has a very strong reputation, but I think 30K miles is too soon for brake fluid and coolant service. (I replace transaxle fluid at 30K mile intervals based upon used fluid testing showing lots of Si and Fe, and because it is easy and inexpensive to DIY.)

[Navigator]

I was a bit put off when I browsed around Art's website and found this:

Most importantly, don’t buy a hybrid to save money; the initial purchase costs coupled with the moderately increased maintenance costs will pretty closely offset any savings at the pump. Also, the hybrids have many more systems and moving parts than your typical economy-oriented vehicle; more systems on the vehicle mean more things will break. We liken the hybrids to luxury vehicles; we anticipate very expensive high-mileage maintenance and repair costs. If simple and affordable is your goal, a hybrid is not for you.

This would suggest that I bought a Prius for all the wrong reasons.

When I researched the Prius, it seemed like a well constructed, well warranteed, and reliable vehicle produced by a manufacturer with a brilliant track record. My previous car was capable of 30 MPG on the highway, but got only 19 MPG on my surface street commute to work. The Prius consistently gets 45-50 MPG on the same commute.

[Patrick Wong]

Art's is telling it like it is. The Prius hybrid drivetrain is brilliantly designed but has substantial electronics content while most geographic areas don't have competent independent service available - so if you have an unwarranted failure, expect a high repair bill.

[Navigator]

Originally Posted by Patrick Wong

Art's is telling it like it is. The Prius hybrid drivetrain is brilliantly designed but has substantial electronics content while most geographic areas don't have competent independent service available - so if you have an unwarranted failure, expect a high repair bill.

Perhaps, but I still think a more realistic take on servicing the Prius can be found in the following thread:

What services you need and what you don't