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Just bought an '07. Need high-mileage maintenance tips

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Intimate, Apr 15, 2015.

  1. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    You will have much more use for a 1/2" torque wrench vs. a 1/4" torque wrench.
    You should buy 1/2" and 3/8" breaker bars to increase your leverage, when you have very tight fasteners to loosen.
    You will need an engine oil filter cap wrench which is driven by a 3/8" extension. The best type is stamped steel, not plastic. Bring along a replacement oil filter to make sure the wrench fits tightly.
     
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  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Tip: When doing fluid changes, always make sure you can loosen the fill bolt (transaxle fluid) or oil filter housing before taking the drain bolt off and dumping the fluid. ;)
     
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  3. Intimate

    Intimate New Member

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    The thing is, is that all the repairs I need to do don't require a 1/2", but either a 1/4 or a 3/8. I'm just trying to buy what I need. At least, according to the guides over at priusdiy.com

    I'm not going to do oil changes. Cheaper to bring it to a local shop.
     
  4. Intimate

    Intimate New Member

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    Ok, paper work is in!

    At 105,318
    Spark Plugs changed
    Two tires
    Coolant Flush
    Inverter Coolant Service

    At 187,218
    New Tire

    Somewhere around the 160,000 mark was when the both batteries replaced. It was about a year ago. No paperwork, because my brother did it. Also, he might have changed the spark plugs, but I'll check that myself. So PCV valve and transaxle is definitely on the table. Also, probably spark plugs.

    Everything around those miles were only basic filter and oil changes. Nothing really notable.

    Because over 100,000 miles were pretty much all highway mileage, the car is in great shape. I lucked out with this one. With regular maintenance, this thing can probably break 300k.
     
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  5. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Another coolant drain fill for engine and inverter loop is due. First one due at 100,000miles/10years. Then every 50,000miles/5years.

    Toyota maintenance schedule is a minimum. No brake fluid flush mentioned, and the important transaxle drain/fill. You can always go above and beyond the minimum of what Toy lists. You just have to decide how much more you want to do.

    Art's Automotive makes some compelling points about a more aggressive change interval for brake fluid and coolant. Prius 30k Service
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    ^ newer Prius schedule (2014 onward?) does call for brake fluid change, tri-yearly, no distance, I believe.

    Regarding torque wrenches, a 1/2" drive with 1/2" to 3/8" adapter is very versatile. In my experience the most common use is wheel lug nuts, and that's a fairly high torque value: 1/2" tends to be designed for that range.

    I've got a 1/2" AND 3/8", the latter's definitely better for things like spark plugs, and more suitable for things like oil filter, drain bolts, calliper bolts and so on.

    I've heard any torque wrench tends to be most accurate near the middle of its range, most out of whack at its extremes

    I made a half-nice person attempt to test both my torque wrenchs' accuracy: placed them both on a lug nut set to something like 45 lb. then placed a digital tensioning scale carefully 1 foot off centre and tugged. The were both surprisingly similar and accurate, at least as far as I could tell.
     
    #46 Mendel Leisk, Apr 21, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2015
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  7. Fishcrab

    Fishcrab Member

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    OP , Exstudent makes some great points, take a close look at Prius 30 k service at bottom.
    Mendel makes some good points too.
     
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  8. Intimate

    Intimate New Member

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    Yeah I'm going to keep up with that 30k. Very feasible.

    Ordered the 85 pc. Craftsman and picked up 1/4 and 3/8 torque wrenches at HF. Got both for a total of $24. So all my tools have cost me about $60. Just need to order some extensions (maybe) and a 24mm socket. That should cover most work.

    I also washed the car and got an oil change. They also did a run down of everything that was basic. All checked out.

    When the tool set comes in, I'll update on the spark plugs.
     
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  9. Fishcrab

    Fishcrab Member

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    Awesome.....
     
  10. Intimate

    Intimate New Member

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    Things done so far today

    Pcv valve
    Maf sensor cleaning
    Spark plug check (they're good)
    Throttle body cleaning
    Coolant (good)

    Up next

    Transaxle (delayed)

    Here is the look at the old pcv valve. Gross

    [​IMG]
     
    #50 Intimate, May 2, 2015
    Last edited: May 2, 2015
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  11. Fishcrab

    Fishcrab Member

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    U have more miles than mine on your PCV valve, changed mine at 150k, wow, urs has some use showing for sure. Prob not to bad getting out , after u move things away, bit tight in there.
    Good news bout ur plugs.
    Need to do my throttle body cleaning . Need to look up cleaners to use.
    Hoping someone will still post for us, how to get to the hybrid battery fan to clean.
     
  12. Intimate

    Intimate New Member

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    Used this. [​IMG]
     
  13. Fishcrab

    Fishcrab Member

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    Thanks, did u notice a difference in running aft PCV and throttle body cleaning, or maybe your still working on it.
     
  14. Intimate

    Intimate New Member

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    Almost done. Put a new tire on it and balanced rotated aligned the tires. Changed oil filter.

    Ran out of time, so transmission oil change is delayed.
     
  15. Fishcrab

    Fishcrab Member

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    Not a lot of room for transmission filling , after draining.
    Think I use to use a long tube into filler opening and funnel up on top.
    Seems like the fill top off level is short of the fill mark. I just let mine run out , and said close enough.
    Some may do it different.
    The cool thing about doing most of what ur doing, u will be good to go for a long time, with just general stuff after that. I see folks round me that have domestic vehicles with similar mileage, man do they have to dump some money into repairs .
    Nice camera or camera on phone, btw.
     
  16. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Did you shake the old valve to hear how the rattle sounded compared to the new PCV valve?
     
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  17. Intimate

    Intimate New Member

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    I did not shake it. It was functional considering, but well overdue.

    I got real lucky with the work on the car. My brother estimated I saved about a grand easily with labor/parts. We spent four hours on it today in his dealership shop, and I watched very closely with what we were doing. I am very grateful I had help along the way, and I know the knowledge will help keep the car purring for quite a long time (I don't need to drive far for anything).

    After I get the transaxle fluid done, I'll be moving towards the 30k checkup and 5k oil changes/tire rotations.

    The camera is my iPhone 5s.
     
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  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just devils advocate: if you left used PCV valve to soak in something like carb cleaner, would it be good as new. Or does spring weaken?
     
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  19. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    It is OK to clean the PCV valve. A new one costs ~$6, so what is the point - unless you are in some Third World country where you can't easily get parts.
     
  20. Intimate

    Intimate New Member

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    Yeah it was a really cheap part. I also had my roters worked on. Braking is super smooth now. [​IMG]
     
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