ATF fluid changes ARE Required.

Doing my own, 4 liters of ATF-WS plus 2 drain/fill bolt washers costs me $45.18 (Can) plus sales tax. The two washers are a not trivial $3.95 apiece.

The labour amounts of: raising and levelling the car, taking off the engine plastic underpanel (not mandatory, but a good practice), removing the drain and fill bolts, reinstalling drain bolt with fresh washer, pouring in the fluid via a funnel and hose ('till it starts coming back out), reinstalling fill bolt with fresh washer, reinstall of underpanel, lower car.

For me it takes a couple of hours, farting around. For a pro with a lift maybe half an hour. It's very similar to an oil change, if anything easier: no oil filter involved.

 

Im at 33k on my 2010 should i be rally doing this soon or im i ok for now ??

 

If you plan to keep your Prius for as long as possible, then YES.

If you are able to DIY, should be close to $40, if you can find a good price on 4 quarts of Toyota ATF-WS. If you go to a dealer, many people have posted costs of $100 (parts & labor).

Read my post #473, page 24, within this thread. My post also contains a link to Bob Wilson and Prof Denenberg's transaxle oil analysis study. Transaxle oil, recent analysis | PriusChat

On many other car enthusiasts sites, it is encouraged that the first lubricant change (engine oil, transmission/transaxle, rear differential) should happen within a few hundred to a thousand miles, to get out all the wear particles. This is obviously for a new vehicle. Logically this makes sense, esp in light of Wilson/Denenberg transaxle oil analysis.

To further decrease wear on the transaxle, consider getting a magnetic transaxle drain plug. Toyota eliminated this after the Gen 2 Prius. PriusChat member Rude person's makes these from an OEM drain plug; apparently he is a retired machinist who still has access to all those big boy toys like a CNC machine. Private Message Rude person's to see if he still has stock and cost.

 

I am doing my atf change right no and I was wondering what the torque spec on the drain and fill plug is.

 

29 lb/ft for both

 

On the 2010 it's 29 ft/lb.

 

29 ft.-lb

 

That's pretty much covered, lol.

 

Now it is.

 

Thanks for the replies. I finished with my trans fluid change and after I noticedI did notice that the jack point at the front of the vehicle was bent in a little from the side. It is about quarter sized and about 1/16 to 1/8 inch deep. Should I be worried?

 

Not too much. Maybe look into a flat, hard rubber cradle for your jack, to substitute next time.

I use one of these.

Powerfist Floor Jack Saddle | Princess Auto

 

One last thing, I thought the prius required 3.4 qts and I put about 3.3 qts in it after I include what was still in the funnel after I was done. Do I need to put an additional .2 qts in it or is that good enough?

 

Just put fluid in till it starts running out of the fill hole. Clean up the area, then reinstall the fill plug.

If you refilled by volume only, you might possibly be short.

 

It didn't come out the fill port. I tried feeling with my finger where the level was but couldnt feel it. I had it jacked up level and I did loose a little that was in the funnel so I know it has at least 3.3 qts. I just dont want my transmission to burn up or to void my waranty if I am .2 qts low.

 

It's easier to do it right the first time.

If it were my car? I'd put it back up and add more fluid till it runs out. If you have a syringe or baster you can use something like that to add the small amount of fluid you'll probably need to add. Otherwise, you'll have to get the funnel and tubing out, and dirty again.

 

Ok. Ill do that when I change my oil next weekend. It is only about .2 qts short, 700 mile shouldnt hurt it. Anyway it does feel a little smoother since I changed it and my mpgs seem to be going up.

 

The spec is something like zero to 10 mm below fill hole lip. Just filling till it starts comin out (with car level) is the simplest method to get it right. For your peace of mind you better top it up lol.

 

10mm is nearly 4/10-ths of an inch ... a significant amount.

 

It's probably OK as is, but check to be sure it's within the specified range. It doesn't have to be all the way up to the hole, although that's the easiest. I drained about 3.05 quarts out and it took about 3.3 to fill it back to the fill hole, so it had been about one cup below that level, probably ever since it was filled in the factory.

 

My new to me 2007 prius with 180k never had the trans fluid changed.
Set parking brake, prius off, chock wheels would be a good idea,
I used prius scissor jack (I oiled it the threads ) in front jack points one side at a time placed jack stands with top adjuster removed each side.
The drain plug was probably loc tite from the factory so have a suitable pipe to make a breaker bar if fluid was never changed before. Fill hole had minimal torque open that first then drain plug. After it was drained I raised the rear of the vehicle then lowered it then installed the drain plug. Now to filling bought a fill funnel at auto parts store then asked auto part dude to find the best fit bulk vacuum hose I bought 3 feet too much but ok. I used electric tape to seal the deal. I removed front plastic engine bay cover then used electric tape to temporarily fasten the end of the fill hose to a small diameter dowel rod or rigid tubing or coat hangers would probably work, for easy insertion down to the fill hole. There is small area on the front cover that could be used as a door to something fill hole ? A flashlight comes in handy here.
Now with the front end up I filled until fluid leaked out and voila right around 3.75 quarts in .
So now it is not as difficult meaning the entire vehicle does not need to be level for the service to be performed.
The important aspect is that the fluid was changed. I went from 45 mpg to 46.4.
Side note asked a mechanic garage - shop for a price on a fluid change.
You cannot fill it from the top.
If you change that fluid you will blow up that trans.

I used the toyota fluid at 9.99 per quart. And if anyone ever decides to switch to mobil 1 from walmart .
Fluid change should be easy.