Where to buy ATF?

I had a '65 Corsa turbo convertible and a '63 Monza Spyder coupe and never had any problems. The only thing I had to do with both cars was to change the oil seal on the turbo shafts. It took about an hour total.

 

Apparently , there was conjecture that synth might be 'too slippery' for a CVT tranny and hence the lucas ATF semi-synth bottle warning not to use there .


the 62 gm
MPH -- 62 Jetfire

 

I know with the Saturn CVT, you had to use a special trans fluid and an additive that came in a syringe.
Sice the Prius uses an eCVT, I would imagine the fluid isn't as critical, since there's no friction material involved.

 

Yay, back on topic !!

chronon, the Prius transaxle is a box of gears and bearings. It does not have that weird metal V-belt and variable diameter pulleys. Those CVT transaxles do require special fluids to handle the weirdness going on inside. Lots of strange friction modifiers and such in the ATF recipe.

The Prius works like a CVT, but is incredibly simple,, except for the electronics controlling the two MGs.
It has no reverse gearing and no friction clutches. Everything is always engaged!
IMOH, you can throw any ATF in there, (as it sounds like you have been doing. I like to use the best.

So what do you think about aero mods? Have you looked around ecomodder, I think it is?
Lots of ideas there!! Maybe you can find the Holy Grail of making power from water there....
An experimenting young man like you should go for it !!!
I have lots of ideas for aero mods I hope to do soon.

 

My niece's son just sent me this pic today.

 

Yay, the early swing-axle Corvair !
The one Nader made famous...

 

btw - a nice article on atf !
MODEL----- 2000 -----|---- 2001 ----|---- 2002 ----|---- 2003
Corolla A131L, A245E | A131L, A245E | A131L, A245E | A245E
ATF----- DexronIII --|-- DexronIII -|-- DexronIII -|--- T-IV

Toyota T-IV = Dexron III ? - Bob Is The Oil Guy

 

Toyota Transmission Fluid Types | eHow.com

 

What ... No one here ever reads what our very own Prius hybrid tech says about ATF?
Or maybe folks here know even more than a hybrid tech ?
In short, he tells us that - the ATF is the very same stuff that they put in the Toyota Tundra ... so do the math ... the Tundra is rated for towing ... and the tundra fluid change recommendation is 100,000 miles. So there you go. ... if you're into overkill and money wasting ... carry on. That Technical Service reminder doesn't come from me ... it comes from the expert. So don't shoot the messenger.

 

Thanks to Nader, the Corvair was made for three more years, instead of being discontinued in 1966.

 

Hill, yes, expert, yes, owner's manual and what the dealers tell you is, to never change that fluid.
What Tech SB are you talking about? What expert?

And what about owners, like myself, who have changed the fluid late in the game and found some very bad stuff?
Have you seen this thread? ATF fluid changes ARE Required. | PriusChat
How many miles are on your Gen2? Do you plan on ever changing that ATF?

El Do, But they changed from swing axles to to proper independent rear suspension so the Corvair didn't roll over and play dead.
And Dang Nader, thanks to him the car makers were finally forced to install seat belts, head rests, padded dashes and such.
Dang what's next? Pollution controls on cars? Why that would drive up the price of cars hundreds of dollars and nobody will buy them.

 

Must have had swing axles.

 

look under PC member Galaxie ... the sticky "maintenance that you need - maintenance that you don't need".

What services you need and what you don't | PriusChat
The search tool can be your friend

 

hill, Nope. Too much work.
You send the "Tech Service reminder" you spoke of.
Some chump that got a job at a Toyota dealership is not going to change my mind about changing the lubricant in my car's transaxle. Did you see the results of my 3 oil analyses? Are you still rolling with your original ATF?
BTW, I maintain, modify and test transportation vehicles WAY more High-Tech and Expensive than Prii.

Eldo, That is such a strange picture! Do you know the story?

I can make up one: It was late at night after the Big College Football Victory in Texas Oil Country and the Free Beer was gone and the Fun Riot took to the streets and there was a Prius and ........

 

I think it happened from the owner not changing his trans fluid. This is what happens when the 12V battery goes bad.

 

OK, this Bozo had his car packed full of pillows and couldn't see out the windows.
Why don't people just hire a mover instead of doing crazy stuff like this?

 

Wow .... that's a great analysis ... someone trained by Toyota, to work as a hybrid specialist ... working on hundreds & hundreds of Pri' ... and that make 'em 'stupid' ... a 'dolt' a 'fool' ... that's the definition according to the dictionary, of a chump. Many believe it doesn't lend anything to one's viewpoint, when you have to decend to name calling ... especially name calling to one who is highly esteemed here on PC, due to their helpfulness. You can see from the thousands of "thanks" Galaxie has received that it's not just my opinion that holds Galaxie in high regard, but many other PC members ... as well as all the Mods on PC (that's why Galaxie even has 140 'thanks' for that one maintenace needs" post alone). In fact, if Galaxie is a stupid fool, then I gladly put my self in the stupid fool camp. That said, no one here wants to change your mind. You can do all the extra over kill maintenance you can afford ... coolant ... plugs ... oil what ever. Just trying to help. Have a great day.

 

Oops, sorry for the name calling. It's kind of a term of endearment where I come from. Kind of like Pal, Buddy...
"Hey Chump, come over here and give me a hand with this thing". People like it!!!

But then, is this his opinion or official Toyota information?

You haven't answered the question. Do you follow Toyota's official "factory trained" recommendation of
never, forever, change that transaxle lubricant?

I'm just curious....

 

Toyota (like all service/dealerships) knows which side of the bread that the butter is on ... meaning, businesses exist to make money ... and the more frequently they recommend you change things like coolant, filters, lubes etc, the more money your service center makes. Now, they can't make frequency recommendations that are 'too' absurd ... or they'll lose credibility ... so they balance those competing interests.
One dealer near us doesn't recommend synthetic oil. Even though they charge more for synthetic, they get less labor fees because you may come in less than ½ as frequently for maintenance.
Even so ... if one drives in harsh climates (extra hot/cold) or drives extra aggressively - one may need more frequent maintenance.
With that in mind I did my PCV, coolant & hoses @ 60K miles ... my ATF & plugs @ 100K miles & the 0W-20 @ 8K intervals. That's just me FWIW. Oh ... and I run almost 50Lbs in the Michelins, after hearing so many success stories. Not recommended ... that's just me.

 

Nice! Yes I run high tire pressures too.
It sounds like you ARE into preventative maintenance after all! Does the "Expert" recommend all this?
Coolant hoses ?!? All of them? You are into it. Those are usually time based, not miles. Good on you !! What about the T-stat? When they go bad it is not a good day. ( I'm not even sure if the Prius uses a conventional T-stat.)
I should change both my coolants but they both look like brand new. (I read about some sort of 'Litmus Paper' testing for coolant). The Gen3 has lots of small coolant hose going to the exhaust heat exchanger and some little heat exchanger in the EGR plumbing. But then you have that goofy 'thermos bottle' plumbing and more water pumps... I'll wait for 10 years on those, or until the 'crunchiness' sets in...

I'll soon have an analysis of Mobil 1 0w-20 engine oil run for 7k miles during the winter months,, the worst cycle for oil. But I don't know where to post it.