Change the transaxle fluid!!

I used the correct Amsoil full synthetic ATF.

Boy, oh boy. You have no idea of the can of worms you just opened.................

This thread will probably explode over the next couple days.........

 

No need for that.

Everyone has their own opinions about transaxle fluids on the Gen 2 Prii. It always makes for interesting reading...

The amsoil website actually shows two blends they have available for the Gen2 and even specify a 3.8 quart initial fill. Maybe they've updated their testing, or I'm just really far behind (which is the more likely option)

 

Amsoil? That's terrible dude. You're supposed to use Toyota WS transmission fluid in there.

 

Worms, explosions!!! Exploding worms???

Getting my popcorn for the show!

 

I love how people think Toyota WS is something special. It's an old outdated basic fluid for tons of cars. The powersplit device doesn't really care! I'd use a full synthetic.

 

Absolutely, do what you want. It is your car and money, esp. since the car is no longer under warranty. However, auto makers could deny warranty when non-approved fluids could have led to the failure in question; this would be their take on it.

How much was the Amsoil per quart? Hopefully it was far less than Toyota's ATF-WS, at $7.49/quart for me.

Total Gen2 (2004-2009) sales in USA = 748,646 units
Toyota Prius family US car sales figures



How many Gen2 transaxles did he replace?
DIVIDE that number by 748,646 = Percentage of failed transaxles he has touched.

For shites and giggles, lets say he has replaced ten units. 10/748,646 = 1.335744797941884e-5 (.000013357) Thats a very small number!
What this number means is for every 100,000 Prius made, 1.3 transaxles will fail.

Ask your buddy if the failed transaxles he replaced, was the ATF ever changed on those units? If no, I'm sure he, you, and I, would all agree that most likely contributed to the failure. No lubricant lasts forever as you know. Unfortunately, Toyota does not lists the ATF change as a maintenance item.

You should read this study by Bob Wilson and Professor Denenberg, on ATF oil analysis. They came to the conclusion that changes are REQUIRED. No later than 30K miles for initial, then every 60K miles. Transaxle oil, recent analysis | PriusChat

 

Read post #473. ATF fluid changes ARE Required. | Page 24 | PriusChat

Consider getting a magnetic transaxle drain plug for the current Prius and future vehicles.

 

I don't understand the need to "believe" in a fluid, lol.

Toyota says clearly to use nothing else, or risk damage. Nowhere else in the manual are they as emphatic, though it does get close with the coolant.

You may be absolutely fine with an alternative, but that doesn't factor into my equation: if Toyota says I shouldn't use anything else, I don't argue or second-guess them.

 

I'm with you on that. First change pretty early too, then stretch it.