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'13 PIP 7+ Years 100k+ Transaxle, Proper Maintenance, 8yr/125k Platinum

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by LakeMichBoatGuy, Sep 22, 2020.

  1. LakeMichBoatGuy

    LakeMichBoatGuy Junior Member

    Joined:
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    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Hello. We previously had a great 2007 Touring #6. And for the last 7+ years, a wonderful 2013 Plug In (Base) that we bought new. It's been on the road (4 seasons climate) 7.25 years and 103,000 miles. I did search and browse Gen 3 and PIP threads before asking this.

    Maintenance has been done by 1 Toyota dealership with an expert Plug In tech since new, and 1 tire shop. Nokian WRG4 for winter, Continental TrueContact Tour for summer, both superb. The dealer machined the front discs and replaced pads around 100k (mostly city driving). Rears are getting close-ish.

    The dealer claims the "transaxle" fluid is not due until 120k, even though we are at 7.25 years. Comments?

    But he wants to do the cooling system flush/replacement at this next 104k service. Thoughts?

    I make sure they don't overfill at oil changes. But in general, we are just 2 non-smoking adults with no kids or pets. So, the car is still like brand new to us, not one dent, ding or scratch. My wife has a steady hand, and touches up the (3 stage pearl white) paint when we get rock chips.

    We did buy the 8 year, 125k Toyota Platinum $0 deductible service contract before the 3/36 was up, from a Toyota dealer that sold them just over cost. Still a chunk of $, but we thought it would be a great selling point. And now we don't even want to sell it. :)

    Is there anything we might get done under that service contract before it expires in 9 months or 21,000 miles?

    As always, thank you.
     
    bisco likes this.
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Touring
    Toyota says nothing about transaxle fluid change in the schedule. My 2 cents: best first change would be around the one year mark or 10K miles. In other words, the sooner the better.

    There's nothing mysterious about this: Toyota (USA) says 100K or 10 years for first engine coolant change, 150K or 15 years for first inverter coolant change. And 50K or 5 years for both, thereafter.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if you're keeping it, do the tranny fluid now. follow your maintenance schedule for everything else.

    consider a new 12v at some point. are you driving less during the pandemic?

    not sure what kind of free service your contract covers, most only repair broken items.
     
    LakeMichBoatGuy likes this.
  4. LakeMichBoatGuy

    LakeMichBoatGuy Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Bloomfield Hills, MI
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Thanks very much Mendel, Bisco.

    We've hit 100k, so it seems the dealer was not "off" in suggesting the engine coolant change (10 years or 100k).

    Both of you agree that we should go ahead with the "transaxle" fluid change. It's one of those things where....the car currently operates so perfectly in my (very observant) opinion, that I think back 30 years to undergrad where changing trans fluid in a Ford truck made the trans operate worse, not better. But.....different animal I'm sure. :) We are going to move to the desert for most of the year before too long. We have a fastidious Toyota Plug-In tech here, who has been trusted since day 1...the only person who has touched this vehicle, other than the tire shop for tires. Not that any of this maintenance is plug-in specific...it's just a 2013 Prius in that regard. But the trust is there to get it right, and we believe this tech is capable.

    Is the "trans" a drain and fill, more or less? Are there known/legit reports of any issues with otherwise "healthy" Prii after this service?

    We've had no issues that I'm aware of with the 12v. The plug-in does charge/maintain the charge of the 12v, when it charges the plug-in battery. So, when we've left for 2+ months, we leave the big battery empty, and plug it in when we return....assuming if the 12v had dropped a bit, the plug-in recharge would (hopefully) restore it. So far, so good.

    If you say 7.25 years and 103k of 4 seasons use is enough, we can replace the 12v. Or we can wait for it to give us a "cue?!?" LOL.

    I did do some reading, but for confirmation...inverter coolant. This is separate from the engine coolant system, and separate from "transaxle" lubricant?

    Again, thank you.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Transaxle drain and fill on the Prius is very straightforward. No need to hook up to computer, have the car at operating temp, and on and on. Dealership service writers tend to play it up, but there's nothing to it. Proper refill level is achieved by filling with the car level. When it starts flowing back out, the level is correct. See attachment from Repair Manual. Shouldn't cost over $100.

    Yes, it's two separate coolant circuits. Repair Manual attachments if you're curious what's involved. Replacement of either should be around $100, maybe a bit more for engine.

    @NutzAboutBolts has good DIY videos on all of the above, pinned at top of this sub-forum.

    The full maintenance schedule is in the Warranty and Maintenance Booklet. If you can't locate it, you can download pdf at Toyota Tech Info and one or two other places.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    FWIW Toyota Canada specs same change interval for first engine and inverter coolant circuits: 10 years or 160k kms (100k miles).