Brake fluid change question

Yeah lots of contrary policy. Which makes you think, there's more than just engineering involved. Previously mentioned (in post 3), Toyota Canada says to replace brake fluid every 48k kms (~30k miles) or tri-yearly (whichever comes first).

 

Ding-Ding!!!!!

Mendel for the win.
In the US the maximum OEM warranty you can buy for a Prius...IF you're so inclined....and IF you are a poor financial decision maker is something like 125,000 miles.

After that?
They just want you to do what everybody else does which is trade your "dealer serviced" (neglected) Toyota in for another............Toyota!!

Why else would they have a vehicle with such a small oil sump and a 10,000 mile oil change periodicity?
Why else would their power split (transaxle) fluid be.......a "lifetime" fluid?


Caveat Emptor.

 

Yes, These are what I think should be:
1. Toyota oil sump is relatively small compared to most Diesel or German cars ~ 6-7 Quarts. Most people should do 5k miles/8months OCI
2. The transmission in hybrid does not work that hard because no friction clutch, belt, and torque converter. The ATF is not exposed to extreem heat, mainly for cooling and lubrication gears and bearing. 10y/100k miles interval is fine
3. Brake fluid should be inspected every 2y, change only if moisture >2%.
4. sparkplugs 120k miles/10y
5. change cabin filter annually
6. air filter every 4y or less (dusty area)
7. inspect hybrid intake filter annually, change if it is dirty
8. clean intake and EGR lines every 100k miles
9. engine coolant every 7y/100k miles, 50k miles afterward.
10. Brake pads and sliding pins cleaning every 50k miles.

 

Appreciate these are your pref's, but anyways:

Toyota almost says that, except 12 years (vs 10).

I'd make it 50k, only way to keep it factory-functional. @NutzAboutBolts did his around 120k, and is experiencing head gasket failure now.

 

Can't say he didn't properly care for his car......

 

Mine is at 110k miles, have not done intake manifold and EGR cleaning yet. I am not sure if the EGR is the main cause of the headgasket failure. My theory is more to the headgasket design itself and the usage of E10 with 87 AKI instead of 91 octane and E5. Europeans have much less head gasket failures in Prius and Auris/Corolla IM hybrid. The E10 always made all pre-08 car pinging under light load. Prius 06, Altima 02, Sienna 04, Avalon 99 all pinging under light load with E10. A bit too lean.

 

I think it’s a common issue with the 3rd gen.

 

part no's for Toyota gasket kit (includes gasket kit, the revised one I would think), and head bolts, in attached. A couple of head gasket related links in my signature, and last link is the full engine section from repair manual.

 

Head gasket replacement video forthcoming?