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CVT fuild change.....

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by dipper, Jul 6, 2008.

  1. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    :doh:

    Now that you mention it, I never thought of doing the same for the crank.
     
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  2. ggcc

    ggcc Member

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    I am not joking but you need to put a sign "Do not turn engine" lock the car hide the key away!! Someone at the dealer told me the story that, his wife searched for his key while he was sleeping and drove his unfinished oil change car away!! Ouch!! cost him few $. :mad:
     
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  3. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Like that never happened to me! Right! I drained a lawnmower for the winter (bad idea BTW) then decided to sell it the next Spring and cranked it up for a buyer and wondered why it was making so much noise.:mad::mad::mad:

    In the shop I made laminated signs we put on the steering wheel and windshield. It said "put oil in it stupid".
     
  4. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

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    OK, I have read several threads and I assume there is no dipstick for the transmission.
     
  5. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Your assumption is correct. Instead of a dipstick, you get to insert your finger into the fill hole to see if you can feel the fluid level at the bottom of the hole, or not.
     
  6. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    As far as dipsticks, most new Toyota automatic transmissions don't have them either. For example, on my FJ there are two plugs on the trans drain pan, one is the drain plug and the other is the level check plug

    It's a complicated procedure to get the level just right. Even better, a few FJ owners have confused the trans drain plug for the engine oil drain plug. Oops
     
  7. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

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    My 2009 Grand Caravan has a dipstick hole with no dipstick and a sign. Take it to the dealer! LOL
     
  8. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Good for you! :)
     
  9. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    The pH meters and colorimeters have stopped working, as I couldn't find supplies for them. The pricey Mettler scale still works fine, despite sitting in the lab with no power and environmental conditioning for 10 months.

    The surface area analyser worked, but I sold that to a small lab as I really had no need to perform surface area analysis of particles. Also, I didn't have any nitrogen gas and liquid nitrogen to properly adsorb/desorb the samples

    I was able to find a good home for the Sonicator ultrasonic liquid processor too. For awhile I was using it to "stir" the sugar and cream in my coffee, until the tip blew off the Sonicator. Fortunately, I had rummaged spare tips when I "liberated" the Sonicator.

    The Sonicator was cool, but I didn't like how my fillings vibrated when I used it to stir my coffee
     
  10. mec0t0

    mec0t0 New Member

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    I am planning to do the CVT fluid change this weekend, I purchased 4 qts ATF WS.

    Can someone suggest the OD size of the tubing to be used with a funnel? I will get some 3' tubing form OSH later.

    Thanks...
     
  11. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    First find a suitable funnel. Then find a 3' length of tubing that will snugly fit on the funnel end. I suggest that you secure the tubing to the funnel using electrician's tape to make sure the tube doesn't slip off as you are pouring ATF into the funnel.

    The fill hole is around 3/4" diameter, IIRC.

    The funnel that I am using is a long and narrow black plastic funnel intended for automotive ATF use. I also obtained a flexible plastic tail that attaches to the funnel, so that the total length is 3' from the top of the funnel to the bottom of the tail.

    I insert the funnel in the space between the inverter and the radiator and then snake the tail into the fill hole. The funnel remains upright as I am pouring ATF in it.
     
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  12. Greg_M

    Greg_M Member

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    Does this mean that you can just fill it until it spills out the top hole (when parked on a level surface) or does the level need to be below that?
     
  13. mec0t0

    mec0t0 New Member

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    Thanks Patrick. I went ahead and bought a 4' piece of 1/2" OD vinyl tubing. I will drain and fill it up till it slightly overflows.
     
  14. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Yes, the correct level is where the fluid is just below the bottom edge of the fill hole, or down as much as 5 mm below that point.
     
  15. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

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    The best way is to look straight up at it as someone else fills it until your eyes turn red. LOL
     
  16. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Oh, I've had *that* happen a few times too. Enough so, I keep a small bottle of eyewash handy when working on vehicles
     
  17. ggcc

    ggcc Member

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    Re: CVT fuild change.....+ Tools

    2007 Prius:

    Just drained and filled my CVT Fluid today at 62K Miles (very dark fluid compare with the new fluid). I will do it again every 10K or 20K miles.

    Tools:

    1-4 quarts Toyota ATF WS (Toyota dealer).
    2-24mm socket and rachet (to open the fill bolt)
    3- KD-2147 Allen Wrench I think the tool make from KD not sure if it's 3/8" hex (to open the drain bolt).
    4-3 feet clear nylon hose (tubing) with outside diameter 7/16" (Orchard Supply 39 cents a foot).
    5-Small funnel
    6-Two new washers (Toyota dealer).
     

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  18. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Re: CVT fuild change.....+ Tools


    I am not sure I have a Hex that large in my tool box. I would think it would be metric.:confused:
    Did it look like you needed the washers?
     
  19. ggcc

    ggcc Member

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    Re: CVT fuild change.....+ Tools

    Yes, that was the reason why I said may be 3/8" hex wrench. I can see the KD tool number but I cannot see the size (don't know when I got this tool perhaps 30+ years).

    Well, I think you can re-use the washers, but for $2.00 drain washer, I think it's better safe then sorry. I re-used the re-fill bold washer (what if it leaks on the drain? you have to do all over again, buy new fluid, run to the dealer to buy $2.00 washer etc...but if it leaks on the re-fill washer you do not need to buy CVT fluid, just buy washer and replace it).:)
     
  20. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Re: CVT fuild change.....+ Tools

    Good job.

    Did you consider using a bottle pump? Overall, I found the bottle pump pretty easy to use and relatively mess-free