1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

transmission oil change frequency

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Suzazoom, Aug 9, 2015.

  1. Suzazoom

    Suzazoom Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2015
    40
    4
    0
    Location:
    Utica MI (north of Detroit)
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I am looking at a 2006 toyota prius with 88,on it, and it looks like the transmission oil has not been changed on it yet. Steve Woodruff of autobeyours recommended the transmission oil be changed every 60,000 miles. would it be "safe" to buy this car considering everything else checks out with a local mechanic? the car is very very clean, almost new tires. price $7500. engine oil was changed regularly.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    it would be safe. the tranny is a generally unknown quantity. some like to change after 5 or 10,000, then less frequently. some like to change every 30k, some like 60, toyota, no change ever.

    my own theory is, if you're going to keep it for several hundred thousand, why not spend the hundred bucks or so to change it once in a while. all the best!(y)
     
    Ozark Man, kerbear54 and orenji like this.
  3. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    1,391
    543
    0
    Location:
    Santa Monica, Ca. 90405
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    +1
     
  4. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,338
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    The prevailing recommendation on this site, based on Used Oil Analysis, is to change at 30,000 miles and then every 60,000 miles. Others wait until 100,000 miles.

    Toyota says that it is lifetime but does not define lifetime. Lifetime of their warranty?

    You should not have any worries at 60,000 miles but I would take the advice to change it now, especially if you plan to keep it for a while.
     
  5. Suzazoom

    Suzazoom Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2015
    40
    4
    0
    Location:
    Utica MI (north of Detroit)
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    thank you for this informaton. If I buy the car I will have the transmission oil changed right away. I do plan to keep the car a long time and feel it is a good investment.
     
    #5 Suzazoom, Aug 9, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2015
  6. thegoldenhand

    thegoldenhand Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2014
    44
    4
    0
    Location:
    California USA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    How much do you get charged for transmission oil change at the dealership?
     
  7. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,347
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    $100 +/- Simple drain and fill.
     
    thegoldenhand likes this.
  8. kerbear54

    kerbear54 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2012
    7
    5
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    The cvt on the Prius appears to be very durable and able to take abuse like no other. You can find many examples of Prii with > 250k miles with no cvt fluid changes as owners were unaware of the need for it! My 2008 had 76k miles on it when I bought it and I changed the cvt fluid while doing the oil and filter change. The most common interval mentioned for cvt fluid is roughly 60k miles. My Prius is the best car I've ever had in regards to maintenance costs.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Doing it myself, the costs are:

    (4) - liters of Toyota ATF-WS: $9.32x4 = $37.28
    (2) - drain/fill bolt washers: $1.99x2 = $3.98

    I take a good couple of hours, farting around getting the car up and roughly level on four jackstands, taking the engine cover completely off. OTOH an experienced mechanic with a lift would be about 1/2 hour labour.

    The actual change is pretty easy, you need a funnel with about 3 foot of hose extension (maybe 1/2" od), and the drain/fill bolts have 10 mm hex socket heads. A torque wrench and a breaker bar style wrench are pretty much mandatory.
     
  10. Samrat

    Samrat Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2012
    1
    1
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I have a 2006 prius with 175K, and never changed my trans. fluid.
    Also, Just did my 1st and only front brake pads replaced at 173.5K! It had 1mm wear left on the pad. I change my oil every 5K, at the dealer. Just find a coupon at any near by Toyota dealer, and my dealer matches the price. I usally get my oil change at my dealership for around $20.00. So far I have ignored most of their recommendation for other services, and have a wonderful 175K on my car.
     
    bisco likes this.
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    welcome and congrats! you can't argue with success. all the best.(y)
     
  12. SRQ

    SRQ Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2013
    148
    53
    0
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    That's a little too much fussing around for me; I do it without lifting the vehicle. Drain the old fluid, fill it up with a vinyl tube from Home Depot until it's full, get under there and torque both bolts and I'm done. Maintenance habits picked up from military aviation.

    Anyway, I do my transmission fluid flush and fill every 60k miles, had my fluid analyzed by a lab, and was pleased to see that the analysis showed that the transmission was wearing very nicely at that interval.
     
    Frankiie likes this.
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    You must just reach arms under there? I can't see someone's torso/rib cage fitting under the car without some lift. One big advantage to raising and removing the engine underpanel, beside the easier access: you can check for leaks, CV boot condition, etc.
     
  14. Stargazerwa

    Stargazerwa Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2015
    38
    5
    0
    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I would reccomend that you ensure the transmission fluid used is Toyo WS. When I researched transmission fluids months ago for the Prius I found that the equivalent fluids used by quickie fluid change places aren't the same spec. I would insist on using WS. I did mine myself and it wasn't difficult, there are good instructions on the Internet.
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    When buying a used Prius, it's almost a plus to get one where the owner didn't even think about changing the fluid. It seems like when people are replacing things, transaxle fluid, tires, whatever, there's a strong urge to "improve" on what's currently in use. There's a few members here that have swapped to another transaxle fluid, and at least one that subsequently sold the car, likely not disclosing the swap.
     
  16. SRQ

    SRQ Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2013
    148
    53
    0
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, I just use my arms. I check all that other stuff when I rotate my tires. I'm in Florida anyway so there's much less corrosive factors involved with driving down here.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.