120K Service - Need advice!

It could be post contamination procedure, as there's no service requirement for this in the manual. Yes I agree, misguided

 

Owners Manuals back a decade or two (at least Honda) would include oil change instruction and transmission fluid change. Checking more recently, I see they're not including them anymore. Sad.

The Toyota "Repair Manual" outlines the basic transaxle drain and fill. Really dead simple.

Pay someone $20 to run your car 'round the back...

 

. 12 quarts. You don't know what you're talking about.

 

First sentence: I'm guessing it's for a triple change flushing procedure.

Second sentence: Yeah, there's no way a flushing sequence is needed. And dumping in a third party flushing solution? Toyota should shut them down: they expressly caution to not put in other fluids. Totally agree with you.

 

Dealers uses 12 quarts to flush the system out. They probably uses a machine that hooks up to the transmission lines to flush the entire system clean of the old fluids. Its normal for it to be 12 quarts and not just 4 since the machine requires more fluids for a flush as oppose to a drain and refill. I've been a tech at the Toyota dealership before, so that's what we use for the machine when it calls for a flush Hope it isn't confusing anyone.

 

I'm curious how often a tech actually flushes the system even though the work order says to do so? Like the inverter pump recall, they are suppose to change the coolant, but I can't say any techs do it.

Or they could take the Jiffy Lube approach.....since the manually says it's lifetime fluid. Why even bother doing it

 

It's confusing since the Prius doesn't have a torque converter, a transmission cooler, or transmission lines, so there is no reason to flush he transmission. That's good, because there's no way to hook up the machine to a Prius transaxle. When you open the drain plug, all of the fluid drains out. With ordinary auto transmissions, opening the drain leaves half the fluid inside the torque converter and transmission cooler.

But you know all this, and that's why I'm confused.

 

I for one do it because that's the right thing to do and the customer paid for it. Plus, its very obvious if the system isn't flushed because the fluids will look dark and not red as it should be for clean fluids.

 

you're right, there is no lines. I was stating about how they use 12 quarts of transmission fluids for transmission flush on vehicles that requires a flush. I'm not sure how they use it on the Prius as I haven't worked at a dealership since 09. Maybe someone can chim in who works at the dealership currently.

 

The only time I can see a multi-change of transaxle fluid being warranted is I've done something dumb, say poured in some motor oil. If you go to a dealership asking for a transaxle fluid drain and fill, which replaces about 90% of the fluid, I believe, and they respond by telling you they will flush it, it's over $200 (plus "SS", still to be explained, determined), and they're going to use an aftermarket flush solution in the process, it's time to walk away, do it yourself.

 

The same illogic that demands 12 quarts of WS to "flush" or triple-change a Prius transmission would also demand 15 quarts of engine oil to "flush" the engine oil every time.

 

From what I know, Toyota dealership shouldn't be recommending transmission flush on Hybrids and most trucks.

 

I really appreciate you participating in PriusChat and I don't want anyone to be rude to you. But I have seen this same mistake at two other Toyota dealers, and because of it, I won't take my Prius to them anymore.

Here's the thing: A Prius does not have an automatic transmission. It's not at all like other cars. It has a continuously variable transaxle, with two internal motor/generators and differential all in one small unit. This transaxle unit does not have any torque converter at all, and there's no transmission filter, pan or cooler.

What this means is that transaxle fluid changes are straight drain and fill operations. There is no way to attach the transmission oil flush machine to a Prius even if you wanted to. This is also why replacing the fluid is very unlikely to cause the sludge problem you mentioned. When you flush a transmission, it's possible that sludge can get into the transmission cooler lines and clog it. (Although, I don't know if this ever happens). But with a Prius, you open up the drain bolt, the fluid comes straight out. Then you replace the drain bold, open the fill bolt, and add four quarts of Toyota WSS ATF Fluid -- not twelve quarts. Whoever told you that you need 12 quarts and/or a transmission flush was uninformed. I explained this to service advisors at two Toyota dealerships, and they stuck with their totally bogus "transmission flush" story. I ask with respect that you consider looking into this for yourself, and you will see that the typical ATF flush is not and cannot be performed on a Prius.

 

Considering that this is the practice at three Toyota dealerships we asked... maybe we should start asking more of them?

 

I Had a Toyota Master Tech viewing as I did mine using his lift and this guy never said "flush". He said drain and fill till runs out... (But I put in 4.5).. When he asked if I had filled till it ran out, he just shook his head, as if to say "you'll learn"! To listen?
Anyway.. no flush!
I'm planning on doing inverter and engine coolant...seems really straight forward.. Dealer wants a small fortune.! Any secrets,tricks, or advice doing these besides "dont take to dealer!"?

 

go to my YouTube channel for the coolant drain

 

Add some spare fresh coolant to the engine reservoir while it drains. Use a small bit of 3/8 tubing on the radiator drain to reduce splashing. If you have Techstream you can easily run the pumps on demand, in IG-ON. Otherwise, just follow the NutzAboutBolts videos with maintenance mode and all that.

 

NutzAboutBolts videos!

 

Seems to be unanimous.
What about air bleeder valve?