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Changing the transmission fluid on a 2010 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Boffin, Mar 25, 2017.

  1. Boffin

    Boffin Member

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    I finally got around to changing the transmission fluid in my 2010 Prius, with 103,000 miles on it. Glad I did, it was filthy black. One wonders why Toyota does not require it to be changed at some interval.

    Some things I learned.

    1) I watched NutzAboutBolts' video:

    twice before starting. Good idea, he explains everything in great detail.

    See also a thread on this site:

    Transmission fluid change DIY | PriusChat

    2) The drain and fill bolts, which both require a 10mm allen wrench were really tight on my high mileage car. Make sure that your jack stands / ramps are really secure before you try to loosen them. I ended up using a breaker bar to crack them loose.

    3) The siphon pump I used (the same one as in the video) doesn't drain the oil out of the ATF-WS bottles completely. NutzAboutBolts had to open a 5th quart. I just poured the unsiphoned oil back into an empty bottle, and had enough to cause the oil to overflow the fill hole. It's a bit more oil than Toyota's 3.5 quarts, but I was following NutzAboutBolts' method which fills it to the fill plug.

    The whole thing took me about 4 hours. This was the first time I did this, and I managed to put plastic fasteners where 10mm bolts went and vice versa. Had to undo that, clean up a minor oil spill, and futz around with some misaligned under panels that were improperly installed by other mechanics. Next time, I expect things will go much faster.
     
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Good job. (y)

    I changed the transaxle oil at 35k, and plan to change it again at 95 to 100k.
     
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Siphon pump, schmiphon pump ... I have a low-tech funnel with a hose, and fish it down from up top. :)

    -Chap
     
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  4. kc410

    kc410 Active Member

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    Did my second change around 205K exactly that way - Went to Home Depot & found a medium/large funnel & then walked over to the clear vinyl tubing area. Found the 1/2" OD, 3/8" ID was a snug fit inside the funnel spout - jackpot, just what I needed.
    After I got the fluid drained & the bottom fill plug inserted I poked one end of the vinyl tubing down from the top & inserted it 4-6" into the top fill hole. Then, topside, I tied the funnel to the hood support & cut the vinyl tubing to proper length. The whole run of vinyl tubing is a gradual downhill run & the fluid goes in easily.

    I add about 3.5qts then start pouring in a little & then look to see if it is overflowing. Took around 3.7-3.8qts both times I changed it.
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I did similar with a Pilot rear differential lately: funnels are dead simple.

    IMG_6443.JPG
     
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  6. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    There is something about doing it yourself. I thought of doing it myself on my 30K Prius, but in the end just brought it to local dealer. They did it for $53 labor only, and I provided them with TOYOTA ATFWS. Maybe before the next change at 90K, I will learn how to DIY... or not :)
     
  7. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    (y)
     

    Attached Files:

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  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    That's just what my setup looks like, only your funnel is fancier.

    -Chap
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The main issue is to get the car raised and level, safely. If you can manage that you've got it. Also, a solid, longer handle wrench makes it much easier: the drain and fill bolts take moderate effort to break loose. You need a 10mm Allen Key style "socket" for both. I prefer to take the engine underpanel off completely, and usually combine the transaxle drain with an oil change.
     
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  10. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Thanks Mendel. As always, I appreciate your and all the other forum contributors suggestions on technical know-how. Currently my main issue is the place to work on a car. No garage, no flat driveway, and no tools. Putting the "joy" factor of doing yourself aside, I will have to do a serious ROI analyses to see if it pays to DIY compared to taking to the pro. ;)
     
  11. Scarface2005

    Scarface2005 Member

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    Quick question
    2012 Prius plug in
    2005 Prius

    My 05 did not come with underpanels. It's very easy to change trans oil. Do I need to completely remove the underpanel on the plug in? It's the same as any 3rd gen Prius. Is there a built in service window for the trans oil change like the engine oil change?
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I think it's reachable, IIRC there is an opening in the panel, in the vicinity of the transaxle fill and drain bolts. BUT, I'm not sure that the draining fluid won't be splashing onto the panel, making a real mess.

    I'm prejudiced: I pull the panel off completely every six months, for an oil change. Once you've done it once or twice it becomes very routine. Pry the plastic fasteners out carefully, and clean them in hot soapy water to get any grit out, and they will last a long time. Be careful too not to mix them up, there are two at the rear that are a little larger, have grey caps.
     
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  13. ATlam

    ATlam Member

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    The Toyota dealer near me wanted $200 to do it, they claim to have a special machine that fill it up properly :( Two other auto shops wont touch it because the transaxle doesn't have a measuring stick.

    I would do it myself but I'm renting and I don't really have a leveled surface for it. I wish there's a place that would do it for $50 labor around here.
     
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  14. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    If you're in San Jose, you'll like this thread:

    Possible Monthly install meets. Bay Area-Fremont

    Next meet up is August 12 in Lafayette:).

    If you're willing to help, we'll fit you in(y).
     
  15. 4md

    4md Member

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    I was pretty sure I read somewhere in the manuals that the transmission oil change interval is 90k km (~60k miles), but just checked EVERYTHING and it seems that I'm wrong - not a word about changing, only checking and leakage inspection.

    Anyway, I'm the second owner of the car and I got it at 99k miles and changed the ATF right away. The previous owner never had a transmission oil change and the old oil was really black, almost like engine oil from a diesel car. In my opinion it HAS to be changed regularly, let's say around 60k miles to prevent any wear. Where I live the ATF with Toyota specifications is pretty cheap - I bought Yacco ATF X FE for ~$45 (the original from Toyota was ~$90) and changed it by myself, it's an easy job. Used a funnel and a hose to fill it
     
  16. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I live in rural NE town where one and the only Toyota dealer closest is 50 miles away. The next closest would be 200 miles. I would think in a big city in CA there are more than one Toyota dealers. Have you checked with other dealers. Also, make sure to tell them you are providing your own TOYOTA ATFWS and drain plug washer (which cost me $28 (4x$7/qt) for the fluid and $8 for washers ( you need only two, but I bough 10 washers for $8, a life time supply) and want only "drain and fill" service done. My dealer initially did not even know what is required to perform "drain and fill" service on Prius. They first told me the cost would be $140 for transmission flush (same price for most models) which include the fluid. Mendel uploaded a copy of service manual for the "drain and fill" on Prius, and I took a copy of it to the service desk. After seeing the service manual, they realized that it is just as easy as the oil change, and charged me only half hour of labor, which was $53. My Pri just started showing maintenance indicator for 35K. I am thinking of start doing my own maintenance from now on. Good luck.
     
    #16 Salamander_King, Jul 10, 2017
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2017
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  17. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Come do it at one of our meet ups. I have all the tools in my garage. You have to supply the tranny oil and (I'm not certain) maybe a gasket or two for the drain/fill plugs.
     
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  18. JBarleycorn

    JBarleycorn Junior Member

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    I did the transaxle fluid change on my 2012 Prius today, at 47k miles. I had the car up on the ramps (front) and jackstands (rear) and did the oil change along with the transaxle change. The old transaxle fluid was very dark, like Hershey syrup with a touch of red.

    Some tips:

    1. I used some yellow tape to mark the holes for all of the underpanel clips. There are lots of those clips and it's hard to find all the holes when you are putting the clips back.

    2. Whenever I have all the clips out, I wash them in a pan of soapy water to remove road dirt. This was a good suggestion from someone on this forum.

    3. You should have an extra-long-handle ratchet - like a breaker bar - to break the fill plug loose. Mine was very tight, and it would be a catastrophe to drain out the fluid and not be able to fill it afterward.

    4. The Nutz-About-Boltz video was great, but I don't know how he does the job without getting trans fluid everywhere. Certainly when I did it it was a messy job. I know I had a crummy pump from Amazon but still I was surprised at how hard it was to pump out 4 bottles of fluid without getting it all over the place.

    5. All told, the time to change both the trans fluid and the oil/filter was about two hours start to finish. That includes jacking up the car, cleanup etc.
     
    #18 JBarleycorn, Jan 28, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2018
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  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Good going.

    Try funnel and hose if you do it again. Easier if you have a helper.
     
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  20. JBarleycorn

    JBarleycorn Junior Member

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    It definitely sounds easier with a funnel and hose. Sadly though I will never convince either my wife or my kids to stand there and pour oily red fluid down a funnel for me. Maybe I can pay a neighborhood kid ...