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How to Change Your Transmission Fluid

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Triparadox, Aug 4, 2019.

  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Not necessarily. Honda for one, recommends a single drain and fill with their traditional automatics. They know only 50% drains, but that's ok. I suppose they adjust the interval accordingly.

    The only time they suggest a full "flush" is in case of fluid contamination, say engine oil inadvertently poured in. And even then the process is simple, albeit more time consuming and costly. The flush is just a series of drain-and-fills, with a good drive in between, three if I recall correctly.
     
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  2. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Spoken from experience:whistle:?

    Or do you know someone who has;).
     
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah, I'd poured in about 8 oz of motor oil before I woke up. DIY'd the multiple drain and fills, chagrined...
     
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  4. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    At one of the Bay Area meetups, one member had bought type IV atf for his Gen2 :cool:.

    After the second bottle was being added, I walked by and said “wait, what”:eek:.

    That prompted a similar activity;).

    Sorted it before bad things happened (y).
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    At least he was using some sort of transmission fluid. My offence was a felony... :oops:
     
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  6. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    So many ways to overcomplicate a simple drain-n-fill!
     
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  7. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Thanks. I have that document around here somewhere. I just couldn't seem to find it when I wanted it.
     
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  8. Triparadox

    Triparadox Active Member

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    I just made a call to one of the very few mechanics that will do it. He said he can do it for $230. That's beyond my expectation. I'm thinking of doing it myself. Can any of you recommend which stuff I need to get?
     
  9. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    They likely have NO clue what's involved. Either that or they're robbers.
     
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  11. Triparadox

    Triparadox Active Member

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    What do you guys often do in the meet ups?
    Do I need that pack of 6 Toyota ATF WS that cost $52 from Amazon? That all? How about the recommended pumps and hoses??
     
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  12. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    We’ve got the tools;).

    All you need are 4 quarts of ATF-WS :).

    And this meetup will be in an actual shop if we get the timing right(y).
     
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  13. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    "Service Advisers" love padding their commission.
     
  14. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    Even if you do it alone, you don't need any fancy tools or a pump if you have simple stuff like small funnel, hose, and hex key.
     
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  15. schmuber

    schmuber Member

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    Good guess about a six pack! Got the fluid wrong though… :whistle:
     
  16. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Other than the big plastic shield you have to remove to access the plugs, it's way easier than changing the engine oil.
     
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I take the full shield off for oil changes too. Takes 10 minutes tops, once you're used to it. If you never do it, then the plastic fasteners may be seized up with grit.

    There are some access openings in the shield, in vicinity of transaxle drain/fill bolts, but not taking the shield off I suspect you'd get some splashing. Not sure, never tried it.
     
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  18. Triparadox

    Triparadox Active Member

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    Wait.. Wrong fluid? When I googled transmission fluid for prius that's all I got
     
  19. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    That was a joke, methinks..
    Four quarts should be ample.
     
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  20. schmuber

    schmuber Member

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    Summertime. Bunch of guys messing with cars. Six pack…
     
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