Changing CVT fluid today

Good Idea........ especially if you plan on keeping it a long time..... that gunk will be on the gears....... change it every thirty thousand....especially now that you see how easy it is....

 

You're right....
Another favorite...
...."I've pissed through more salt water than you'll ever sail through!"

At the risk of getting back on topic, I'd like to offer a few comments. TTFWTW.

1. I always advise against major service before a trip.....or at least RIGHT before a trip....and really....HOW hard is your car really working when you're loping along on the interstate.
Preflights in this case will be a lot more important.

Oil change?
Sure.
CVT fluid change?
Probably - if you KNOW it's being done RIGHT, since in many respects it's easier than an oil change.

2. It's not a transmission, or really even a transaxle. It;s a power splitter IIRC.
When you change out the fluid nearly all of it comes out of the housing because there's no torque converter. There ARE however STATOR windings (*), and anyone who has ever worked on motorcycles knows about those.
Generally speaking, I don't really think that OEM fluids are any better than some of the alternatives but this is one case where I would probably not experiment with chemistry or snake oil.
Most transmissions and transaxles don't have motor-generators in them....YET.
....just saying.
It's possible that whatever "better" fluid that you put into the Priuses CVT/Transaxle will have the same dielectric and corrosion resistant properties that Toyota's fluid does.....but there's not enough of a price dif for me to get into silly barroom arguments about it.

(*) They may call them armature windings, or just MG windings...I forget.

Your car.
Your rules.

3. RTFM. There ARE cases where you want to question the people who designed and built the car....because THEY only need it to hold together long enough for the average driver to be happy with it, and the AVERAGE driver will trade it out looooong before the extended warranty expires.
HOWEVER (comma!) if you're going to leverage your vast experience to lean away from the warranty and maintenance guide - then I would do so from a position of knowledge first, and THEN experience.

If you stuff a retired CPO with 32 years on and in the pond into one of the new Virginia SSNs?
...you'd have not much more than a NUB (Non-qualified Useless Booger) who can no longer pass a Physical Readiness Test.


.....enjoy the trip!

Edit:
In case any SSN-774 skippers are out there:
I just looked at the PRT scores for my age group, and I think I can still pass the test!

I wouldn't mind a ride someday!!!

 

Magnetic drain plugs always look like that; they're just doing their job. You got 90~95% of the fluid replaced: it won't hurt, and just for peace-of-mind go for it, but meh.

 

Just to add another observation, Some people, posting here, who thought the same and did a short change at 30,000 miles later, observed that the drained transmission fluid looked brand new and if they had to do it again they would not do it until 50,000 or 80,000 miles.

Your car, your choice, though.

 

If you have a Gen 3 with 150,000 or more on the original fluid...... change it a couple of times... it's just as easy as a oil change.
248,337 on mine..... needs a new trani (whine) from not being changed..... bought it with 194,000....... was black....took 3 times to get it pink....... this whine noise is becoming more common.... this isn't the only place to get prius information.... i'm on several different trani forums also. Noise starts at 55 up to 70 mph. My v's original owner drove it on the interstate from Houston to Daytona Beach several time a month. Just trying to save someone the trouble of a new trani.......especially if your in the deep south.....

 

You don't have to change that fluid again George W that new fluid will last the life of the car. All that bad looking stuff that was the towel is all break in crap. Its gone now so your done good job.

The G2 trans is very very easy on its fluid after the break in stuff has been replaced.

I know because I changed mine 3 times and it was a big waste. The fluid that came out the last time looked brand new.

I use Redline D6.

 

If you want to see a gain in mpg's change the Inverter coolant. The car really likes that. The Inverter is the heart and soul of this car.

I usually do all 3 of these when the car is up in the air:

Change the trans fluid.

Change the Inverter coolant the dump bolt for that is right next to the trans dump bolt. I also add Redline Water Wetter to the Inverter coolant..

And I service the under dash ac evap coil by shooting cleaner back up the drip hose just like the dealer does only he charges $200 for it.
I also clean the condenser in front of the rad. Basic maintenance just like your home ac.

13 years old and still has freezing cold ac.

AC cleaner for drip hose comes with drip hose: Kool-It @ Amazon.com.

If your going through the trouble of getting the car that high up make it worth your time. Hit as many things as you can.