Inverter Oil + Inverter Coolant change

no such thing as inverter oil, and the coolant doesn't get changed until at least 8/100, maybe 10/120. it's in your maintenance schedule

lies, lies, lies

 

Was this at a Toyota dealer?

 

I think they were referring to the drivetrain oil change. There are plenty of YouTube and PriusChat guides so that you can perform this service DIY. It’s very simple. Do a little research.

 

As @bisco said, no such thing as inverter oil. I have changed my own transaxle oil and inverter coolant several times and I am not a Toyota dealer. However, there's no way on God's little green earth that I'd take it to some generic garage for that. They would screw it up for sure, so in that regard the dealer is right But no way I'd pay Toyota $355 to have my fun for me with a job that easy.

 

If it's not available in your area, blinker fluid will do in a pinch. just don't run it that way for too long.

 

overdue?

maybe overdue on starting the wallet flush

New year, new profits to be made

 

at 50k, you want to use time instead of miles. if you don't have a maintenance schedule, you can join toyota owners and find one there. at 7 years old, you still probably don't need anything but oil and filters, inspections, brake service and tire rotations. is it the original 12v?

 

Coolants for Gen3 I believe is 10yr/100k to change, aside from regular checking of the levels.
without going and checking again rtm, i think inverter is 150k miles first change?

Have the brakes been lubed and checked upon?
Rear brakes on a Gen3 may have caliper pins rusting out in salted road territory (NY?)
Mine did after 4 years and 25k miles - they were really bad and Toyota Dealer never mentioned those.

Depending on your driving conditions brake pads may or may not be getting low.

We put roughly 5k miles/year on our Gen3 and I was doing oil change at 10k,
but will start a 5k oil change interval DIY since it is considered hard with 3 trips a day at 1 mile each.

Tire rotations, and such..... that is about it.
Trans oil drain and fill...I think it is definitely a good thing to do, but not for that price.
I DIY 'ed it for the cost of the fluid and gaskets (washers)

 

Read the 1st 6 words in post #2.

 

I would have ask, "If I do this at home, will I be arrested then?"

 

Cliff notes of coolant & when it's due:

Pink coolant reservoir on left side of the engine - flush & refill after 10 years or 100,000 miles.
Pink coolant reservoir on right side of the engine - flush & refill after 10 years or 150,000 miles (this is printed on a white sticker on reservoir also)

 

When dealerships and repair places read me each item recommended for servicing (that I know I don't need) I ask, "Can I get that for free?" After 5 or 6 times, they say "We don't provide free services." I reply, "I don't pay for services I don't need." After that, they read me my total due and I pay for what I originally requested for haha.

 

With the brakes, it is hard to question safety, but I also suspect foul play after understanding how this dealer
has been taking advantage in many ways.
It never hurts to get a second opinion with another shop, or (best likely) here on priuschat.

@Grit has some mighty extra fine points. and I really think that you need to take a step back
and not only think about that specific dealer, but to perhaps stop going there.

this flush, that flush, change this change that.
Check out your manual, and look at the separate "maintenance" book and see for yourself.
If you have state inspection, that may require (I did say may) some extra not in that book,
but other than the book, you dont need much.

Can you DIY (do it yourself) at all? that may help some, but if not, it will take a firm NO THANK YOU
next time you visit a dealer. aka stealership

the only hidden maintenance that has been needed is the wallet flush
And that is only necessary for the dealer to continue to get rich and you to drain your account.

As Grit mentioned, maybe next time they tell you that you need this.....ask if you call Toyota...if they would recommend that you need it too!

Aside from all that, getting a little educated about the EGR issue, so if/when you "may" need it,
you are well versed and can DIY or find a buddy/friend that can.

 

I used to spot that stuff at Kalecoauto.com, but the website seems to have gone belly up. Too bad. They had all kinds of cool stuff like flux capacitors, elbow grease, muffler bearings, and so on. They still have a Facebook page, but nothing new there in a long time.