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Transmission fluid check

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Harry Le, Apr 13, 2020.

  1. Harry Le

    Harry Le New Member

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    Hello,
    My car is 2017 Prius C. I am looking for the transmission fluid rule where I can check the level of fluid, but I did not see it. Can anyone here could let me know where is it?
    Thanks
     
  2. iceman13

    iceman13 Member

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    It doesn’t have one. The correct fluid level is when it’s just about dripping out from the fill hole. The car should be perfectly level. It can only be accessed from below the car.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    instead of checking it, just change it
     
  4. Harry Le

    Harry Le New Member

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    Base on this video from Weber State University, for Prius C with normal driving, I think we no need to change the transmission fluid. I saw some people in here changes transmission fluid at just around 30,000 miles for Prius C, I think that is totally wrong.
     
  5. iceman13

    iceman13 Member

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    You definitely should change the transmission fluid. This is not a normal automatic transmission. It’s only metal gears grinding against each other like manual transmissions and differentials. People drain and fill those units regularly. The lubricating properties of gear oil degrade over time. It’s up to you but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Once you've verified level is correct, say by doing a drain and fill with car level, I wouldn't bother with further checks, as long as there's no leaks.
     
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  7. Harry Le

    Harry Le New Member

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    Yes, I think we just make sure there is no leaks only. If no leaks, no worry anymore
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what's in the video? did they send it out for an oil analysis?
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just startng to watch it, that isn't a prius ecvt. nothing in that video corresponds to prius, ignore it.
     
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just remove the fill plug and stick your pinky in there. if there's oil, you're good to go.
     
  11. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    You didn't say your mileage but if more than 30,000 miles you will greatly enhance the trans life by changing that fluid as it has all the bad break in stuff. Once changed never have to do it again.
     
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  12. Harry Le

    Harry Le New Member

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    @bisco: that guy talking about “sealed transmission”- that is Prius C, right?
    @edthefox5: If you change the fluid at 30,000 miles , why never do it again? The fluid is not dirty anymore after 30,000 miles changed? It is not make sense.
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not sure what you mean by sealed. the c has a drain plug and a fill plug. he's talking about conventional toyota automatic transmission. c has an 'ecvt' electronic continuously variable transmission.
    there's no drain and tube combo like he was showing.
     
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  14. Harry Le

    Harry Le New Member

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    @bisco: I think the “sealed” word is a little bit confusing. It is not like sealed not come in not come out. “Sealed” means it has no dipstick, can’t check the level of fluid, so they don’t want the users, or technicians touch if it has no any signs like leaking, noise...I attached that video for example of my original question because my car has no dipstick too. They call that is “sealed transmission”.
     
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  15. Harry Le

    Harry Le New Member

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    @bisco: I think the “sealed” world is a little bit confusing. It is not like sealed not come in not come out. “Sealed” means it has no pipstick, can’t check the level of fluid, so they don’t want the users, or technicians touch if it has no any signs like leaking, noise...I attached that video for example of my original question because my car has no pipstick too. They call that is “sealed transmission”.
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    fair enough. i'm just saying you can check the level easily enough (not as easy as a dipstick of course) and you can also fairly easily do a drain and fill, or you can have someone else do it for around a hundred bucks.

    the reason some do it at 30k is to get out all the break-in material that wore off the new gears and is circulating through the oil.
    but not everyone agrees how early or how often, since there is no guidance from toyota.

    on the whole, if you're not keeping the car more than 150k, you don't need to change it at all, because there are very few failures within that mileage.

    it's more of a 'best practices' thing
     
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  17. Xaver Pinero

    Xaver Pinero New Member

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    So based off this comment, if I have a small transmission leak (from a rubber hose it appears) and I need to fill it up before a long trip (I know I need to fix the leak asap, but need to leave for this trip first), all I need to do is warm it up, raise it level and pump fluid in until it pours out? I would really appreciate a input. Edit: I have a 2016 Prius 2.
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I don't think it needs to be warmed up.
     

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  19. dubit

    dubit Senior Member

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    If you want to give it a check, follow the thread I'll link to below, Changing the fluid is no harder than changing the oil. I recommend however being able to lift the vehicle if you can. That being said, in the thread I link to below, you didn't seem to be interested in changing the fluid. If your going to go through checking it, you may as well change it. You'll already be there and it takes 10 minutes.

    How to: Change Transmission Fluid ATF WS | PriusChat

    See my reply in post number 20 of that thread - I still recommend buying that as it makes the job much easier