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ATF change: 3.75 qts out, 2.75 qts in...huh?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by scootermd, Aug 14, 2024 at 1:46 AM.

  1. scootermd

    scootermd New Member

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    2009 Prius with 150k miles...Long-time Prius chat stalker, first time poster. (somewhat embarrassed by that).

    Condensed question:
    ATF change --> 3.75 qt out --> 2.75 qts in --> Wth --> help please.

    Detailed explanation:
    While replacing the driver's side axle during a suspension rebuild, I noticed that the ATF fluid that leaked out of the transmission was nearly black.

    I collected almost all of the fluid that leaked out and decided to replace the transmission fluid (about 1/2 qt). The car has 150k miles; I've had it for about 50k, pretty sure the ATF has never been changed.

    I drained out the fluid and collected another 3.25 qt, so about 3.75 qt total. Very dark. Looked like used motor oil.

    I then refilled with Toyota WS ATF via the well-documented method of snaking a tube through the upper fill hole (filler plug hole):
    upload_2024-8-13_23-34-40.png
    The car was flat on level ground. I was only able to add about 2.5 qt before it overflowed. I then raised and lowered both sides of the car several times, topping off the fluid at different heights, and I also manipulated/adjusted the tube in and around the filler plug hole. I was able to add another 0.25 qts, but then it was clear that nothing more was staying in.

    So overall, ~3.75 qt came out but only about 2.75 qts went back in.

    Has anyone seen this before? Any idea what could be going on? Concerns about driving the car? I am hesitant to drive it until I have a better idea of what is going on.

    Thanks in advance.
     
    #1 scootermd, Aug 14, 2024 at 1:46 AM
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Wouldn't be any concerns about driving the car with me You measured what you took out and trying to put back in and so on I didn't do any of that I drained the mess out that was black just like yours. And then I filled it up just like you did with the front end kind of cocked up a little bit and all of that like I'm doing a rear end in the old days I filled it till it ran out or began to and then turned axles and set the car down and let it sit 5 minutes and came back and jacked it back up and tried to put more in it It wasn't having it I'm not sure exactly how much I have in there at the moment but there's no more going to go and that's the end of that and I've been driving that 2009 car for oh gosh 100,000 miles now since that was done that was like a year and a half ago and not a peep out of it running great everything's lovely transmission works like it's supposed to so I just leave it alone. I guess it's about time to do it again because when I did it it was coming up on $190,000 miles I've put another hundred on it maybe I'll put another 40 or so and change it again. It was black when it came out I was kind of ashamed of that but it wasn't my fault.
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Aug 14, 2024 at 12:57 PM
  3. scootermd

    scootermd New Member

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    Thanks for the reply; love the stream of consciousness…
    would giving the axles a few turns as mentioned possibly loosen up air pockets and make space for more AT fluid?
     
    #3 scootermd, Aug 14, 2024 at 1:45 PM
    Tombukt2 likes this.
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    When draining, did you remove the fill bolt first? And if so, nothing spilled out?
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Aug 14, 2024 at 2:48 PM
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    To be honest about it it didn't make any difference. I even checked it again after driving We drive the cars a lot so you know in a couple of days they'll have a couple hundred miles on them all three of them so and nothing everything looked good wouldn't take anymore been driving in Central North Carolina in the heat and cold ever since like I said I think I put almost a hundred thousand on it I did all this when I first got the '09 I thought I'd give it a shot at some good fluids and all but it hadn't seem to make any difference I have some of these cars with 300,000 on them that I know none of this has ever been touched and they're just rolling along like ever the nice clean ones I'll change fluids and stuff like that on those and try to keep them reasonably nice and the beaters we just let them run change the oil and just the basics keep tires on them.
     
    #5 Tombukt2, Aug 14, 2024 at 3:12 PM
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