Too late? Transmission Fluid Change 170k miles, New Prius Owner

If you check the Toyota USA Warranty and Maintenance Booklet, I believe towing is one criteria it mentions, where Toyota concedes a transaxle fluid change should be done regularly.

There’s a link in my signature on this maintenance. 3rd Gen Prius and Prius v should be the same. On a phone turn it landscape to see signature.

 

Toyota does not recommend towing, however, Toyota does recommend transaxle fluid changes under severe service conditions.

Obviously, towing a trailer is severe service.

 

Is there any risk to changing the transaxle fluid at this mileage or even 111k miles?

Doesn’t make sense as to why, I’m reading a lot of things that say it could cause damage to the engine, even the YouTuber Scotty Kilmer recommends against changing it.

 

That's for a regular automatic transmission with bands and clutches.

The e-CVT in a Prius change of fluid can be done at any time. Clean fluid at any mileage for a Prius is better than dirty fluid.

 

Where's his braying horse meme when I need it.

 

Changing the transaxle fluid doesn't effect the engine.

And remember, "lifetime" fluid means, for the life of the warranty, not
the part.....

 

Toyota doesn't really say "lifetime"; they say... nothing.

 

What interval do you guys change the ATF at?

 

Yes, that was the rule for the older transmissions....but with the newer Toyota CVTs I've heard it won't harm anything.

 

I found the first change I did, at around one year and 10k miles, was the darkest. I did another around 30k miles, just a little darker, one more later on, the fluid looked like new. Bottom line: one change early on, and just one more, around 100K, and you'd be good.

 

I've done lots of ICE Toyota's (always dirty after 60,000 miles) and only one in my wife's 2017 when it was 5-years old (2022). She only had 28,000 miles and the stuff coming out was almost new looking. My 2021 will be hitting 50,000 miles soon so I may do a service on it to see how it looks.

 

I bought the car at 75k'ish, who knows if their stealership ever did one - probably not. I haven't touched it yet, so it's long overdue.

Sounds like the car will be good after this until well past the 250k mark...as long as nothing blows before then.

 

It seem that the first change is always the dirtiest in these CVTs.

No wet clutches or valve bodies on these transmissions. If you live in the mountains; I'd do 60K mile ATF changes until you get a handle on how the high heat is effecting the ATF. At 111K, I'm pretty sure your fluid will come out dark brown. If it's dark black cherry red, it's probably been changed once. The fill and drain bolts will come out easy - otherwise they are really tight out of the factory.

Hope this helps...