1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Coolant Change interval

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Clifford Bradford, Nov 11, 2019.

  1. Clifford Bradford

    Clifford Bradford Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2019
    13
    8
    0
    Location:
    Cincinnati
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    So I took my 20016 in for 50,000 mile service and they said I need to change the engine and electric motor coolant ( I gather they're same type but separate circuits) for $260. According to the manual the first change of these should be 100k and ~120K miles each. Also $260 seems steep. I told them I'd put it off until my next service
    1. does their recommendation to change and the interval sound fishy?
    2. Also how difficult a job is this?
    3. is there a way for me to diagnose the coolant condition myself? e.g. by color, smell, etc?

     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    welcome!
    1) yes, or more like lying to make money

    2) its probably worth $260. for both at a dealer, i've seen much worse

    3) nah, just follow toyota's schedule that came with your car.
     
    Merkey and krmcg like this.
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,470
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    According to Toyota USA first engine coolant change is 100k or 10 years (whichever comes first), and first inverter coolant change is 150k or 15 years.

    Thereafter both are 50k or 5 years.
     
    Merkey, kithmo and krmcg like this.
  4. sclevine

    sclevine Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2016
    110
    133
    2
    Location:
    Northeast Florida, USA
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    Dealer just did mine for the first time at 100,000 miles on my 2017 Prius 4. I trust them on pricing, and their charge was $257.
     
  5. Clifford Bradford

    Clifford Bradford Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2019
    13
    8
    0
    Location:
    Cincinnati
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
  6. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    2,404
    2,773
    47
    Location:
    South Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Just as a matter of interest, was it discoloured at 100K miles ?
     
  7. Clifford Bradford

    Clifford Bradford Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2019
    13
    8
    0
    Location:
    Cincinnati
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    MFers still trying to get me to change it early. currently 69K miles #smh
     
    bisco likes this.
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    were you away the last two years? :cool:
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,470
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Never gets old. :)
     
  10. Clifford Bradford

    Clifford Bradford Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2019
    13
    8
    0
    Location:
    Cincinnati
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    well, yanno, COVID happened so a lot less driving to work...
     
    bisco likes this.
  11. thomassster

    thomassster Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2015
    238
    80
    0
    Location:
    Colorado, US
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    XLE AWD-e
    The look of old Toyota long life coolant is hard to tell if it needs change or not within first 100k miles. 50k is a good early time to do it. 100k is probably when you should try to change it if you haven’t. Changing coolant is easy, it’s just the bleeding process is tedious.

    deciding to change it before 100k or at 100k, all depends on how long you like to keep your car for. The typical priuses start having issues about 200k miles where the cost of repairs become much higher.
     
  12. Mothman

    Mothman Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2021
    5
    2
    0
    Location:
    Sherrills Ford, NC
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    I have a 2021 Prius XLE and I drive a little over 1,000 miles per week. I just had my 90,000 mile oil change and the Toyota dealer recommended changing the engine and converter coolant. Both are still pink and look good. I pushed it off till the 100,000 mile service.

    I have driven vehicles 200,000+ miles over 10+ years old and never changed coolant. One mechanic told me to not flush your coolant because seals will start leaking. This was advice for the older American made cars I was driving.

    This is my first hybrid and I love it. Is the coolant change necessary at 100,000?
     
  13. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2022
    940
    343
    0
    Location:
    Midwest
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    The Maintenance Schedule includes a little caveat that many have never read that goes something like this at every 15K “inspect” coolant. This means it should be tested for both ability to prevent freezing and boiling, AND corrosion. If the dealership is recommending it be changed based on that testing then have it done (unless you REALLY enjoy paying big money for a new inverter). If they are recommending it based on mileage then it is up to you (but people who actually know these cars say it is a very good idea to do it at 50K).
     
  14. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    There is evidence that Toyota SLCC (super long life coolant) is not so long lived.

    The Car Care Nut on YouTube conjected that degradation of the coolant resulted to damage to the rubber component of metal core gaskets used with water pumps, leading him to believe that the head gasket might be degraded in the same way.

    It is explained in his YouTube video beginning at the 12:00 minute mark.



    The Toyota authorized method is laborious and time consuming and may apparently be designed to maximize service technician time and profit.

    Using a UView vacuum tool, it takes no more that 30 minutes to change coolant with no need to place the car into service or maintenance mode.

    Even at Toyota retail prices, the coolant costs about $50. $260 is outrageous.
     
  15. Mothman

    Mothman Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2021
    5
    2
    0
    Location:
    Sherrills Ford, NC
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    Sounds good. Thank you.
     
  16. Mothman

    Mothman Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2021
    5
    2
    0
    Location:
    Sherrills Ford, NC
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    Thanks for the information and video. The coolant will be changed.
     
  17. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014
    2,642
    1,133
    0
    Location:
    Northwestern S.C.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    1. Yes, unless they actually tested it and found a problem.
    2. Tedious, but only moderately difficult without specialized equipment. Easier with it.
    3. Color, and check the pH vs. new coolant with coolant test strip (or standard pH paper). Is it still clear and pink?

    Out of an abundance of caution, I had my engine coolant changed only a little beyond the recommended 100k interval, although it still looked fine and showed the same pH as new stuff.
     
    Doug McC and Georgina Rudkus like this.