Regular & Less Frequent Self-Maintenance List?

I am lazy, so I strive for minimal maintenance.

I check all fluids every time I pop the hood which is about twice a year. This happens once in the fall before winter and once in the spring after winter.
- Some Priuses burn engine oil, in which case you need to guess when it will drop low and check/top up accordingly. My 2012 Prius doesn't burn oil so I don't really bother checking.
- Coolant level usually drops about 2-3 cm during winter so I keep it topped up at the "F" in the fall and spring.
- You should never have to top up brake fluid as long as you maintain or replace your brakes on schedule. The brake fluid will drop a little as your pads wear. You only have to worry if your brake fluid drops significantly. The brake fluid is usually topped up after brakes are replaced or bleed.
- Top up washer fluid before/during winter depending on usage. You really need the fluid during the snowy months.

I replace my cabin filter once a year. Although you can save money by simply taking it out and vacuuming it. There are usually some leaves on top after fall. The dealer recommends replacing it once every second oil change, but I think is unnecessary. You can decide for yourself as it filters the air for your air conditioner/heater.

I replace the engine air filter once every two years. The thing doesn't get very dirty. I vacuum it once a year. You can decide to replace or vacuum based on how dirty it looks. The computer will adjust accordingly to the air/fuel mixture as long as it is not clogged. Of course, you will get better mileage with more air. The dealer recommends replacing this every year.

I simply wash my car with soap that has wax in it. You only wax to protect your paint and for appearance. Wax is not absolutely required. How often you wash is up to you. The more washes the better. I only wash my car twice a year.

I drive with a set of all season and winter tires. I only rotate my tires once they get swapped. It really depends how much you drive.

I follow the owner's manual for the rest.

 

Change oil filter at every oil change. Knowedgeable sounding owners are recommending a 5k mile / 1 yr interval for the oil.

Every 5k or 10k miles check that your brakes aren't dragging (particularly the rear ones) by lifting the car and spinning the wheels.

I recommend screening off the engine air intake (square opening by ww fluid funnel) with metal mesh that won't impede flow, and also and the intake to the glove box (under the big metal tray that holds the ww motor) to keep rodents out.

 

follow the maintenance schedule that came with your car. if you didn't get one, log in to the toyota owners website and get one there.

correct on the engine air filter and cabin filters. i just check them, tap them out and replace as needed.

also the battery cooling fan and intake grille/filter.

correct on the tranny fluid, and consider cleaning the egr circuit and adding an oil catch can.

keep an eye on your 12v

all the best!

 

US Maintenance Schedule says 100K miles or 10 years for the engine coolant, 150K miles or 15 years for the inverter coolant, and 50K miles or 5 years for both. The instruction in the book is tricky, to put it mildly: it's says to change both at 100K, and then adds a footnote, which basically contradicts, says to leave the first inverter coolant change till 150K.

FWIW Toyota Canada says to change both at (roughly) 100K miles or 10 years. So maybe your call?

This is covered, albeit in cumbersome event-by-event format, in the Warranty and Maintenance Booklet. If you're missing it, you can download pdf format, from Toyota Tech Info for one.

I do a couple of times a year, spring and fall. I think about once yearly, but guess I'm kinda hooked.

See the aforementioned booklet, but basically it's every 5K miles or 6 months.

There is no published interval. Maybe every 100K miles??

Yes, and for filter too. Toyota Canada tells me every 8K kms or 6 months, fwiw. And with fourth gen they sync with Toyota US

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I'd do a first drain at 12 months or 10K miles, then every 60K.

I would inspect every 12 months, replace only as warranted. FWIW, I'm at 84K kms, car 10 years past it's build date, on the road for about 9 years, and still have both original filter in the car.

The attached spreadsheet translates the event-by-event format (from the US Warranty and Maintenance Booklet) into graph format, and extrapolates to 240K miles.

 

Some extras, none of which are in the schedule, and all kinda overdue:

1. A complete clean out of the intake manifold, intake ports.

2. A complete clean out Exhaust Gas Recirculation circuit.

3. Install Oil Catch Can. (There's pros-and-cons, I would.)

4. Do a brake fluid replacement. (FWIW, Toyota Canada recommends this tri-yearly or 48K kms (30K miles), whichever comes first.)

Go through @NutzAboutBolts videos, pinned at top of 3rd gen maintenance forum, just to get a feel for what's involved.