I have a 2007 Toyota Prius with almost 67,000 miles. I've been on the fence on whether I should wait until 80K to change my tranaxle fluid or do it now. I bought the car used in 2009 from a Toyota dealership and it was a certified used (it had 44,000 miles). That's suppose to mean that made sure that all the fluids were clear and uncontaminated, but you never know with the dealers. Background: I live in Austin, Texas but drove the car from Austin to Fort Worth on a regular basis during last year (mainly highway driving). I haven't had any issues with the car so far and I don't want to have any, so i am curious if I should shell out the $400 and do it now or wait. Thanks so much!
Quite a few on here, myself included, have change the transaxle fluid in the 25k to 50k mile ranges and have found the fluid to be very dark. Several have sent their samples off for lab testing. The lab testing has indicated a loss of viscosity among other things. The general conscensus that I have picked up on is to change at 30k miles and then each 60k miles thereafter. If it were mine and at 67k miles, I would go ahead and get it changed now.
I changed ours at 15000 km. Cheap insurance, about the same compexity as an oil and filter change. Around $40CAN for the fluid and washers, and if I was pro with a lift I'm sure I could have accomplished it in just over 1/2 hour. They saw you coming, I'd check a few other dealers, or consider DIY if possible.
People have gotten their transaxle oil changed in California at California dealer labor rates for around $100. Should be no more in Texas unless the dealers a crook.
No.....you always know with the dealer. There 68 point inspection means they started the car. If they changed the oil that means they overfilled it a quart.
I'd change it now, but i wouldn't pay more than $100 for it. I just changed mine myself at 30K miles and it cost me under $40 including a funnel from Harbor Frieght and tubing from Lowe's.
Has anyone had any luck getting one of these online dealers to ship ATF WS? I've not found any that will ship fluids of any type. pEEf mentions getting fluid shipped in his post, but the shipping policy for that dealer mentions a prohibition on shipping hazmat, lubricants, chemicals, hybrid batteries, etc. Maybe he was close enough to them that they sent it on a parts truck.
Thanks, everyone! I went ahead and changed it. I also ordered the kit from Blackstone to see what stuff was in the oil. It took awhile, but I found a dealer that quoted me about $100 for the fill and drain. About 70% of the dealers I called in the Austin area tried to charge me $400 for it!
On ebay, they run > $112/case. Shipping is a killer, usually $3.50/qt. I can get it locally for $108/case, as long as I buy a case. What is frustrating is hearing people brag about getting it for $6/qt. Sure as hell can't get that deal anywhere here in third world NM.
Are there 12 bottles in a case? That works out to $9 US per US quart. Maybe you location is a factor? I just picked up 4 individual liters from our local dealership, enough for a change, and it was $9.32 Canadian per liter.
Yup, 12/case, and location is a factor. Some people East/West coast think you need a passport to visit New Mexico.
You don't need a passport until you leave to come back to the States. OT, but what the hey... When I was in the Air Force they used to say the local girls in Minot ND married the Airmen so they could go back to the States with them.
More of a question than a reply. Every time I go to the dealer I ask about changing the tranaxle oil. I seemingly don't talk their language and made a huge mistake this week when I took the car in for an engine oil change. 75000 miles now--they wanted to do a lot=--all pricey--plugs, induction and "transmission fluid flush" When I ask specifically about tranaxle oil--no one seems to indicate they do that. Is the tranaxle oil the transmission fluid? I see posts for changing this with ATF WS which I am guessing is automatic transmission fluid. I did change spark plugs (pricey but I had already tried getting one loose to do it myself and it was in fairly tightly. I got three out but was afraid of breaking the fourth one) I had a really bad tank of gas--and did do what they called induction routine--again far too pricey--but I was down to 30 mpg in a Buffalo winter which is much worse that the typical "winter gas" drop that I expected. MPG actually got back to about 45 (despite a really wet snow last night) after changing the plugs and cleaning throttle plate/etc. Is there a book on Prius maintenance for Dummies (and the basically petrified that you will break something if you do your own maintenance). Where do I find the "terms" to know that what the service advisor (AKA high pressure salesman) at the dealer is talking about. I'd like to be sure that we are talking about what I understand and not some series of words that sound "sort of like" what I think he is talking about. Lastly--does anyone know a good, honest mechanic in the Greater Buffalo area? I have traveled as far as 100 miles in the past for service--just to find someone who seemed OK and honest. [Unfortunately, the mechanic is very good--but all the advisors "changed" recently at the dealership I found outside the Buffalo area. I can't be sure that I will get a straight answer without going directly to the mechanic/technician.] Many thanks for any help you can provide.
