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Transmision oil change

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by neomal, May 2, 2019.

  1. neomal

    neomal Junior Member

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    When should i change transmission oil ?

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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    there's no official toyota position. some people who test their oil have done it at 5,000, then every 30,000.
    everyone does it a bit differently.
     
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just my 2 cents: around the one year mark or 10K miles, then maybe once more around 60K miles. Use Toyota ATF WS, and don't use old bottles, ie: if you have a little left over, just recycle it, use only freshly opened bottles.

    You want to have the car raised and level, in particular for the refill. Fill till it starts coming back out. Get the replacement washers, use a torque wrench when installing (see attachment).
     

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  4. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    How long are you going to keep it - unless you're planning on doing ½ a million kilometers, I'd just go by the service schedule. TOYOTA has a good idea how to maintain cars they make.

    90+% of people only keep new cars 3, 5 or 7 years.

    Many items don't have service needed like in the past. I remember A/Cs in the '70s and '80s where they needed an annual service, dryer change - or more often if they stopped getting cold. By the '90s, they were saying - we'll service it when it stops being cold - my wife's 2008 FOCUS just had it's first A/C service last month.
     
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  5. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I'm not sure about "don't use old bottles" - ATF doesn't go off or absorb water like brake fluid. I've always kept using old bottles for top-ups.
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I have used some left-over, hopefully dodged a bullet. But this was an official Toyota edict (which I've got to find again...): aparently it is something like brake fluid: there was a specific caution, only use freshly opened bottles, and don't save partially used bottles for use down the road.

    Ah, found it, attached. An excerpt:

    upload_2019-5-2_16-47-58.png
     

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    #6 Mendel Leisk, May 2, 2019
    Last edited: May 2, 2019
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  7. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Interesting - just did some reading, it looks like things have changed since the '60s :eek:. I've been mainly a Manual driver with a few exceptions. Some of those Manuals specified Auto Tranny Fluid - and, yes closed the bottle, but it got used over a few cars for top-ups with no issues.

    But it does say:
    upload_2019-5-3_13-14-25.png
     
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  8. neomal

    neomal Junior Member

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    It seems that we dont have to change transmission oil...

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  9. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Check your local servicing requirements just in case - many aspects are different for different localities.

    Everything meshes constantly in the Hybrid Synergy Drive, so there shouldn't be impurities building in the fluid.

    Unlike a Manual transmission where the Synchros are wearing (and the occasional meshing issue with a bad gearchange) adding impurities to the oil; or a standard Auto where there are clutch packs or bands; or TwinClutches with clutches, or CVTs which ... need very rigorous servicing.

    Maybe if I was aiming to get to ½ mill kilometers I'd change it occasionally.
     
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  10. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    good points all...
     
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah up to you.
     
  12. neomal

    neomal Junior Member

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    Thank u for all ur opinions.reason why I bring out this question is becoz in our prius manual they not mention about timeline to change as for engine oil change.

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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    correct. toyota calls it 'lifetime fluid'. see post #2
     
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It's a long and varied opinion debate here, whether or not to change the fluid. It's not clear what Toyota's reasons might be for advising against a change.

    Still, it is easy/cheap to do, and judging from appearance of drained fluid, worth doing once or twice. The instruction for change is attached to my post #3.
     
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  15. neomal

    neomal Junior Member

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    I stil could not understand, Why toyota does not give clear instructions(in manual) for transmission fluid change as others maintenance, but some expertise ( not all) favour on change even in 30000 to 50000 km mileage. If oil change is an unnecessary thing, we break factory fitted seals ect. which may hv adverse effects to engine...

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  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    so far, none of the many people here who have 'broken the factory seal' have had any adverse engine effects.

    i'm sure you can find instructions in the service manual
     
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Which manual do you mean? Toyota puts nearly nothing in the Owner's Manual. Honda still at least includes oil and filter change instruction in their Owner's Manuals. Anyway, again: in my post #3 is the Transaxle Fluid Change Instruction, from the Toyota Repair Manual.
     
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  18. neomal

    neomal Junior Member

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    Repair manual is need when vehicle need repair. Of cause if transmission problem present we should change. But im talking about maintenance like air filter, engine oil chamhe ect. In maintenance manual toyota mention 'if replacement necessary'. Screenshot_20190501-184912_Drive.jpeg

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  19. amos

    amos Active Member

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    so mendel should we change or not? toyota says no need.
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Sure. For $40 and an hour out of your life, why not. One early change for sure, say around one year or 10K miles.
     
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