50,000 mile service

air and cabin filters. some change the tranny fluid if they are keeping the car long term, or as a kindness for future owners.

 

Yup, I did it myself at 30k miles. The location of the filter was shifted a little toward the center of the car, compare to a regular Prius I saw.

 

i think most do the tranny at 30k. the cabin filter is easy, but the glove box is a !@#$%&*. i recommend an oem filter, some of the aftermarkets are pretty cheesy. check it first, around here, they stay pretty clean. although if it's original, i would just change it.

 

It's a fairly easy DIY:

1. Raise whole car and get it roughly level.
2. Remove engine underpanel. (not mandatory, but I'd recommend full removal, for better access, and to keep it intact and oil-free.
3. Remove fill bolt, THEN drain bolt. (you need a 10 mm hex-head socket for both)
4. Reinstall drain bolt with new washer and torque to 29 ft/lb.
5. Pour in Toyota ATF-WS transaxle fluid, 'till it starts coming back out. (it'll take about 3.5 qts or liters, so buy 4. Use a funnel with about 3 foot of tube extension, say 3/8" diameter, not so big that it won't fit in the fill hole.)
6. Reinstall the fill bolt with fresh washer and torque to 29 ft/lb.

Dealerships have both the fluid and the washers.

 

Well, you pretty much need a floor jack, decent concrete slab, and 4 jack stands. Or two jack stands and ramps. Do be careful crawling under a car raised thus. Putting something non compressible and non rollable, and a bit thicker than your rib cage, is good insurance.

 

i think toyota calls it lifetime. there's a big thread by bill norton?

 

i know, right? 'ATF fluid changes Are Required' there was a time when he was a happy prius owner, not basher. hard to believe, i know.

 

He proselytized alternate fluids for transaxle, too.

My take: alternate fluids MIGHT be ok, but there's NO upside to gambling.

 

I had the tranny fluid first changed in my PIP at 60k miles. I'll likely have it changed at 60k mile intervals. I'm currently at 83k miles.

 

peeps who have done it early on had it analyzed, and found a lot of contaminants from break in.

 

i don't know anything. there are threads that discuss it, but i never keep my cars long enough to even give it consideration. the '04 and '08 i owned before this are now with my neighbor and daughter. none have had the tranny done, but only have 135k and 90k or so between them. most people just don't think long term, and like you said, it's not in the manual.

 

The "service" manual, at least what Toyota calls the "repair" manual (a massive tome, pdf versions floating around) is the only document I've seen with the transaxle fluid change info: basically identifying the drain and fill bolts, spec's the fluid and qty, and gives torque values. It doesn't indicate an interval or reason for changing, though.

The Warranty and Maintenance Guide makes no mention of transaxle fluid change. Still, here's my take:

It costs me about $40 for 4 liters of the Toyota ATF-WS fluid and 2 washers, takes maybe two hours (including dicking around with floor jack and safety stands, getting it raised and level), with complexity comparable to an oil change. The first time I changed it, pretty early, the old fluid ALREADY looked pretty knackered. The next time, at twice the interval, it still looked pretty good. Accordingly I'd say change it quite early, say around 15000 miles, then maybe every 40000~60000 miles, depending on your mindset.

 

when the guys who have their's analyzed, i think the report comes back with recommendations.

another thing to think about is usage conditions. i drive like an old lady. some people are in stop and go all the time. others have to jump on the highway, cold everyday. others hit the pedal to the metal and spend their time 75-85 mph. some usage must be tougher on the tranny than others.