Trans oil questions ( I know it's been talked to death)

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by xerox6135, Sep 7, 2016.

  1. xerox6135

    xerox6135 Member

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    I have seen oil out of these gear boxes with 1,000 miles on it and the fluild is as dark as mine at 35,000 miles. So I guess my question is does Toyota use a different darker oil than what we are buying front the dealership.

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    #1 xerox6135, Sep 7, 2016
  2. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    Perhaps there is an additive that darkens the fluid that results in Toyota's "lifetime" claim.
     
    #2 DonDNH, Sep 7, 2016
  3. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    same
     
    #3 tankyuong, Sep 7, 2016
  4. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    My lab tests on Toyota WS ATF showed that there is an initial leaching of silicates into the ATF from the gaskets/sealants. Perhaps this is what darkens the ATF that we see in low mileage OE ATF samples.

    JeffD
     
    #4 jdenenberg, Sep 7, 2016
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  5. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    #5 exstudent, Sep 7, 2016
  6. xerox6135

    xerox6135 Member

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    Thanks for all the reply s I knew you would have the answers

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    #6 xerox6135, Sep 7, 2016
  7. grnd0

    grnd0 Member

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    I just did mine 2 weeks ago and old fluid looked really bad, at 52,000 miles. Got my WS on ebay.
     
    #7 grnd0, Sep 7, 2016
  8. grnd0

    grnd0 Member

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    Forgot, price for 4 quarts was $30 shipped.
     
    #8 grnd0, Sep 7, 2016
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  9. xerox6135

    xerox6135 Member

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    Did mine at 36,000 looked very dark. Pulled a 2016 Prius out of the ditch with the wrecker and the oil leaking out was the same dark oil that was in mine just the 2016 only had 1,000 miles on it. Now I know color doesn't matter it's what the oil analyzation says. Different from a regular automatic trans because of no clutch material being in the oil

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #9 xerox6135, Sep 7, 2016
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  10. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Actually there IS a single plate "clutch" in there. It just stays "engaged" (or should that be "released"?). Over-torque prevention device.
     
    #10 David Beale, Sep 7, 2016
  11. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    link?
     
    #11 StarCaller, Sep 7, 2016
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I changed mine around 15,000 kms and first year, found it quite dark. I did a second change around 40,000 km and third year: it looked still very clean, not that different than the new fluid.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Sep 8, 2016
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