ATF Drain and Fill advice?

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by ksyolsen, Oct 27, 2025 at 6:04 PM.

  1. ksyolsen

    ksyolsen New Member

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    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I have heard you really need the car level to properly fill the transmission.

    I plan on getting some flexible tubing to attach to a funnel like I’ve seen in some videos.

    what’s the best and most efficient way to get the vehicle properly level with floor jacks? I’m afraid once I get one side up, once I start jacking the rear or front, it will cause the car to shift or tip on the jack stands. Is this something I should be concerned about?
    Thanks!
     
  2. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Drive the car onto a pair of low-slung rhino ramps. That's about as stable as you can get it. Use your floor jack to jack up the rear to level the car. You don't have to bother with jack stands, since your at the front of the car on solid ramps.
    Just make sure you put in as much as you drain from the transaxle, as a double-check, in case your not level.
     
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    See transaxle fluid change in my signature, some info. (On a phone turn it landscape to see signatures)

    regarding stability while raising/levelling, my drill:

    1. chock rear wheels fore and aft, then release parking brake.

    2. raise front via proscribed front jacking point.

    3. place jack stands* and settle car onto them.

    4. raise rear via proscribed rear jacking point. Aim to have it slightly higher than front, initially.

    5. place jack stands* and settle car onto them.

    6. Verify you’ve got solid bearing at all four corners: if slab is not sufficiently planar, as evidenced by a loose jackstands, raise, shim under jackstand and retry.

    7. Bring car back down in reverse order.

    * see oil change link in signature for my preferred jack stand placement.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Oct 27, 2025 at 11:10 PM
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2025 at 11:21 PM