went to Toyota parts....asked how much anti-freeze coolant my 2016 takes. Parts guy looked it up and said 13 quarts ...... Then looked up cooling system in my owners manual, and it tells me for capacity: 6.2 quarts (gasoline engine) and 1.5 quarts (power control unit). I'm confused.....I want to drain coolant and fill up with new coolant. Simple. I asked them about discrepancy and they and they honestly were mystified....not slightly off...it's double! Help appreciated, thanks!
I think it's mechanically similar to gen 3, at least for coolant volumes. From my notes when I changed both circuits: engine coolant drain: 4.25 liters roughly inverter coolant drain: 1.5 liter roughly
I usually keep two 1 gallon Toyota SLLC on hand when I drain and fill both, then get a little bit left over for topping up…
So my manual (not the dealer) says 6.2 qt (5.9 L) for engine, 1.5 qt (1.4 L) for power control unit (inverter I presume). that is .3 shy of two gallons ......I'll do this. The dealer insisted, even after I showed him the manual, engine takes 13 qts!!! (3 gallons + 1 qt) I have to remember this is the same dealer who did the recall on my gen 2 steering column linkage, and the steering wheel subsequently became detached from steering column when driving! Thanks all!
Yep you might get half out when draining. BUT if it ends up being just half why not drive it for about a week and do the same drain and fill service? (That's what I like to do in my Tundra because the only way to drain more coolant is to use the little drain plugs on the block and no way am I brave enough to mess with those things....break one and it's a very expensive lesson!)
I'm actually not set up to work on it....I have a trusted auto mechanic...I'll give them a couple gallons of Toyota coolant and let them do it.
You want to ask for: Toyota Super Long Life Coolant In the states it comes pre-mixed 50/50 with water. (In Canada the pre-mix is 55/45)
Toyota Dealer actually charges less for trans fluid change, coolant change and spark plug change than the non dealer I usually frequent! I'm in shock! Dealer for 3 services: $840-......non dealer: $1,047-
since you posted it, just my take get a third estimate and pray your steering wheel in the Gen 4 does'nt fall off while driving, too ! ya know?
Ha! found steering only a problem in my gen 2. Many critique Toyota dealers for recommending/ trying to sell maintenance before it is due. My 2016 only has 66k miles....BUT is 10 years old. My guess is after 10 years....a fluid change (coolant/ trans) would not hurt. And too....the coolant in 'power control unit' will be changed too (inverter I think?) .....not sure I'd want non dealer doing this.
epilogue:~ had dealer do it....Spark plugs: $135 + 125 labor. Trans fluid: $66.34 + $175 labor. Coolant: $54.95 + $180 labor....they had a $75 off special.....$687 total. This was very strangely almost $400 less than non dealer price! I just wish I got to watch. Don't altogether trust dealer mechanics. That said....prius acceleration seemed noticeably better....perkier. Inverter coolant change not due until 150k miles (or 15 yrs)
Sometimes you can do just fine by staying in your lane and earning the money to let the shop do their thing. Plug price was ok as there is a little labor to get to them and stripping the threads if seized could be disastrous. The coolant and transaxle labor prices were high. You should at least do the coolant yourself every 50k. Its as easy as turning a "drain" valve on the bottom of the radiator, wait, close it and refill. Especially easy if you the have skinny forearms which allows you to reach it without removing the small forward under cover. The power feel was probably just placebo. I doubt they accidentally swapped in a new hybrid battery.
Good to know! in 50 k miles I shall do so. Coolant &Trans fluid were even pricier with non dealer which made it easier psychologically. Wondering if changing inverter coolant is easy.....dealer wants $300 + for that.
Transaxle fluid change is no more complex than an oil change. Couple of special washers and slightly more expensive fluid, it should be $125 USD at most. I checked recently: IIRC the atf-ws fluid was under $11 CDN per liter or quart (forget which). 4 such bottles need to be cracked. The 2 washers are about $2.50 CDN apiece.
Agree.... I was charged more than service should be charged for. However, I have no way to lift car to do work myself...and my usual non dealer mechanic who usually significantly undercuts dealer service prices....would have charged more for the service! Also the fact Toyota mechanics only work on Toyota vehicles....correct part access.....service special coupon.... = time to bite the bullet. [wish I could observe work being done though...] Not out and out brazen theft by Toyota ...such as:- charging $275+ to replace LED license plate light bulb (someone else did work) charging my poor dad for 3 FOBs ($300+ each) as plastic cases became worn during the time he owned his gen 2...when all you needed was $15 new plastic casing to transfer FOB electrical innards into
Living in the northeast has its issues. Dealers down south also charge those kinds of prices. Dealers give their base maintenance guys health insurance, paid holidays, decent hourly rates and more work than they can handle. However your usual "lower cost" mechanic is probably reacting to skyrocketing inflation. I would try to find another shop; ideally a small hybrid specific operation as long as they have a lift and hybrid battery parts scattered around.
