Toyota hybrid models require scheduled maintenance. One of the most important points is the timely replacement of lubricant in the box in a Toyota Prius. If this operation is ignored, the planetary transfer mechanism, which ensures the correct distribution of traction force between the gasoline and electric motors of the hybrid installation, may fail. Let's look at what is required to change the oil in a Prius automatic transmission, and also present a step-by-step action plan.
Automatic transmission oil Toyota Prius
The world's first hybrid car, powered by both a gasoline and an electric motor, is the Toyota Prius, produced by the Japanese automaker from 1997 to the present day. It is noteworthy, however, as a transmission for these vehicles, Toyota installs exclusively planetary gearboxes, which, during maintenance, require the purchase of transmission fluid with factory approval. Therefore, in this article we will talk about the oil in the Toyota Prius automatic transmission and its specifications.
Prius planetary gearbox design
The planetary transfer mechanism has the most complex design in the Toyota Prius drive. It ensures a systematic distribution of forces from the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. The planetary system allows you to automatically connect the gasoline power unit when the situation requires it. Also disconnect the internal combustion engine from the drive mechanism, leaving it to work exclusively with the generator.
Box and motor generator
The design of the planetary transfer mechanism is made in such a way that the gasoline power unit is not directly connected to the wheel drive. The motor participates in the rotation of the wheels at those moments when the optimal operating mode of the internal combustion engine is achieved. This applies to crankshaft speed and machine speed. This contributes to the release of only part of the energy of the internal combustion engine to transmit torque to the wheels. For the Toyota Prius hybrid installation, according to operational data, the internal combustion engine operates in optimal mode at two or more thousand revolutions per minute.
Toyota Prius transmission of different generations
An important task of a gasoline unit is to ensure the operation of a generator to generate electrical energy. When driving the Prius at low speeds or in traffic jams, the hybrid switches on electric traction, which is provided by the capacity of the battery. To accelerate the car, additional electricity will be used, obtained as a result of the integrated operation of the internal combustion engine and generator.
Toyota Prius 11 automatic transmission oil P110/111 (variator)
The first generation Toyota Prius XW11, produced from 2000 to 2003, received planetary gearboxes of modifications P110 and P111. These automatic transmissions were developed directly by Toyota engineers and were installed on many models of this manufacturer. As for the oil, automatic transmissions of these modifications must be filled with transmission fluid with ATF Type T-IV approval. Therefore, popular products worth recommending are Toyota ATF Type T-IV, Liqui Moly Top Tec ATF 1200, and SHELL SPIRAX S5 ATF X.
Transmission oil in automatic transmission Toyota Prius 20 P111/112 (variator)
Planetary gearboxes of the second generation Toyota Prius XW20, produced by the Japanese automaker from 2003 to 2009, are represented by modifications P111 and P112, which use transmission fluid with ATF Type T-IV or Type WS approval. Namely, in Prius models produced before 2005, oil with ATF Type T-IV approval is poured (Toyota ATF Type T-IV, TOTACHI ATF Type T-IV). And after 2005 - with the Type WS specification (Toyota Type WS, PENNZOIL Platinum LV Multi-Vehicle ATF).
Oil for Toyota Prius 30 P410 automatic transmission (variator)
Since 2009, the Japanese automaker began equipping the Toyota Prius line with an upgraded P410 planetary gearbox of its own production. This machine can be seen on all Prius models starting from the third generation under the symbol XW30. As for the transmission fluid, the oil for this automatic transmission is selected according to the Type WS specification. Therefore, from the products available for purchase, we will highlight the original Toyota Type WS oil, as well as its substitutes Wolf Ecotech Multivehicle ATF FE and Redline D6 ATF.
Toyota Prius oil change in the variator
Despite the differences in the design of Toyota Prius planetary gearboxes, the procedure for replacing transmission fluid in them is almost the same. So changing the oil in a Toyota Prius 20 automatic transmission, like changing the oil in a Toyota Prius 30 automatic transmission, consists of the following steps:
- dismantling the motor protection
- unscrewing the drain plug
- waste drain
- removing the pallet
- replacement of filter and consumables
- filling fresh oil according to the level
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If you notice that the automatic transmission is not working correctly (slippage, jerking, delays when shifting gears, a kick when turning on a gear, absence of any gear), we recommend that you immediately seek help from professionals at Akppspbcentr.
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Professional diagnostics and many years of experience of specialists
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Warranty from 1 year or 40,000 km
Our automatic transmission centers offer services for both repair and complete replacement of gearboxes. We also repair hydraulic units, torque converters, variators, and carry out oil changes. Our automatic transmission centers are equipped with the latest diagnostic equipment, which allows you to accurately determine the cause of the malfunction. After the diagnosis has been carried out, our specialists will advise you on breakdowns and offer you possible ways to correct them.
The main criterion in our work is honesty. At the company's technical centers, the box is disassembled only in your presence, the price is agreed upon in advance.
During repairs, only original spare parts are used. The entire process is organized using only specialized tools and equipment, which allows for high-quality diagnostics and repairs of any complexity.
The sooner you contact specialists, the cheaper the repair will be! Detecting a malfunction at an early stage can significantly reduce the cost of automatic transmission repair.
Changing transmission oil
30,000 km have passed. I decided to change the oil in the planetary again. I changed it for the first time when the car arrived from Yapa. I changed it in a very strange way))) now I understand that it’s strange)) and that time I tried to pour exactly 3.8 liters.))) and there was 4 liters in the jar)) well, in general, everything is in order))
I immediately found the drain for the first time))) and I also read forums where it was written that you can fill and level the level from the end))) from the end)) in this case you need to remove the left front wheel and unscrew the protection) and there will be a hex bolt - in picture No. 3...well, in general, the first time I did it)) it was all a pain in the ass, but I did it))
The second time, as it turned out, I again filled it through the wrong plug))) but this option turned out to be the most convenient for me)) in the picture the plug is No. 1.
It is easy and convenient to unscrew and put everything back just as easily). The red-dirty oil drained out. there were small small shavings on the drain plug...not even shavings, but metal powder. The whole procedure took about 20 minutes, provided there was an overpass.
List: — Transmission oil ATF-WS (toyota orig.) — 4 l — Socket wrench 24 mm with ratchet — Hexagon 10 mm — Funnel “Autolux” — Gasoline-oil-resistant hose VPT 10x17.5-0.63 (fits perfectly and tightly into the filler hole ) — Gasoline-oil-resistant hose VPT 16x24-0.63 (tightly presses the funnel spout) and both hoses are perfectly connected to each other using the one-to-one method)))) and there is no need to trim anything. I took these hoses from the garage by accident, without picking them up. but everything fit according to spec. order)) Explanation of the hose marking “if anyone needs it.” VPT - “hose marking” 16 - “inner diameter” x 24 - “outer diameter” 0.63 - “pressure”
And the most important! this time I filled in all 4 liters, although the manual says 3.8 liters. And after replacing the car stopped twitching! Shocks when turning on the engine while driving or charging the battery while parked have practically disappeared! The transmission engagement became very smooth. The difference is heaven and earth. Previously, I was looking for the cause of these “dull jolts”, changed the spark plugs (as advised on the forums), cleaned the fuel system... yes, the jolts decreased but did not disappear... I thought my “panel” was faulty, but it turned out it needed more oil)))
Is it all about overheating?
All generations of Prius are equipped with an air-cooled battery system. On the XW30 there was no filter, so very large dust particles got into the fan, over time it became clogged, which caused the air flow to the battery to decrease and it began to overheat. When modernizing the model, a small mesh was installed, but it did not completely solve the problem.
The Prius XW50 received a removable filter - a paper insert. It does not let in dust, but it clogs itself - and the air flow to the battery also becomes less intense. In general, the risk of battery overheating for the 50th model is also high. To reduce it, you should monitor the filter ($5) and change it on time. If your mileage is short, you can do this once a year; if you drive actively, then every six months.
In terms of reliability, Li-ion battery looks better than NiMH. But what about the fact that this type of battery “does not like” low temperatures? In fact, this is not a problem: in winter, the battery warms up along with the interior, reaching the required temperature some time after the start of the trip. It is clear that because of this, the efficiency of the hybrid decreases in winter. How much? In the case of the Prius, consumption increases by about 10%. The same applies to situations where the battery has already seriously degraded due to overheating or age. A used battery costs about $1000, a new one – from $2500.
The Prius Prime comes with a larger 8.8 kWh battery. How are things going with her?
“Judging by the cars that come to us, there are also some questions. We are keeping statistics on this model, but it is too early to draw any conclusions. This version also uses air cooling. In a regular hybrid, there is little driving solely on electric power; the battery operates with a “breathing space”, but in Plug-in hybrids these modes are longer, which leads to heating of the battery. And if the cooling system does not cope with its task, there is a risk of overheating. How do batteries “die”? One element, usually in the center, begins to overheat and heats up all the others; as a result, the entire battery suffers from excess temperature, and this reduces its service life,” explains the specialist.
What kind of oil to pour into the box of Toyota Prius, XW20 (2004 - 2009)
One of the most important components of any car is the gearbox. There is a distinction between automatic transmission and manual transmission; there is no need to tell the differences between them. During the operation of the gearbox, the oil loses its properties and needs to be changed. Here, owners of Toyota (USA / CAN) Prius, XW20 (2004 - 2009) have a reasonable question: what kind of oil to pour into the box? To answer this question, we collected information from official oil selections of the largest oil selections specifically for your car. Next, depending on the brand you trust, you can select engine oil. You can find detailed characteristics of each oil in our catalog.
What to put in the gearbox? - short answer
- Castrol Transmax DEXRON®-VI MERCON® LV oil
- Top Tec ATF 1800 oil
- Top Tec ATF 1800 R oil
- MOTUL ATF VI oil
- MOTUL MULTI ATF oil
- Fluidmatic MV LV oil
Navigation
To accurately answer the question of what kind of oil should be poured into the gearbox of your specific Toyota (USA / CAN) Prius, XW20 (2004 - 2009), you need to decide on the gearbox that you have installed. For each specific product you will find the engine types and gearbox types in which it can be applied. Before purchasing an oil, find it on this list. We also tried to collect information on the amount of oil you will need.
Also, if you don’t like the brands of oils presented below, you can try to find Toyota (USA / CAN) Prius, XW20 (2004 - 2009) in Shell, ZIC or Mobil selections, links to selections below:
Gearbox resource
Quite often you can hear the opinion that the automatic transmission does not require maintenance, and the filled transmission fluid is designed for its entire service life. However, nowhere does it say how long this service life is. Experts agree that the hybrid transmission can easily travel 250-300 thousand km without a single repair. You shouldn’t count on more, because nothing lasts forever in the modern automotive world, and even for the Japanese it is not profitable from an economic point of view to assemble cars that don’t break down.
However, the practice of operating and servicing the Toyota Prius transmission shows that timely replacement of the “old” technical fluid, clogged with wear products of the mechanical parts of the gearbox, can significantly increase the operating time of the unit and its service life. Ideally, the transmission should be serviced after 70-80 thousand kilometers, completely changing the working lubricant.
If you do not adhere to the recommendations, then, combined with the aggressive nature of driving, the service life of the box will be halved.
