Ok so I know that we have the highest mileage on the forum (at least of those reporting mileage) so I am guessing no one else on here has gotten to the 30k service yet...but maybe? Or maybe someone that works at a dealer?

Anyway in looking at the 30k service it is an oil change, tire rotation, change the air filters and inspect a bunch of stuff. I went ahead and looked down the list and never saw a change of the transmission fluid as part of the maint schedule. So does the CVT not need this like my other automatics have in the past (not Toyota)?

To me it seems rediculous that the dealer wants $250 for this service and in general I am no longer going to the dealer for service but I assumed for a major (I thought the 30k was major but maybe not) service I would bite the bullet.

So any thoughts on this topic?

 

As I see it, it is basically an overpriced charge for changing the air filters. My suggestion is to change the cabin and engine air filters - it takes all of 20 minutes if you take your time. Save your reciepts and schedule your 30K service as "Oil, tire rotation and inspection". Let them know you changed the air filters and only want what Toyota requires. Look around as you can often get a coupon for "Oil change and 20 point inspection" that covers all the 15K and 30K inspections require.

As to the eCVT, the manual says the fluid is a "lifetime" fluid. However, Prius owners that have changed it at 60K and done an oil analysis suggest changing it no later than 60K, perhaps even at 50K.

Another issue I've not seen mentioned is the brake fluid. I plan on having the brake fluid flushed at 30K. Brake fluid absorbs mosture right out of the air, and after a while will rust your brake lines and calipers.

 

Thanks for the feedback...that is exactly my thinking. As for the brake flush the car is less than a year old...my VW suggests draining and replacing the brake fluid every 2 years so I would guess that is a pretty safe interval regardless of miles.

Another thing here is that the PA inspection is due soon, and many of the things in the inspection Toyota calls for is going to be checked in the PA state inspection.

 

Another thing that I think is due at 30K miles is the battery coolant.

Before I signed for my hybrid, I asked if there was any hidden service costs- and the dealer told me that the battery coolant needed to be changed every 30K miles...

(This is coming from a dealer, so take it for what it's worth)

 

You must be talking about the generator coolant?

 

At <http://www.edmunds.com/maintenance/maintenance.do> there is a lost of the things to be done and rated costs for each. The 30,000 mile one is one of the longer ones.
The Edmund site takes some searching, but does list each recommended service for the TCH, and how much each item should cost.

 

Where can one find the info that says EXACTLY what should take place on each check up?

I took our Prius in last week and gee - a fuel injection cleaning was part of the "recomended" maintenance tasks but I cant find it anywhere. It made sense (not the cents type - more like $150) but still its hard to know just what the extended pre-paid maintenance coverage, covers.

 

The Toyota website.

http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/owners.php

 

[quote=skywagon;120358]

You must be talking about the generator coolant?


/quote]

Actually I think they describe it as inverter coolant. I had to have the inverter radiator replaced when I hit a deer last August (along with the engine coolant radiator and the A/C condenser).

And by the way, those smiley things are really annoying/distracting! And downloading them also installs spyware/adware on your computer. You might want to uninstall/remove them...

 

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