A few notes about the Toyota Prius (XW20):
Engine Oil
For this particular vehicle, Toyota list only one or two specifications for engine oil which should be covered by Comma Xtech 5W30.
With a small sump size on this car (3.7-litres), supplying the customer with a top up pack and reminding them that they should be checking the engine oil regularly (see handbook for guidance) might also be prudent here. A quick check before you change might be a good way of reinforcing the importance of top up to the customer. Combined with longer service intervals, a smaller sump size makes checking your oil more critical than ever before.
Brake Fluid
Toyota use one or two specifications for brake fluid for this series of Prius. Most people don’t think of brake fluid as a service item. Most vehicle manufacturers specify 24 months, however Toyota specify a change interval of 48 months for the Prius. Brake fluid degrades over time by absorbing water from the atmosphere, which lowers its boiling point. Boiling point is a critical factor in brake fluid performance because of the amount of heat generated during braking. If the boiling point of the fluid is too low then continuous or hard braking may cause the brake fluid to vaporize, which in turn can result in a loss of hydraulic pressure within the system. The message here is that brake fluid is a safety critical item so check and change when specified – don’t assume that it will just be OK.
Power Steering Fluid
The Prius uses a fully electric system for the steering so there is no recommendation for the fluid.
Coolant
Xstream G30 is the recommended product for the Prius, as it is for all recent Toyota vehicles.
Transmission
For this particular model, Toyota uses a CVT automatic transmission that is covered by Comma’s AQCVT – you can confirm this by using Comma’s online application guide to ensure that you get the right product for the vehicle you are servicing.
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