#CosoCars I find it weird that Toyota dealers are saying that the transmission fluid in the Corolla CVT is good for "the lifetime of the vehicle." Some dealers have arbitrary (around 100k) recommendations for changing it.
My sister has my dad's old Prius (also CVT) and I'm sure never changed. It probably has over 200k (hw) miles. The owner's manual only recommends changing tranny fluid if has been under "heavy use."
I think the 200k empirical data point (tho n=1) says no, don't spend hundreds to change it. Anyone else, Toyota CVT experience?
@Ellico2020bis
I've never owned a Toyota, but I owned a Subaru Impreza with a CVT that had the same service recommendation (or lack therof). It's the only car I've ever owned where you are never instructed to change the trans fluid, only to inspect that it's still there.
The valve bodies in the transmission gunked up with this old fluid, and couldn't be repaired. Dealer told me I would need the transmission rebuilt, which would cost more than the car was worth at the time. So I got rid of it.
@Ellico2020bis
I wouldn't say this means that all CVTs are bad, but after that experience I decided I would avoid that kind of transmission in the future.
@voltronic Just got a new clutch in my Honda 6-speed. Until I'm too old and feeble to push a Honda clutch, I won't worry about a CVT myself.