Toyota Repair: 2007 Camry Hybrid Trans Fluid Change, 4 quarts, lifetime filter

Question
We just purchased a very well cared for 07 Camry Hybrid with 125,000 miles and I noticed in the endless maintenance receipts nothing pertaining to the transmission fluid. I spoke with our local Toyota Service dept. and they said the trans. will not need any service during the normal life expectancy of the car. I asked them to define in miles the normal life expectancy of the car( We currently have a 05 Sienna with almost 250K miles--which I service))and they really didn't give me a straight answer. The Service writer then checked with their top Hybrid trained tech who responded that they can drain the "transmission" and replace the fluid (almost 4 quarts) and to do it properly he would need to totally power down the whole Hybrid system and this would take about 2 hours for the whole process and cost about $210(I realize the 4 quarts of fluid cost about $35). The top tech went on to recommend they do a second fluid change immediately after the first in order to make sure that all contaminents have been removed. The cost for the "double flush" deal was about $300.
  I have done many trans services on my vehicles over the years, but I am not familiar with the Hybrid "Transmission". Is there a filter involved? I've read elswhere that it is simply like draining a carrier--a drain plug to empty and a higher fill plug to add the new fluid. Is this all BS about "Powering Down" the Hybrid system, or is it really true?
  I own an auto related business and I am fairly handy with a wrench. I have access to many lifts and any tool I could possibly need. Isn't this something I can do myself with just the purchase of the fluid??
  Many thanks in advance!!  Kevin C.
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Answer
Hello, the hybrid transaxle uses WD (world standard ) fluid, Toyota claims that no sevice is necessary but most dealers recommend changing the fluid at about 100,000 miles, there is a permanent lifetime filter screen which needs no service. I must tell you that I have never heard of having to "power down" whatever that means in order to change the fluid, neither have I heard of a "double flush" so save yourself about $260 and drain and refill the transmission yourself, I think there is a drain plug on the bottom and a fill plug on the side of the housing, measure the fluid you remove and put the same amount back in.
Let me know if you have any other questions.