DIY transmission fluid change
02-29-12, 06:08 PM
#31
My first DIY oil change was a mess. It was on a 2008 RX350 that my family used to own. It took me at least 4 hours. My biggest downfall was not having the right tools and not knowing the right procedure. As a result, I bought a heavy duty 3.5 ton floor jack, and gained access to a factory service manual (those things are life savers!).
I can make a quick step by step tutorial if you're still not confident at doing this job.
03-07-12, 10:29 PM
#32
So im doing this tomorrow since my car is unmovable because the rear brakes are ****ing up. So start the car, warm up the transmission fluid, drive it up onto the ramps, use a 10mm hex to remove the transmission fluid, then dif fluid. Put bolts back, fillwith new fluid. After filled, start the car and shift through the gears waiting at east one for 5 seconds, then drive around?
03-08-12, 01:39 AM
#33
So im doing this tomorrow since my car is unmovable because the rear brakes are ****ing up. So start the car, warm up the transmission fluid, drive it up onto the ramps, use a 10mm hex to remove the transmission fluid, then dif fluid. Put bolts back, fillwith new fluid. After filled, start the car and shift through the gears waiting at east one for 5 seconds, then drive around?
03-08-12, 04:24 PM
#36
Well i finally did it, i ended up using 3 1/2 quarts of transmission fluid. The shifts do actually seem smother, or maybe its just a placebo affect? Needless to say there was a big difference between the color of fluid going in and the color of the fluid coming out. I do not think i will be oing a second or third drain and fill as i just do not have the time, and i have to return the ramps i borrowed from a friend. I have no mechanical knowledge and only took me about 35 minutes. The thing that took me the longest was putting the used oil into the containers and i spilled and had to clean up.
03-08-12, 04:25 PM
#37
Also for those who have a hard time removing the bolt, i found it much easier to take a giant wrench with a hole at the end of the handle, put the allen key through the hole and use mechanical leverage, came off extremely easy with no drama.
07-28-12, 07:00 PM
#38
Driver School Candidate
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I thought this was a appropriate thread for my comments and questions (instead of starting a new thread). Apologies in advance if it doesn't belong here.
So I did my transmission fluid change on my 2005 ES330 today (it has 102k). This was my first fluid change ever (this is my first DIY on my car, apart from air filter change and it made me really happy). Some comments and then few questions I hope members can answer.
- Used a 10mm hex and a wrench I had in my Craftsman toolbox (may be about 10 inches or so long).
- Drain plug was easy to remove (may be because I never changed the fluid at dealership/mechanic so it was not overly tightened?) Fluid started coming out just after less than one turn.
- Measured the drained out fluid and it was close to 4 quarts (I read most people saying they drained 2 to 3 quarts, why did I have almost 4 quarts, 3.8 to be more precise?). Like MrBooby mentioned in earlier post, on tissue paper it looked pink but when I drained, it looked dark brown. See pic below (left plastic cup).
Now few questions -
1. After draining the fluid, I put the drain plug back on. Don't have the torque wrench so followed the advice I saw on this forum somewhere. Hand-tightened the plug as much as I could and then used wrench to tighten another 1/4 to half rotation. Put in new fluid. Measured after pouring 3 quarts and it looked almost full. Got the car of the ramp and had to put another half quart. So total 3.5 quarts and dipstick says its at proper level. Drove around and checked the level, still don't feel I need to add more. So question - 4 quarts came out, put in 3.5. Should I just pour remaining half quart or leave it alone?
2. After some time, I saw some fluid leaking through the drain plug so tightened the plug just a little bit (may be 1/8 rotation), Leak seemed to stop. But noticed little bit fluid coming out after 30 min or so. Wasn't leaking too much. Did not even drop on the ground but a drop was accumulating on the drain plug. I did not have new drain plug or washer/crusher. Old one looked pretty good so just used the same. What should I do if I see drops on the ground tomorrow morning? Get a new washer/crusher? (they don't sell in local PepBoys or Autozone, will need to order some online), or just tighten the drain plug little more?
3. I have 4 more quarts left than I had planned on putting in. When should I do the next drain and refill? Needless to say, I was able to do this only because of this forum. So thanks to all the members who took time and effort to put their experiences on the forum so that these things don't seem like rocket science to folks like me.
If fluid goes this bad after 100K miles, why does Lexus not recommend changing it?
So I did my transmission fluid change on my 2005 ES330 today (it has 102k). This was my first fluid change ever (this is my first DIY on my car, apart from air filter change and it made me really happy). Some comments and then few questions I hope members can answer.
- Used a 10mm hex and a wrench I had in my Craftsman toolbox (may be about 10 inches or so long).
- Drain plug was easy to remove (may be because I never changed the fluid at dealership/mechanic so it was not overly tightened?) Fluid started coming out just after less than one turn.
- Measured the drained out fluid and it was close to 4 quarts (I read most people saying they drained 2 to 3 quarts, why did I have almost 4 quarts, 3.8 to be more precise?). Like MrBooby mentioned in earlier post, on tissue paper it looked pink but when I drained, it looked dark brown. See pic below (left plastic cup).
Now few questions -
1. After draining the fluid, I put the drain plug back on. Don't have the torque wrench so followed the advice I saw on this forum somewhere. Hand-tightened the plug as much as I could and then used wrench to tighten another 1/4 to half rotation. Put in new fluid. Measured after pouring 3 quarts and it looked almost full. Got the car of the ramp and had to put another half quart. So total 3.5 quarts and dipstick says its at proper level. Drove around and checked the level, still don't feel I need to add more. So question - 4 quarts came out, put in 3.5. Should I just pour remaining half quart or leave it alone?
2. After some time, I saw some fluid leaking through the drain plug so tightened the plug just a little bit (may be 1/8 rotation), Leak seemed to stop. But noticed little bit fluid coming out after 30 min or so. Wasn't leaking too much. Did not even drop on the ground but a drop was accumulating on the drain plug. I did not have new drain plug or washer/crusher. Old one looked pretty good so just used the same. What should I do if I see drops on the ground tomorrow morning? Get a new washer/crusher? (they don't sell in local PepBoys or Autozone, will need to order some online), or just tighten the drain plug little more?
3. I have 4 more quarts left than I had planned on putting in. When should I do the next drain and refill? Needless to say, I was able to do this only because of this forum. So thanks to all the members who took time and effort to put their experiences on the forum so that these things don't seem like rocket science to folks like me.
If fluid goes this bad after 100K miles, why does Lexus not recommend changing it?
Last edited by ES330MD05; 07-28-12 at 07:26 PM.
07-28-12, 08:22 PM
#39
Otherwise you never have to change the trans fluid. That any fluid in a car never needs changing...just doesn't make any sense to me never did but who am I to second guess the engineers that write the specs.
07-28-12, 10:38 PM
#40
Now few questions -
1. Drove around and checked the level, still don't feel I need to add more. So question - 4 quarts came out, put in 3.5. Should I just pour remaining half quart or leave it alone?
2. Get a new washer/crusher? (they don't sell in local PepBoys or Autozone, will need to order some online), or just tighten the drain plug little more?
3. I have 4 more quarts left than I had planned on putting in. When should I do the next drain and refill?
If fluid goes this bad after 100K miles, why does Lexus not recommend changing it?
1. Drove around and checked the level, still don't feel I need to add more. So question - 4 quarts came out, put in 3.5. Should I just pour remaining half quart or leave it alone?
2. Get a new washer/crusher? (they don't sell in local PepBoys or Autozone, will need to order some online), or just tighten the drain plug little more?
3. I have 4 more quarts left than I had planned on putting in. When should I do the next drain and refill?
If fluid goes this bad after 100K miles, why does Lexus not recommend changing it?
2. Loosen the bolt, center the washer and retighten. When I was draining the excess fluid, I didn't remove the drain plug all the way, so the washer kept getting compressed multiple times. It caused a minor leak, but I fixed it by tightening the bolt a bit more. Replace the washer on your next drain and fill.
3. I would do it after about 300-400 miles (a tank of gas).
Bonus: Don't really know, but considering how fragile Automatic Transmissions can be, I will be changing my fluid once a year (12 - 15 thousand miles). By the way, my fluid looked just as dark, yet it appeared red on my paper towel test.
07-30-12, 03:46 PM
#43
I'm about to do the drain and fill procedure and I have a question. I have a 1999 3ES and my owner's manual says to refill with Dex III, not T-IV. The guy at the Toyota dealership parts dept also agreed that my model is a Dex III year. On the other hand, I'm hearing here in this thread that 3ES takes T-IV and my tranny dipstick also has a small "T-IV" on it. Any thoughts?
07-30-12, 04:45 PM
#44
Lexus Champion
Are you sure you have the correct owners manual? 1999-2003 ES300 has the U140E, which takes T-IV fluid.
07-30-12, 04:58 PM
#45
Lexus Test Driver
I'm about to do the drain and fill procedure and I have a question. I have a 1999 3ES and my owner's manual says to refill with Dex III, not T-IV. The guy at the Toyota dealership parts dept also agreed that my model is a Dex III year. On the other hand, I'm hearing here in this thread that 3ES takes T-IV and my tranny dipstick also has a small "T-IV" on it. Any thoughts?