kyoso23

$305, and a few hours on that crazy machine later and it was done. (they threw in an oil change too) I just hit 90k on my car and the AZ summer is on it's way. I can't say I notice any difference at all. I don't care what Lexus says, the idea of a lifetime fluid for a fairly aggressive driver in the Arizona heat does not sit well with me. I usually do it in my other vehicles every spring, so I think 4 years was enough. I tend to keep my cars well into the 200k+ mark and like to sell them working perfectly, so $300 at least gives me peace of mind if anything. Come hate on me.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

Some say using that 'machine' isn't very good.

Quik208

iTrader: (7)

I agree with you also. I don't like life time fluid

kyoso23

The machine people are referring to are the generic "flush" machines at the crappy shops most likely. They pressurize the system and can wreck seals etc... The machine at Lexus I believe just works as a collector for the old fluid being pumped out and working as a measuring tool and sump for the new fluid being pumped in by the cars own power. They run the car and the fluid is exchanged by the car pumping it through instead of a pressurized machine.

I could have some of the details fudged a little, but I'm under the impression that the car does the work instead of the machine.

JohnLX300

iTrader: (2)

+1 don't like that idea of lifetime fluid either...

evogt500

Good call on the fluid change. I don't believe in lifetime fluid, especially when I use the paddles alot. On a side note, does the ISx50 have a actual transmission cooler? I'm not talking about the one thats "inside" the radiator.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

It has a heat exchanger built into the side of the transmission.

The fluid that runs to/from this device to the radiator is engine coolant, not transmission fluid... that's why it's impossible for someone to flush their own transmission at home.

(and unusually difficult to do it even at a shop- as you need to remove the heat exchanger and replace it with a custom adapter that attaches to a fluid exchange machine, exchange the fluid, then remove the adapter and reinstall the heat exchanger.... and even that is something that's only been possible fairly recently once someone invented the custom adapter).


Most folks who know no better (and don't realize the folks who built the car say to never open it up) when they pay a dealer to 'change the transmission fluid' are paying to have the dealer open the drain plug at the bottom and then refill the 10% of the fluid that comes out that way, which is fairly pointless. Folks who actually get it done via the more complex machine/adapter method are relatively few (in part because as I said it wasn't even possible for the first few years the car existed)

evogt500

The fluid that runs to/from this device to the radiator is engine coolant, not transmission fluid... that's why it's impossible for someone to flush their own transmission at home.


Ahh, good point. On my other car (honda) tranny fluid gets cooled in the radiator. Thanks for the info.

ELexis

2008 Lexus GS Transmission Fluid Change tutorials (I assume similar to the 08 iS 350);

07lexis

yea i dont believe in lifetime fluid either, Had mine changed about 3 months ago, along with the transmission filter. Gives me a peice of mind knowing that it got done.

ELexis

07lexis, did you change the fluid yourself or have it done at Lexus / service station?
If change was performed yourself, do you recall part numbers used?
00289-ATFWS - Toyota Genuine automatic trans fluid (3 qt. drain and fill?)
35330-30080 - transmission filter
35168-60010 - transmission filter gasket
90301-31014 - Transmission filter o ring

07lexis

No i had the service performed at an independent shop. The lexus dealership claims that the transmission fluid is lifetime fluid. They would not sell me a transmission pan gasket or filter, so i had to go to another lexus dealer. I dont recall the part numbers but i used toyota ws fluid 4 quarts i bought, lexus pan gasket, it was $35 at dealer. Filter was around $60.

ELexis

Understood, thank you for follow up 07lexis. Interesting that he Lexus dealer would not allow you to purchase those items. May have to seek independent station as well if the same is experienced at Lexus.

Yamehoo

The part numbers are right except the transmission filter. When I replaced mine, the filter part number was 35330-50020 and its for Is350. Maybe the is250 has different p/n?

MikeFig82

iTrader: (13)

35330-30080 is for AWD models.