Transmission fluid replacement at 50,000 miles after heavy track use
05-28-16, 10:57 AM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Transmission fluid replacement at 50,000 miles after heavy track use
Hey guys I just wanted to do a quick write up on my experience recently with the complete transmission fluid replacement at 50k rather than the recommended 100k. I had a TON of work done on my car recently . She was in for ( ELF recall, rotors, pads, fluid, steal brake lines, new battery, 50k service). Since I have just come of the 15 track days in 2 years I have been noticing some shift flares in the morning and even when warm
. While she was there I figured might as well have them do the service to the tranny. Another member said his was $550 with a $150 gasket ( I believe ). I figured since I had really pushed the car to its max I might as well do it. When the SA came back with the quote rather than $700 or $550, he said total flush and fluid replacement was only $293 !!!
. I obviously went for it.
Since I have had the car back now for almost a week I can absolutely say my car must have been low on the ATF. The car shifts faster, it doesn't hold gears oddly like it had been , and when I drop gears the shifts feel a little crisper and more tactile. You feel the car shift harder.
If you can have it done for this price I would strongly recommend it. The SA said it needed to be at a certain temp and that the tranny took more than 12 quarts. I know the sample tests for Lobux and others have come back fine. My concern was the fluid being low after all the track work and for some reason my SA said they can top it off because it fills from the bottom. Because the price was so low to do the total flush and fill I didn't argue. In the end the car feels great !!! Super happy I went for it
. While she was there I figured might as well have them do the service to the tranny. Another member said his was $550 with a $150 gasket ( I believe ). I figured since I had really pushed the car to its max I might as well do it. When the SA came back with the quote rather than $700 or $550, he said total flush and fluid replacement was only $293 !!!. I obviously went for it. Since I have had the car back now for almost a week I can absolutely say my car must have been low on the ATF. The car shifts faster, it doesn't hold gears oddly like it had been , and when I drop gears the shifts feel a little crisper and more tactile. You feel the car shift harder.
If you can have it done for this price I would strongly recommend it. The SA said it needed to be at a certain temp and that the tranny took more than 12 quarts. I know the sample tests for Lobux and others have come back fine. My concern was the fluid being low after all the track work and for some reason my SA said they can top it off because it fills from the bottom. Because the price was so low to do the total flush and fill I didn't argue. In the end the car feels great !!! Super happy I went for it
05-28-16, 11:12 AM
#3
That's great news! I actually called lexus of Sacramento last month for a full transmission flush and service. They kept telling "why?" And "is there anything wrong with it?" I kept telling them I just want my fluids replaced and nothing is wrong with my transmission. The SA still kept asking me the same question. I got super irritated and if i wasnt in a rush, i would had ask to speak with a technician. I decided to call them later. So far, I have not called them back not but now want to.
Last edited by idoke1; 05-28-16 at 11:16 AM.
05-28-16, 12:50 PM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
That's great news! I actually called lexus of Sacramento last month for a full transmission flush and service. They kept telling "why?" And "is there anything wrong with it?" I kept telling them I just want my fluids replaced and nothing is wrong with my transmission. The SA still kept asking me the same question. I got super irritated and if i wasnt in a rush, i would had ask to speak with a technician. I decided to call them later. So far, I have not called them back not but now want to.
) to do the service. 12 quarts !! I think you will like the results. We all subjectively adapt. things change so slowly that we adapt and only notice it when it gets bad. But like a patient with a new pair of glasses 2 or right after cataract surgery you notice a HUGE difference one you get the issue corrected. LMAO God forbid !!! Now that I have learned a bunch about the CCSR I think it really would be freakishly rare to blow a motor or tranny .
05-28-16, 02:35 PM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
haha Yup you !!! And you have been a HUGE track junky recently as well. Honestly man I would have payed the $700 but was glad it was less than $300. I wrote your name in but then changed it in case you didnt want a bunch of PMs and me just volunteering your info. lol
Dude you have been killing it on the track. Your line was really good in that last video and the paddles are really helping your corner exit. Your speed on the track has gone beyond those PSS. They are squealing like a stuck pig Keep up the good work bud !!
Dude you have been killing it on the track. Your line was really good in that last video and the paddles are really helping your corner exit. Your speed on the track has gone beyond those PSS. They are squealing like a stuck pig
Keep up the good work bud !!
Trending Topics
05-28-16, 05:34 PM
#8
Pole Position
For that price I would've jumped on it with a quickness!
05-28-16, 07:15 PM
#10
Thanks for sharing, I8ABMR. $293 is a reasonable price for positive results you could feel. Not to mention peace of mind.
My SA (who has an F which he tracks) told me Lexus of Seattle can do a complete flush/change. Don't recall what he said they'd charge, but I'll definitely have it done, especially after reading of how labor intensive & specialized it is to even check the fluid level.
My SA (who has an F which he tracks) told me Lexus of Seattle can do a complete flush/change. Don't recall what he said they'd charge, but I'll definitely have it done, especially after reading of how labor intensive & specialized it is to even check the fluid level.
05-29-16, 01:51 AM
#11
Good stuff guys.
Perfectly timed by the way!
Mine is due in with Lexus this Wednesday for its 8yr/80k service. I added a gearbox flush and refill to my job card after noticing the odd clunk or hesitation when kicking down hard.
Think they are charging me £137 to do it, which seems on par with your quote.
Glad to hear you've noticed an improvement.
Keep up the great work!
Perfectly timed by the way!
Mine is due in with Lexus this Wednesday for its 8yr/80k service. I added a gearbox flush and refill to my job card after noticing the odd clunk or hesitation when kicking down hard.
Think they are charging me £137 to do it, which seems on par with your quote.
Glad to hear you've noticed an improvement.
Keep up the great work!
05-29-16, 06:33 AM
#12
I did a fluid level check & two weeks ago & mine was low.. I added ~1/3 quart... The transmission definitely feels better now.
BTW, this is my second time doing the procedure.. I did it for the first time last September, but it turned out to be more of a learning process.. I made a big mess and probably didn't actually raise the level any higher than it was before I started.. The transmission felt pretty much the same since then..
This time I was more familiar with the procedure & definitely added more fluid than I spilled! I'm happy with the results & recommend checking it if yours is not shifting as well as you feel it should be. As lobuxracer mentioned in another thread, the level doesn't need to be off by much to produce symptoms.
I may be inclined to do a step-by-step DIY write-up on this one of these days. I'm sort of OCD when it comes to this stuff, so even though my transmission feels much better, I'm still not convinced the level is perfect.
-Mike
BTW, this is my second time doing the procedure.. I did it for the first time last September, but it turned out to be more of a learning process.. I made a big mess and probably didn't actually raise the level any higher than it was before I started.. The transmission felt pretty much the same since then..
This time I was more familiar with the procedure & definitely added more fluid than I spilled!
I'm happy with the results & recommend checking it if yours is not shifting as well as you feel it should be. As lobuxracer mentioned in another thread, the level doesn't need to be off by much to produce symptoms. I may be inclined to do a step-by-step DIY write-up on this one of these days. I'm sort of OCD when it comes to this stuff, so even though my transmission feels much better, I'm still not convinced the level is perfect.
-Mike
05-29-16, 07:52 AM
#13
I did a fluid level check & two weeks ago & mine was low.. I added ~1/3 quart... The transmission definitely feels better now.
BTW, this is my second time doing the procedure.. I did it for the first time last September, but it turned out to be more of a learning process.. I made a big mess and probably didn't actually raise the level any higher than it was before I started.. The transmission felt pretty much the same since then..
This time I was more familiar with the procedure & definitely added more fluid than I spilled! I'm happy with the results & recommend checking it if yours is not shifting as well as you feel it should be. As lobuxracer mentioned in another thread, the level doesn't need to be off by much to produce symptoms.
I may be inclined to do a step-by-step DIY write-up on this one of these days. I'm sort of OCD when it comes to this stuff, so even though my transmission feels much better, I'm still not convinced the level is perfect.
-Mike
BTW, this is my second time doing the procedure.. I did it for the first time last September, but it turned out to be more of a learning process.. I made a big mess and probably didn't actually raise the level any higher than it was before I started.. The transmission felt pretty much the same since then..
This time I was more familiar with the procedure & definitely added more fluid than I spilled!
I'm happy with the results & recommend checking it if yours is not shifting as well as you feel it should be. As lobuxracer mentioned in another thread, the level doesn't need to be off by much to produce symptoms. I may be inclined to do a step-by-step DIY write-up on this one of these days. I'm sort of OCD when it comes to this stuff, so even though my transmission feels much better, I'm still not convinced the level is perfect.
-Mike
05-29-16, 08:24 PM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I did a fluid level check & two weeks ago & mine was low.. I added ~1/3 quart... The transmission definitely feels better now.
BTW, this is my second time doing the procedure.. I did it for the first time last September, but it turned out to be more of a learning process.. I made a big mess and probably didn't actually raise the level any higher than it was before I started.. The transmission felt pretty much the same since then..
This time I was more familiar with the procedure & definitely added more fluid than I spilled! I'm happy with the results & recommend checking it if yours is not shifting as well as you feel it should be. As lobuxracer mentioned in another thread, the level doesn't need to be off by much to produce symptoms.
I may be inclined to do a step-by-step DIY write-up on this one of these days. I'm sort of OCD when it comes to this stuff, so even though my transmission feels much better, I'm still not convinced the level is perfect.
-Mike
BTW, this is my second time doing the procedure.. I did it for the first time last September, but it turned out to be more of a learning process.. I made a big mess and probably didn't actually raise the level any higher than it was before I started.. The transmission felt pretty much the same since then..
This time I was more familiar with the procedure & definitely added more fluid than I spilled!
I'm happy with the results & recommend checking it if yours is not shifting as well as you feel it should be. As lobuxracer mentioned in another thread, the level doesn't need to be off by much to produce symptoms. I may be inclined to do a step-by-step DIY write-up on this one of these days. I'm sort of OCD when it comes to this stuff, so even though my transmission feels much better, I'm still not convinced the level is perfect.
-Mike
HeY mike I had a feeling they were BSing me when they said they cant top it off. But with the price being so low and knowing it would be more ideal with all the track use I jumped. I am 100% sure my symptoms are from just being a little low and not the fluid being jacked. We know from other who have sent sample in that the ATF will last. Its the level that needs to be addressed.
