04-06 Sealed Transmission fluid change interval? (The Mother thread)
Those guys go round and round on it too.
04-08-12, 04:20 AM
#78
04-08-12, 04:45 AM
#79
Yeah, I knew this would probably stir it up...The purpose of this thread was to get another thread started with somebody that has actually changed their fluid. If you do searches, it seems biased towards people being too afraid to do it or the Lexus dealership telling them not to do it. I have seen no valid arguments as to why you shouldn't change it (as long as you know what you are doing). The only technical arguments I have seen have to do with the transmission being sealed or the fluid absorbing water when it hits air. If that was really valid, then there would be no repair manual for this transmission. There also wouldn't be a section in the repair manual for refilling the transmission and how to do it. There would be no way for the factory to have filled this transmission. You get my point.
Think about it, even if the transmission fluid absorbs a little water, the water would evaporate due to the fact that transmission fluid temperatures can get very hot, especially coming out of the converter. Our transmissions have a vent tube just like any other automatic transmission (I checked the repair manual) so that it can vent differential pressures.
There is absolutely no reason not to change it if you are contemplating it. If you don't want to change it then that is fine and I am sure the transmission will still be fine. I plan on keeping my car for a long time and it already has over 100k miles so my choice was easy. I will try and take pictures of the old fluid so that people can see if they want that in there forever. I understand that the looks of a fluid aren't everything, but you could definitely tell a viscosity difference between the old and new fluids and the visual difference in cleanliness was obvious.
Think about it, even if the transmission fluid absorbs a little water, the water would evaporate due to the fact that transmission fluid temperatures can get very hot, especially coming out of the converter. Our transmissions have a vent tube just like any other automatic transmission (I checked the repair manual) so that it can vent differential pressures.
There is absolutely no reason not to change it if you are contemplating it. If you don't want to change it then that is fine and I am sure the transmission will still be fine. I plan on keeping my car for a long time and it already has over 100k miles so my choice was easy. I will try and take pictures of the old fluid so that people can see if they want that in there forever. I understand that the looks of a fluid aren't everything, but you could definitely tell a viscosity difference between the old and new fluids and the visual difference in cleanliness was obvious.
04-08-12, 07:58 AM
#80
jet black
... I will try and take pictures of the old fluid so that people can see if they want that in there forever. I understand that the looks of a fluid aren't everything, but you could definitely tell a viscosity difference between the old and new fluids and the visual difference in cleanliness was obvious.
I don't plan on going 'forever' with my LS' trans. I will most likely drain and fill at 100k also.
04-09-12, 02:20 PM
#81
If it were as hygroscopic as brake
fluid then it would make even more sense to change it regularly.
I read somewhere that the Toyota WS fluid is highly Hygroscopic (absorbs water) which is why the A761E is sealed.
fluid then it would make even more sense to change it regularly.
I read somewhere that the Toyota WS fluid is highly Hygroscopic (absorbs water) which is why the A761E is sealed.
Last edited by damon; 04-10-12 at 02:52 AM.
04-09-12, 02:45 PM
#82
Here is a picture of the fluid comparison. On the left is my 2nd drain and refill and on the right is brand new fluid. I wish I saved the fluid from my 1st drain and refill because it was much darker. My car had 109k miles when I started flushing and refilling.
I have flushed and refilled about 4 times now and it is starting to look new again.
I have flushed and refilled about 4 times now and it is starting to look new again.
04-09-12, 11:26 PM
#83
A-761e
Total for the 04-06 A-761E tranny 11.6 quarts. (note WS fluid spec'd)
The 01-03 A650E holds 9.5 quarts. (T-IV fluid spec'd)
We used this chart for the 8.7 Quart capacity A340 tranny in older 400's to aid with drain & refill calcs
Percentage Old AT Fluid Remaining after a ATF Drain and Refill Process, and subsequent Drain and Refills for LS 400/340E
(1) 77.8%
(2) 60.5%
(3) 47.1%
(4) 36.6%
(5) 28.5%
(6) 22.1%
(7) 17.2%
(8) 13.4%
(9) 10.4%
(10) 8.1%
The 01-03 A650E holds 9.5 quarts. (T-IV fluid spec'd)
We used this chart for the 8.7 Quart capacity A340 tranny in older 400's to aid with drain & refill calcs
Percentage Old AT Fluid Remaining after a ATF Drain and Refill Process, and subsequent Drain and Refills for LS 400/340E
(1) 77.8%
(2) 60.5%
(3) 47.1%
(4) 36.6%
(5) 28.5%
(6) 22.1%
(7) 17.2%
(8) 13.4%
(9) 10.4%
(10) 8.1%
Last edited by damon; 04-10-12 at 03:05 AM.
06-16-12, 05:43 PM
#85
06-16-12, 05:48 PM
#86
06-16-12, 06:02 PM
#87
I used a long tube and funnel and made my own fill tube instead of trying to pump fluid from below. Works great. If you jack the front of the car up and let it sit all night, you can get 3 quarts out on a drain and refill since the drain plug is near the back of the transmission. I found that if you drained it hot you only got about 2.5 quarts out. So I did about 4 drains and refills and now the fluid is back to cherry red.
06-16-12, 06:17 PM
#88
It is on the side of the transmission (driver's side) under a black plastic cover. The cover has two bolts you need to remove to get the cover off and then you will find a very large refill plug under that cover.
I used a long tube and funnel and made my own fill tube instead of trying to pump fluid from below. Works great. If you jack the front of the car up and let it sit all night, you can get 3 quarts out on a drain and refill since the drain plug is near the back of the transmission. I found that if you drained it hot you only got about 2.5 quarts out. So I did about 4 drains and refills and now the fluid is back to cherry red.
I used a long tube and funnel and made my own fill tube instead of trying to pump fluid from below. Works great. If you jack the front of the car up and let it sit all night, you can get 3 quarts out on a drain and refill since the drain plug is near the back of the transmission. I found that if you drained it hot you only got about 2.5 quarts out. So I did about 4 drains and refills and now the fluid is back to cherry red.
I appreciate the quick response from you.
