Transmission fluid, draining & flushing (The Mother thread)
06-26-07, 06:56 AM
#166
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well, i ate crow in the other post... and here too. i don't know where i was getting that ATF was fine-- maybe for our land cruiser?? my manual says type II... wow. i asked why it's bad in the other thread, so i won't here... thanks.
06-26-07, 02:00 PM
#168
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yes
i agree with puredrifter, you can only use T-IV ATF. when i first went to autozone, they told me that toyotas use only that fluid. they recommended me not to buy any of the stuff they sell there.
its only a few bucks more and plus, you don't have to change it for a while, why compromise your tranny to save a few bucks???
and the manual only tells you to use T-IV fluid as well!
its only a few bucks more and plus, you don't have to change it for a while, why compromise your tranny to save a few bucks???
and the manual only tells you to use T-IV fluid as well!
forgot to include that AMSOIL is great as well, since it is synthetic. but its pricey, i would just go to toyota and buy their ATF for a few bucks cheaper.
06-26-07, 10:28 PM
#170
yeah you guys, Amsoil is the only company that has a fluid that will work correctly, they believe it so much thta they even SAY it will work with Toyota trans. requiring Type IV+ fluid. the only company that claims that iirc 
frigging pricey tho, and since the Toyota fluid is synthetic anyways, i wouldnt upgrade unless i had some motor mods or perhaps a higher stall TC.
frigging pricey tho, and since the Toyota fluid is synthetic anyways, i wouldnt upgrade unless i had some motor mods or perhaps a higher stall TC.
06-27-07, 06:15 AM
#171
Lexus Test Driver
yeah you guys, Amsoil is the only company that has a fluid that will work correctly, they believe it so much thta they even SAY it will work with Toyota trans. requiring Type IV+ fluid. the only company that claims that iirc
frigging pricey tho, and since the Toyota fluid is synthetic anyways, i wouldnt upgrade unless i had some motor mods or perhaps a higher stall TC.
frigging pricey tho, and since the Toyota fluid is synthetic anyways, i wouldnt upgrade unless i had some motor mods or perhaps a higher stall TC.
06-27-07, 07:43 AM
#172
Hi, following up on what sonyman said earlier, i.e., anything that meets JWS 3309 spec is okay to use - Castrol now offers an ATF that meets the standard; see http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp...s_ImportMV.pdf
Btw, back in 10/2005 I paid $3/qt for a case of Type IV at my local toyota dealer and more recently in 10/2006, they charged me $3.78/qt (rising price of oil, I guess). The list on the invoice said $4.72.
Btw, back in 10/2005 I paid $3/qt for a case of Type IV at my local toyota dealer and more recently in 10/2006, they charged me $3.78/qt (rising price of oil, I guess). The list on the invoice said $4.72.
06-27-07, 06:59 PM
#173
Driver School Candidate
In Chicago T-IV oil cost 5.99 in Toyota dealer. It replaced T-II. here is what you can do:
but 2 quarts of oil, go under the car, on transmission pan you will find 14 mm bolt with T-II written on it. unscrew it and wait until the oil will gone. Then put it back and using a funner put 2 quarts thru the tranny dipstick pipe. voila!
but 2 quarts of oil, go under the car, on transmission pan you will find 14 mm bolt with T-II written on it. unscrew it and wait until the oil will gone. Then put it back and using a funner put 2 quarts thru the tranny dipstick pipe. voila!
06-28-07, 06:55 PM
#174
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Trans fluid
95 LS 173,000
I actually just changed the transmission filter along with the fluid today. I heard alot about changing the fluid but nothing about the filter. when I took out the filter, it was filthy, black and glogged up. I had to remove the pan and change the filter which took about a minute to change. I put 2 and a half quarts back and back on the road. 8 to 10 quarts pertains when you are doing a complete flush which entails removing things I have no idea about. Advance Auto was able to guide me through the process. You should change the filter as well. There is a tutorial on on this on LEXLS.com
I actually just changed the transmission filter along with the fluid today. I heard alot about changing the fluid but nothing about the filter. when I took out the filter, it was filthy, black and glogged up. I had to remove the pan and change the filter which took about a minute to change. I put 2 and a half quarts back and back on the road. 8 to 10 quarts pertains when you are doing a complete flush which entails removing things I have no idea about. Advance Auto was able to guide me through the process. You should change the filter as well. There is a tutorial on on this on LEXLS.com
06-28-07, 08:56 PM
#175
95 LS 173,000
I actually just changed the transmission filter along with the fluid today. I heard alot about changing the fluid but nothing about the filter. when I took out the filter, it was filthy, black and glogged up. I had to remove the pan and change the filter which took about a minute to change. I put 2 and a half quarts back and back on the road. 8 to 10 quarts pertains when you are doing a complete flush which entails removing things I have no idea about. Advance Auto was able to guide me through the process. You should change the filter as well. There is a tutorial on on this on LEXLS.com
I actually just changed the transmission filter along with the fluid today. I heard alot about changing the fluid but nothing about the filter. when I took out the filter, it was filthy, black and glogged up. I had to remove the pan and change the filter which took about a minute to change. I put 2 and a half quarts back and back on the road. 8 to 10 quarts pertains when you are doing a complete flush which entails removing things I have no idea about. Advance Auto was able to guide me through the process. You should change the filter as well. There is a tutorial on on this on LEXLS.com
i think u mean the screen right?
08-20-07, 08:00 AM
#177
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A little frustrated.. Transmission fluid change question.
1993 LS400 with 178,000 miles. I love everything about this car, but the transmission shifts a little harder than it should. Does it shift hard? NO, but it does shift harder than it should.
I've been to alot of different places including a Lexus specialist (who I no longer trust) and have been getting all kinds of answers.
I checked the tranny fluid and it is right on mark, but it is extremely dirty.
Power flush: NO NO NO. Too many miles and too stressful on the tranny.
Manual flush: Maybe, the tranny might still go bad because the tranny has already gotten used to the old oil???
Drain and fill: Probably the best way to go? Take little by little every oil change till I get it all?
Just don't change it: If it aint broke, don't fix it. I've actually heard this more than one time.
I want to go with a drain and fill. First time, I will remove the pan and clean it up then install a new gasket. Then just do a normal drain and fill every 3000 miles without removing the pan? How does that sound?
Please keep in mind that the car has almost 180k miles.
I have also searched and did alot of research, but I can't seem to find anything on higher mileage cars.
I've been to alot of different places including a Lexus specialist (who I no longer trust) and have been getting all kinds of answers.
I checked the tranny fluid and it is right on mark, but it is extremely dirty.
Power flush: NO NO NO. Too many miles and too stressful on the tranny.
Manual flush: Maybe, the tranny might still go bad because the tranny has already gotten used to the old oil???
Drain and fill: Probably the best way to go? Take little by little every oil change till I get it all?
Just don't change it: If it aint broke, don't fix it. I've actually heard this more than one time.
I want to go with a drain and fill. First time, I will remove the pan and clean it up then install a new gasket. Then just do a normal drain and fill every 3000 miles without removing the pan? How does that sound?
Please keep in mind that the car has almost 180k miles.
I have also searched and did alot of research, but I can't seem to find anything on higher mileage cars.
08-20-07, 08:40 AM
#178
There have been past threads about this and thoughts vary. My take:
Don't do a power flush...true.
Leave it...false.
The safer way is a slow and partial fill gradually. About 2 qts come out from the pan typically when doing a drain. In your case, I would drain off a about 1 qt at a time and refill. It is a bit messy though, this way allows a slower adoption rate for the new fluid while not drastically disturbing what is circulating in the system.
Once it is becoming redder perhaps after about 6-7 quarts, drop the pan and clean the tranny fluid screen. From that point on, drain 2 quarts and refill at each oil change.
I'm sure others will chime in.
Don't do a power flush...true.
Leave it...false.
The safer way is a slow and partial fill gradually. About 2 qts come out from the pan typically when doing a drain. In your case, I would drain off a about 1 qt at a time and refill. It is a bit messy though, this way allows a slower adoption rate for the new fluid while not drastically disturbing what is circulating in the system.
Once it is becoming redder perhaps after about 6-7 quarts, drop the pan and clean the tranny fluid screen. From that point on, drain 2 quarts and refill at each oil change.
I'm sure others will chime in.
08-20-07, 08:54 AM
#179
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Pretty much exactly what I was looking for. Your saying that I should drain 1 qt of tranny fluid at each engine oil change till it becomes redder? Or should I do it more often than that?
Thank you for your time in answering.
Its getting frustrating with all these mechanics telling me different things. I actually had a well known Lexus specialist tell me to leave it alone and refused to do it. Lexus dealership said they wouldn't touch it because they don't want to take responsibility if the tranny goes out.
I've gotten tons of useful info from this site. I use the search all the time, but I couldn't find exactly what I was searching for. Hopefully this thread will help someone else out with my situation in the future.
Thank you for your time in answering.
Its getting frustrating with all these mechanics telling me different things. I actually had a well known Lexus specialist tell me to leave it alone and refused to do it. Lexus dealership said they wouldn't touch it because they don't want to take responsibility if the tranny goes out.
I've gotten tons of useful info from this site. I use the search all the time, but I couldn't find exactly what I was searching for. Hopefully this thread will help someone else out with my situation in the future.
08-20-07, 09:00 AM
#180
I would drain and fill completely, make sure you change the magnetic filter inside the transmission as well...
...take a good look at your transmission oil while its in the pan...look for metallic objects in the drained oil, if its sparkling, your transmission is on the fritz.
Use Toyota TIV Transmission Fluid ONLY, don't use anything else obviously.
See if that helps, if you start experiencing more transmission problems immediately or near immediate after your change, your transmission will probably need to be swapped.
...take a good look at your transmission oil while its in the pan...look for metallic objects in the drained oil, if its sparkling, your transmission is on the fritz.
Use Toyota TIV Transmission Fluid ONLY, don't use anything else obviously.
See if that helps, if you start experiencing more transmission problems immediately or near immediate after your change, your transmission will probably need to be swapped.