TVMes350

Howdy!

Is anyone aware of a suitable replacement bolt for es350 ATF drain plug?
6mm allen is just not doing it for me.
The metal is too soft and the crush washers need some good torque to work. I bough the car with 90K ODO and what looked like the original ATF. After the complete flush over to Amsoil through the cooler hose and adding Magnefile and some real neodymium magnets in the pan, i plan of regularly draining and refilling. Already stripped and extracted one of them weird drain bolts.
Looking for a regular bolt that will fit and not destroy the red plastic straw above.
Trial an error on the ATF sounds like a dull perspective

thanks!

14RX350

I personally have a set of Allen heads that fit onto my socket wrench and that has worked well for me. I don't know if you're using an actual Allen wrench as I would see that not working well. I feel like the socket not only gives you more strength, but it helps keep everything straight and fully inserted when turning the bolt.

TVMes350

I hear you! And i used a socket not an allen wrench. May be i had a dud of a bolt, but that socket chewed it out like butter when trying to undo it after everything has been tightened to spec. I feel like 6mm just isn't enough of a grip. I know some models have 10mm and that's much beefier.

14RX350

Well that's good, I was picturing you trying to undo it with this tiny Allen wrench, haha.
My previous 2014 RX350, and now my 2003 es300 both use the 6mm size and they both surprisingly held up well. I just double checked that was the size I used and it was, but you're right it does look small, but both bolts on both cars held up pretty much 100% through multiple drain and fills, so I think you must have just had a bad one.
Sounds like you really got that transmission maintenance under control, but thought I'd add just in case to be careful about the fluid level as I noticed that really made a difference. And don't overtighten that red screw, just get it lightly snug so it's at the appropriate height. Just got a magnefine filter myself that I'm going to install here soon.
The transmission is the most expensive part of the car... makes sense to maintain it right!