sorka

I'm new to this forum. My wife's SC400 has had regular trans fluid changes about every 15K miles. About 125K miles ago, during one of these changes, I checked the manual and noticed that it said type-ii, not dextron-ii. I called Magnusen Lexus in Fremont and asked them. They told me that dextron-III would be just fine.

But now I'm reading throug this forum and seeing things like "if you use dextron, you will destroy your transmission". Is this really true? I think I'll head to my local Toyota dealer tomorrow and have them change it several times to get all the dextron III out. It's never shifted badly, but I do get the dreaded shudder at 45mph when lightly accelerating. It's done that since about 69K miles and has always done it, but has never gotten worse. It now has 178K miles on it.

So what's the verdict? Is the trans a goner(sooner than later)? The fluid stays bright pink between changes.

RaynArt

sorry i cant help much but ive been using dexron III and everything has been fine so far. actually smoother than when i first bought the car.

perhaps its something mechanical rather than just the fluid?........ im sure someone here will have waaay more answer than me, lol.

BLK13X

I use Toyota Type-IV ATF fluid in mine, doesn't have any shifting problems.

ruki400

I use Toyota type IV also because it has replaced type II.
If you would like you can use dexron, with a tranny additive
for high friction transmissions. You can purchase it at NAPA.

O. L. T.

iTrader: (17)

the verdict is welcome to our forum look at our subforums so you will know where to place things in the future. Good luck.

Moved.

sctrd

I would use the toyota IV fluid.Funny how the dealer would tell you it's ok to use anything else,because I bet if you had a tranny problem they would blame the wrong use of fluid.As for adding any type of additive to correct any slippage I don't believe in it. A tranny flush isnt that hard and take about 2gals of fluid and a couple of oil change boxes..

aliga

iTrader: (147)

get the type iv fluiid, 25 bucks at the stealership.

95BlackSC

the shudder could be your transmission mount, because i have the same problem and my fluid is fine

Vegassc400

I've had that 40 mph shudder on both my SC's and I still haven't figured out what it is.

THE_CEO

The shutter is when the engine and the transmission are moving at the same speed...it creates a frequency...and that is what you hear...nothing to worry about at all..

CEO

sorka

310K miles now and never did have any problems with the trans. Have been using Dexron VI (walmart Supertech) instead of type IV for about the last 60K miles.

I change it myself using a marine pump to pump out the 2.5 qts out of the pan and then use a funnel to add back 2.5 qts of new fluid. I do this at every engine oil change since it only gets a small amount of the total fluid volume.

sc4doubleO

Used Walmart dexron for imports, trans shifted incredibly smooth. I sold the car 6 months later, buyer couldn't believe how smooth it was either. Never heard from him again.

speed6

iTrader: (1)

ATP products makes a friction modifier - at205? i believe. or use castrol import multivehicle atf.
remember it's a wet clutch type like a bike, so it will wear out eventually. i think 15k is too soon to be changing it.