Transmission fluid change?
11-29-10, 07:00 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Transmission fluid change?
I have a 99' GS300 with 138k miles that I just purchased from a owner who took good care of it. He claimed he never changed the tranny fluid because he said his mechanic said changing it will cause more problems down the line. Is this true? Does lexus recommend to ever change the fluid in the manual? Im a little confused as I was doing research some people do flushes some people drop the pan and some people dont do anything. By the way the tranny shifts perfect and I didnt get a chance to check the fluid but im assuming its old since it was never changed. Any opinions greatly appreciated. thanks
12-05-10, 11:07 PM
#6
Pole Position
Thread Starter
So even if I have 140k and I dont know if it was ever changed because I just bought it I should still change it? someone told me if it was never changed leave it alone or it can cause more problems
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12-06-10, 02:39 PM
#9
No! Why waste time and money, do it once, do it right. There is no reason to not flush your modern transmission. The more crap you have floating around in there, the less fluid can move around to make the transmission work. Look at the pictures of a valve body, the passages are tiny, if they get clogged up, you lose shifting feel and speed. The old myth about not changing trans fluid is just that, a MYTH... If your transmission has big problems already, it doesn't matter what you do. If your transmission is fine, and you want to do proper maintenance, do the flush.
12-09-10, 07:18 AM
#10
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No! Why waste time and money, do it once, do it right. There is no reason to not flush your modern transmission. The more crap you have floating around in there, the less fluid can move around to make the transmission work. Look at the pictures of a valve body, the passages are tiny, if they get clogged up, you lose shifting feel and speed. The old myth about not changing trans fluid is just that, a MYTH... If your transmission has big problems already, it doesn't matter what you do. If your transmission is fine, and you want to do proper maintenance, do the flush.
12-09-10, 02:18 PM
#12
Build up or sludge ? How many transmissions have you opened up ? I've done hundreds. Also taught classes in using trans flush machines.
Fluid gets old and degraded. Loses it's lubricity. You can see how bad it is by putting a drop off your trans dipstick on a piece of white paper. Anything that isn't oil will show up nicely. ATF lasts a very long time, but changing it at 75-100k miles is a good idea. As I've posted before, the filter may never need changing, although you can get one for under $40 and changing it is pretty easy on a lift.
Fluid gets old and degraded. Loses it's lubricity. You can see how bad it is by putting a drop off your trans dipstick on a piece of white paper. Anything that isn't oil will show up nicely. ATF lasts a very long time, but changing it at 75-100k miles is a good idea. As I've posted before, the filter may never need changing, although you can get one for under $40 and changing it is pretty easy on a lift.
Last edited by Dscustoms; 12-09-10 at 04:02 PM.
12-09-10, 10:22 PM
#14
btw, I will be dropping the built 4l65e tranny in my Silverado this Saturday. I'll look around and see if I can see any bits of junk floating around. Seems like I may have a clogged filter...but then again...it may be part of that myth about dislodging junk.