FisforFast

I believe that most Lexus nowadays, and even most newer Toyotas, have these 'sealed' type of transmissions that do not require the transmission fluid to be changed at all. You should check in your owner's manual; if the ATF needs to be changed, it will state when and it might even state how. If you go beyond what your owner's manual says to do, you're just wasting time and money.

LeoDLion

I believe you are right. I read the owner's manual and search for any info on the transmission. There is none. There is also nothing in the maintenance schedule about changing the tranny oil and filter. This means it should last for the life of the car.

Howeve for those who really wants to know what I suggest is this. Get a sample of the tranny fluid by draining a little bit from the tranny drain plug. Take it to a transmission lab who will analyse the spent oil. It will tell you the state of your fluid and also tell you if it needs to be replace.

Replacing the fluid is not difficult. There should be a fill plug by the side of the tranny housing. I have done this on my other cars and its not difficult. Just make sure you can remove the fill plug before you drain.

LeoDLion

I noticed too that he is talking about a transmmision dipstick. There is no dipstick on the 2010. The 2008 probably has one as he mentioned.

FisforFast

If you really want to change your transmission fuild I'm fairly certain that you can but like I said, anything beyond what the owner's manual recommends is just throwing your money away. Might as well just give it to me. Doing more certainly will not hurt but I fail to see how much more longevity you can get from your vehicle by going above and beyond what Lexus recommends.

gtiguy915

If its a 2010 rx dont bother. You'd have to fill from the bottom while having it hooked up to a scan tool to read the temp of the trans fluid to make sure you have the right amount of fluid in it. Its ws lifetime fluid that you dont have to change. It isn't really a DIY. Bring it to the dealer if ya really want it changed!

Waterboy

I have been following the 'discussions' on DIY Transmission Fluid Changes on the 2010 RX 350. Having worked as a wanna be mechanic while I worked my way through college (a very long time ago...think clean GM 350 V8s) I feel like a am somewhat mechanically inclined. The contamination discussion concerns me as does the unanswered question as to opening the tranny to the atmosphere. Is there a problem here? I don't see one but presently Toyota sees fit to have a totally closed system on the 2010 RX 350 tranny. What is the replacement volume for this transmission? What is the best possible Tranny fluid to use? What is the metric size of the allen wrench for removing the drain plug on the resovoir?

What do I hear on cold start up that sounds like a valve tapping/rod knocking? It does go away when the engine is warm but it concerns me.

I am interested in improving my gas mileage. Has anyone found a free flow muffler system that offers improved mpg and performance?

Thanks, Scott C.

LeoDLion

Let me emphasize something about this thread. The tranny oil does not need to be replaced forever. However we can not prevent owners from doing what they want to do. After all its your car. If you ever want to change the tranny oil, even before you try to drain it, first look for the fill hole bolt. In most manually cars, it is located on top of the transmission case. It looks like a hex bolt. If you can not find it, stop there and you are all done. Dont touch your tranny. If you find it, see if you can loosen it. If you can not, stop there and you are all done.This is the only way you can replace your tranny oil and if you can not get it off, then, never never drain your tranny oil.

Zimor

Greetings guys and gals. Just came back to Lexus from BMW X5 with 90k + miles, 10 years. My wife owns a 328i 5+ years. I had a lEXUS es300 before I went to the darkside and never changed the trany oil and had no problems for 160k miles. Howevere, that said, dont believe these auto manuf that they have lifetime oil - lifetime is NOT you owning the car, its the life of the trany, and that could be 60, 70 or even 100k miles. I changed the trany and filters, diff and transfer case oils on my X5 and my 328i after 60k. I take a sample and send to Blackstone Labs for analysis (25$). Both analysis showed wear but the oil is holding up. A new trany is 5k$ plus, oil and filter are cheap. Contamination is a concern but if you use nonlint towels and new trany oil pump with hoses you will be ok. Very important to measue oil coming out and put same going in. Chaging oil is messy, so, use non latex oil and keep the car flat but safely on stands - dont use hydraulic jacks! I am an engineer and not a mechanic and never changed trany oil in cars until recently, and was easy.

CanadianRX

I have experience with 2 VWs with over 200, 000 km. They both had sealed tranny's. Considering vw reliability is spotty. Both trannys went over160000km before I had drain and fill which only would Change approximately 40% of the fluid. The mechanic would take the car out for a quick spin and do another drain and fill (no dipstick btw) Both trannys are running perfectly. I think you should do the change at approximately 100k miles.

redog

You all have forgotten about the torque converter! DYI'ers can't drain that device, it must be done by the dealer.

MachineMan

boards such as AudiWorld and Quattroworld with comments pro and con against changing the trans fluid. I had my allroad trans fluid, filter changed and magnet cleaned of metal shavings at 60K miles. The ofluid was nearly worn out according to lab analysis, had some water contamination, the filter was filthy, and the magnet was covered in metal shavings from normal trans wear. I see on various sites there is a filter and magnet in the RX350 trans as well. Quiet a few of the Audi owners that never changed their fluid found their transmissions lost reverse gear or experienced shifting problems at about 90-100K miles. Changing the fluid and filter fixed the problem for most but some owners had more expensive trans problems that required complete $4000-5000 trans replacement as a result of believing in "lifetime trans fluid".

dctex99

Just a FYI on another brand; Cadillac SRX transmissions are sealed and are not to be serviced until 150,000 miles and it takes jacking the whole back of the vehicle up to do it or dropping it out of the car!!!!!!

lexus114

do you fill with the engine running, or off?

CanadianRX

My experience is with 2 VWs . Both changed at around 140k kms. They are going past 240k now. I wouldn't rush to drain and flush it.

[QUOTE QUOTE=lexus114;8750499]do you fill with the engine running, or off?[/QUOTE]

Clutchless

Engine is off for the cold drain and fill and if you are asking that question I think you sound inexperienced enough that you should just pay the dealer to do a transmission flush. My dealer quoted around $220 to do it. If doing the Toyota temperature flow rate procedure after filling, that is done with the engine on and you need an infrared or laser type thermometer to get the fluid temp.

If you really want details on how to do a drain and fill go to the ToyotaNation site and look or search the Highlander forum.