Tow options for 2014 if I don't have tow package?
09-30-16, 08:05 AM
#16
Moderator
I agree you do not need a machine to do a cooler line flush. I have done it many times on older cars that had dipsticks for the ATF. However, with no good way to measure the fluid after a flush on the RX and not trusting myself to do the insane Toyota/Lexus - Aisin overflow temperature dependent level measurement procedure, I think that doing several drain and fills is safer and still provides benefits to transmission longevity. See the attached that shows how much is replaced as a percentage after different numbers of drain and fills. Also attached is the Camry ATF fluid exchange procedure someone wrote which has some Toyota docs attached that show the overflow plug, fill plug and official level check procedure with Techstream and without Techstream.
Last edited by Clutchless; 09-30-16 at 08:11 AM.
09-30-16, 09:42 AM
#17
Lexus Champion
these sealed dipstick less transmissions are the stupidest thing to come down the pike! if i had known about this before i traded my 05, i would have kept my 05....
10-06-16, 07:46 AM
#18
Intermediate
Don't tow without the towing package. My highway fuel mileage was cut IN HALF by towing an empty, single axle motorcycle trailer of about 1100 pounds. Fuel mileage getting that much worse comes from a sustained, significant additional load. That will stress your tranny fluid significantly. Now that I'm reading more about our convoluted fluids and changing issues, I'm freaking the eff out about my recent 1200km of towing a trailer.
$0.02
We don't have alternators!?? Wat!!?
$0.02
If you're going to do it a couple times, just go ahead and tow it unless you're in a mountainous or very hot area, or have a route with lots of stop and go. Steady state cruising puts some load on the vehicle due to aerodynamics, but won't overheat the tranny. Your fuel mileage will go straight to heck.
IIRC the tow package has an auxiliary tranny cooler and a bigger battery, but if you don't power anything in the trailer the battery is irrelevant. Before someone mentions it, it doesn't have a bigger alternator because we don't have alternators. Tranny cooler is a good idea but not critical unless you're really putting a constant excess load on the engine/transmission.
Lexus114, do you have any evidence of these claims about the tranny fluid?
Jonas
IIRC the tow package has an auxiliary tranny cooler and a bigger battery, but if you don't power anything in the trailer the battery is irrelevant. Before someone mentions it, it doesn't have a bigger alternator because we don't have alternators. Tranny cooler is a good idea but not critical unless you're really putting a constant excess load on the engine/transmission.
Lexus114, do you have any evidence of these claims about the tranny fluid?
Jonas
10-06-16, 10:10 AM
#19
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