2008 Lexus ES350 Transmission Fluid Flush
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26,094
Likes: 4,347
From: Alberta
The only thing I noticed when I got home was what appears to be a belt that is squealing. I'm thinking maybe one of the belts got some oil on it from when they changed the power steering pump. I will give it a few days and see if it goes away on its own, if not back to the shop it goes.
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Driver
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 55
Likes: 22
From: Alberta
So, I took my ES back to the shop yesterday and they said the belt had small cracks on it and they recommended replacing it. They admitted that they should've replaced it when replacing the power steering pump anyway, so they only charged me for the part this time. Car drives great now, no more crickets chirping for me.
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Driver
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 55
Likes: 22
From: Alberta
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 996
Likes: 292
From: NJ
it depends how long fluid was not changed. My father has over 200k miles on his avalon and fluid was never changed, car is 18 year old, and transmission works fine, there is no reason for him to change it now and hope transmission does not crap out. The car is old and its not needed at this point
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 55
Likes: 22
From: Alberta
Its not that simple, even with so called “safe flush” you remove more old fluid (about 5qts). If transmission has not been changed for a very long time, it might have some form of sludge, and fresh fluid could dislodge it and clog pathways. Drain and fill removed only 3qt, so it might be less aggressive. More paranoid people will drain 3qt, drive 1-2k miles and drain again.
it depends how long fluid was not changed. My father has over 200k miles on his avalon and fluid was never changed, car is 18 year old, and transmission works fine, there is no reason for him to change it now and hope transmission does not crap out. The car is old and its not needed at this point
it depends how long fluid was not changed. My father has over 200k miles on his avalon and fluid was never changed, car is 18 year old, and transmission works fine, there is no reason for him to change it now and hope transmission does not crap out. The car is old and its not needed at this point
I don't know how much longer your father is planning to keep his Avalon, but if he wants to keep it longer, I'm confident he can prolong its life by having a fresh transmission fluid and not by having an old fluid that contibutes to the deteriartion of the transmission. Having said that, I do understand your fears, but I was just hoping my experience would clear your fears.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 996
Likes: 292
From: NJ
Its just your experience, you lucked out and transmission works fine when fluid is changed at high milage. You do understand that fresh fluid is detergent and can dislodge old junk that can block pathways? There is always this risk when fluid was never changed. There are stories when transmissions crap out right after fluid change on very old cars that had never had fluid changed.
Its a grey area of what that “high milage” is and largely depends on how car was used before (towing/city/highway). I am first owner on my ES350, I did so called flush at 90k miles, and will be doing drain and fill at 150k. But if acquired a car with over 200k miles and transmission fluid was never changed, I personally would not touch it.
if my fathers car transmission goes — he will buy another car, its too old anyway (rust) and does not have much value. Its 200k hard city miles over 18 years, not playing a game of lets change it and see if it still works.
Its a grey area of what that “high milage” is and largely depends on how car was used before (towing/city/highway). I am first owner on my ES350, I did so called flush at 90k miles, and will be doing drain and fill at 150k. But if acquired a car with over 200k miles and transmission fluid was never changed, I personally would not touch it.
if my fathers car transmission goes — he will buy another car, its too old anyway (rust) and does not have much value. Its 200k hard city miles over 18 years, not playing a game of lets change it and see if it still works.
Last edited by tolian21; Dec 1, 2023 at 04:32 AM.
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 2
From: Texas
Just wanted to get everyone's opinion (hopefully based on first-hand experience) on flushing the transmission fluid for the first time on a 5th gen ES with high mileage. I recently bought a used 2008 model with 270k kms (168k miles for our American folks) and my mechanic said the transmission fluid was quite dark and he recommended flushing it instead of the "drain and fill" which is what I asked him to do originally. The car was owned by an elderly snowbird who used it to travel back and forth between Alberta and Arizona (plus local driving). It shifts beautifully and I didn't notice any "transmission flare" that everyone here talks about for the 07/08 models. If someone has had their transmission fluid flushed for the first time in their high mileage ES, could you please share your experience after the flush? Did it make it smoother, or did you start to have transmission issues that you didn't have before? I'm just curious to know. Thanks everyone for contributing to this amazing forum.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 996
Likes: 292
From: NJ
I have a 2008 Lexus ES 350 with 190 k miles on it It had about 180 k when I flushed, changed fluid and filter. I ended up getting an transmission with low mileage (so they said). I'm driving it again. Changing fluid and filter on a High mileage car is sort of like rolling dice. You don't know the end result until you do it. Hope this helps you decide. I did a fluid change on 2 Honda's I had and it went beautifully. Good luck.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 590
Likes: 26
From: Indiana
There are so many things which will go wrong with your car and the Avalon before anything goes wrong with the transmission that it matters not whether you flush, drain, or do nothing at this age and mileage
Pit Crew
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 158
Likes: 39
From: Illinois
My 2010 ES350 has 240,960 miles on it, and it had never had the transmission fluid changed. I was going to do multiple 2-1/2 to 3 qt drain and fills, but today after getting set up I decided to go for broke and changed out 12 quarts using the method where you disconnect the return line at the radiator.
All went well and so far everything is okay after a 25 mile test drive. I will report back if any issues arise, as I know that a lot of people say not to use this method on high mile vehicles that have never had a transmission fluid change.
The old transmission fluid was as black as used engine oil, so it was well past due.
All went well and so far everything is okay after a 25 mile test drive. I will report back if any issues arise, as I know that a lot of people say not to use this method on high mile vehicles that have never had a transmission fluid change.
The old transmission fluid was as black as used engine oil, so it was well past due.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 55
Likes: 22
From: Alberta
My 2010 ES350 has 240,960 miles on it, and it had never had the transmission fluid changed. I was going to do multiple 2-1/2 to 3 qt drain and fills, but today after getting set up I decided to go for broke and changed out 12 quarts using the method where you disconnect the return line at the radiator.
All went well and so far everything is okay after a 25 mile test drive. I will report back if any issues arise, as I know that a lot of people say not to use this method on high mile vehicles that have never had a transmission fluid change.
The old transmission fluid was as black as used engine oil, so it was well past due.
All went well and so far everything is okay after a 25 mile test drive. I will report back if any issues arise, as I know that a lot of people say not to use this method on high mile vehicles that have never had a transmission fluid change.
The old transmission fluid was as black as used engine oil, so it was well past due.
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