And I've been driving cars for over 50 years without any tranny issues. Dodges, Ramblers, Fords, Mitsubishis, Hondas, and never an issue and never an auto trans fluid or filter change. I agree Maikerusan that this is pure hype and overkill. The only trans oil I ever changed was on my 1931 Ford with 800W oil. I'm doing what Lexus recommends and have faith that the car will run just fine... No trans fluid changes on my car...

 

Wishing you good luck.....

 

From what I've seen on the forums, you're the one that may need the luck. Changing your tranny fluid when it's not a recommended service, will void your transmission warranty. So, good luck!

 

X3... I drove a 1992 Corolla to 485,000 kms (aprox 300,000 miles) with no tranny problems and color was still quite pink when I sold the car. No sign of oxidation either. Same for my wife's 2000 Camry xle v6. It only has 150,000 kms (90,000 miles) no problems of any kind other than a wiring short.
I`m 73 now, retired and I don`t have to drive to earn a living anymore. Your not going to catch me wasting my time and MONEY changing oil in my new Lexus when its not required. Anybody with expired warranty are free to spend their money as they choose. I notice that Camlex`s refill kits are gathering dust.... Hmmmm

 

Thanks for your comments. I once knew the owner of a GM car dealership and even he admitted that tranny fluid changes were not required and were nothing but a cash grab....now if a GM guy can say that (considering the quality of some of their transmissions), it speaks volumes.

Do these posters suggesting constant tranny fluid changes on a Lexus really think that Lexus would deliberately sully their well earned reputation for quality...if the fluid changes really were needed, you would be darn sure they would build the cars that way with the ability to easily change the fluid and make it a recommended procedure...but they don't.

 

Perhaps I speak completely out of place here but do you think there is possibility that Lexus is pursuing a strategy that when the transmission goes out which most likely will occur after all powertrain warranty runs out 50% will buy a new lexus transmission and 50% will buy a new lexus?
i have changed the tr fluid 4 times on my 02 highlander and it has improved shifting hesitations...the truck is a 225k miles and shifts well

 

I think you are confusing Lexus and Chrysler.

Lexus is not in the business of shafting their clients by having failures occur outside of warranty. It goes against the whole ethos of the company and in fact of the Japanese system of manufacturing.

 

The 6 speed automatics run hotter (180-195 degrees vs 145-175) hence oxidize the transmission fluid faster than the 3 and 4 speed Toyota automatics of decades past, hence need more fluid changes in order to last as long. The 6 speeds also generate more wear debris (they require 4 magnets in the pan and a large paper element filter vs. 2 magnets and a coarser metal filter screen for the older 3 and 4 speeds). The fluid itself of the 6 speeds (WS fluid) is much thinner (lower viscosity) than the Dexron II, III and Type T-IV fluids used in the 3 and 4 speeds, hence probably does not prevent wear as well, which could, in part, explain why the 6 speeds need more magnets to trap steel gear wear debris and a larger, more efficient fluid filter to trap the non-magnetic wear debris.

 

So, again, if that is the case why does Lexus themselves say no fluid changes are needed?

 

Yes automatic transmissions on newer cars tend to run a bit hotter than decades past but the oil does not oxidize quicker. One of the reasons is that the newer ones run on WS fluid which is engineered to retard oxidation.Another reason is that you need oxygen to oxidize a fluid.These transmissions are sealed. No chance of much oxygen getting in there to cause oxidation. I would like to think that the engineers at Toyota Ford Chrysler and Gm to name a few who recommend Ws Fluid in their sealed transmissions did their homework. Lexus has been using this trans since 2007 I believe, and I haven't heard of a recall to replace it..WS fluid approved specs have been out since 2005.
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+ 1. The thought of Lexus deliberately planning obsolescence in a major component boggles the mind... Indeed not in the mindset of a Japanese company.

 

ES fluid change interval recommendations actually remained the same when the company adopted so called "sealed" (dipstickless) transmissions. Proof: the 2018 ES350 and 2003 ES300 maintenance guides BOTH specify "replace transmission fluid" at 60,000 miles if the car is operated under conditions that cause the fluid to heat up more than usual. The 2003 ES300 was dipstick equipped.

 

What about the CVT in the 300h?

 

But few of the drivers of Lexus cars on this forum would qualify under the "special conditions" such as police cars and taxis...

 

I just looked at the 2013 ES300h service intervals and all mileage just states to check for leaks only. No recommended changes.