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Even in the maintenance schedule, they talk abou changing the fluid of you tow anything. I don’t think maintaining your car ever effects the warranty. The way that Toyota/Lexus build cars, I’m sure they don’t get many warranty claims anyway. I have a 2004 Camry with 157,000 miles, and haven’t had any major problems with...I’m hoping my Lexus follows suite!
Well as I stated, I got out almost 4 quarts. After buttoning up everything, I added 4 quarts of new fluid. I started the car and shifted through the gears several times. I kept checking the temperature of the transmission pan in several locations with my infra red thermometer. When the temperature reached 108 degrees ( I averaged the 104-111 degree target temperature) I opened the drain plug. Fluid flowed out and I verified the temperature of the fluid coming out with a Taylor instant read thermometer in the fluid stream. The fluid then slowed to a trickle, and I reinstalled the drain plug. I measured the fluid that came out and it was a little more than a half quart. Total fluid came out was equal to new fluid going in. I took it out for a test drive and shifted through the gears. She shifted buttery smooth, but to be fair...she did before the fluid change. With 50,000 miles on the car now, I’ll probably do it again at 75,000, then 100,000. That way, most of the original fluid will all be replaced.
So I've been planning to do this too. In spite of the keep old fluid in thoughts.
Here my question? I've thought about Not doing the temp measure. And just draining out warm fluid, dropping the pan and cleaning the magnets. By just measuring the exact amount of fluid drained out, and replacing with the same amount going back in. Wouldn't that work simpler?
The maintenance schedule for the 2017 ES shows the same thing as what Megapea posted for 72 months or 60,000 miles.
"Driving on dirt roads or on dusty roads:
❑Tighten nuts and bolts on chassisExtensive idling and/or low-speed driving for long distances, such as police, taxi ordoor-to-door delivery use:
❑Replace automatic transmission fluid"
I put the front of the car up on jack stands. Then I lifted the back with my floor jack. I put a level on the subframe. The car was completely level, so I used that as the pan fluid level.
Last edited by Megapea; 10-26-18 at 02:56 PM.
Reason: Adding pic
Well as I stated, I got out almost 4 quarts. After buttoning up everything, I added 4 quarts of new fluid.
Don’t listen to these guys who think they don’t have to change the fluid. I spoke to a top level Toyota mechanic and he said he changes the transmission oil on his own Highlander (which also claims is a “lifetime fluid”) every 60k miles. I also know a guy who had a Sienna who never changed his transmission fluid and his tranny went out at 150k miles.
Question: how did you remove 4 quarts? And when you inspected your transmission filter what did you observe? You changed your filter too? How long you think it is good for?
I also observed metallic bits in the oil; quite a bit. Also after I partially changed the oil, I felt a significant noticeable difference/improvement telling me that the oil def wears down.
What I did was: drain the trans oil from the drain plug which removed about 1.5 quarts. Then I filled about 2 quarts and pulled the plug at the specified temperature range. I checked the temperature using Toyota Tech Stream software. (You can get on EBay btw.)
For anyone doing it, I stress the importance of leveling your car. I wasn’t so critical at first and you notice differences in how it shifts even with 150-200ml differences. I’ve done this a bunch of times already.
Hello just wanted to let you guys know that I have used valvoline maxlife atf in place of toyota WS fluid in my Gx470 /4runner tranny for 40k miles with no complaints, approaching 180k now. It's a great synthetic fluid and is cheaper by the gallon. The lifetime WS fluid claim is a crack of 😜. The oil level check done @ correct temp is crucial to get correct shifting behavior after drain and fill. Personally prefer pulling return line of radiator and draining and refilling a couple of gallons until it comes out bright red than overfill by a half quart warm up and check /add/drain to correct level
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Luke
Hello just wanted to let you guys .. Personally prefer pulling return line of radiator and draining and refilling a couple of gallons until it comes out bright red than overfill by a half quart warm up and check /add/drain to correct level
~
Luke
Hey Luke can you describe how to change fluid using the return line?
10-24-18, 05:30 PM
