DIY Transmission Fluid Change
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 630
Likes: 232
From: USA
About your IS (what year?), hitting 30K (ok?), got noisier (what and where), and you asked them to change fluid (what fluid), they said it would be at my cost (Were you expecting this under some kind of warranty?), you traded it soon after (ok?) => I can't connect the dot here
Pit Crew
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 237
Likes: 51
Yeah they won't change tran. fluid on our 2019+ ES even if you want to pay for it.
About your IS (what year?), hitting 30K (ok?), got noisier (what and where), and you asked them to change fluid (what fluid), they said it would be at my cost (Were you expecting this under some kind of warranty?), you traded it soon after (ok?) => I can't connect the dot here
About your IS (what year?), hitting 30K (ok?), got noisier (what and where), and you asked them to change fluid (what fluid), they said it would be at my cost (Were you expecting this under some kind of warranty?), you traded it soon after (ok?) => I can't connect the dot here
Last edited by jsmith; Sep 5, 2023 at 05:49 PM.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 19
Likes: 27
From: FL
Hey all, earlier in the year I picked up a 2019 Lexus ES 350 with around 60k to replace my wife's aging Pontiac. This was not our first ES as I have had a 2010 ES 350 since 2015 and it has been a phenomenal car. I have done all my own maintenance and repairs on my 2010 in the past but with this new car having a warranty I figured I would have the dealership service it so they could find potential issues that are covered by the warranty. Since the car has around 60k I told them to flush the transmission fluid but after hearing what they charge ($500) there was no way in hell I was going to let them change it when I could do it for a quarter of the price.
Is the process for changing the fluid more or less the same from the earlier models? Can I use Toyota WS ATF like I have in the past? I haven't had much luck finding a write up or instructional video with the 7th Gen ES so I figured not much has changed from the previous models. Either way here is the process I have used in the past to change my fluid:
Is the process for changing the fluid more or less the same from the earlier models? Can I use Toyota WS ATF like I have in the past? I haven't had much luck finding a write up or instructional video with the 7th Gen ES so I figured not much has changed from the previous models. Either way here is the process I have used in the past to change my fluid:
- Take out transmission drain plug
- Take out the fill level straw
- Let fluid drain as much as it can, measure amount of fluid that was drained
- Put fill level straw back in hand tight
- Snug Drain plug, not torqued
- Fill transmission with the same amount you took out + half a quart extra
- Start car and cycle through the gears
- Let transmission fluid warm up until it gets to 104°F - 112°F
- Once the fluid hits the right temperature pull the drain plug and let the extra fluid run out
- Once fluid starts dribbling and not streaming put the plug back on and torque it to spec
Thanks!
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
From: IA
Pit Crew
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 103
Likes: 23
It's funny how different (local) Lexus dealership's recommend services, Wonder why?
There are 2 Lexus dealerships close to where i live, one of the dealerships do not recommend doing anything for transmission fluid ("lifetime"), where other one recommends doing this every 96k km's.
The one that do not recommend doing this can do it, but, the price is $330+ tax (Canada).
The one that recommends doing it, their price is: $193+tax (Canada).
My vehicle is 2021 Lexus ES250, that i purchased recently, currently at 64k km , this is something i will do on the next engine oil change as well (in 3k km).
There are 2 Lexus dealerships close to where i live, one of the dealerships do not recommend doing anything for transmission fluid ("lifetime"), where other one recommends doing this every 96k km's.
The one that do not recommend doing this can do it, but, the price is $330+ tax (Canada).
The one that recommends doing it, their price is: $193+tax (Canada).
My vehicle is 2021 Lexus ES250, that i purchased recently, currently at 64k km , this is something i will do on the next engine oil change as well (in 3k km).
Last edited by MrGUD; Feb 1, 2025 at 08:40 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 732
Likes: 294
From: MA
I wonder what would a reputable transmission specialty shop charge. It's not the $$ I would care about, its more whether the dealer does it right.
I've had poor experience with dealers (severely misdiagnosed several allegedly severe problems, failed to perform proper brake flush procedure) and these were different dealers.
Bottom line, just because it's a dealer doesn't mean it's going to be performed correctly and the independents have a brighter spotlight on their reputation.
I've had poor experience with dealers (severely misdiagnosed several allegedly severe problems, failed to perform proper brake flush procedure) and these were different dealers.
Bottom line, just because it's a dealer doesn't mean it's going to be performed correctly and the independents have a brighter spotlight on their reputation.
Last edited by hotwings; Feb 1, 2025 at 12:15 PM. Reason: clarifications
Pit Crew
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 103
Likes: 23
I wonder what would a reputable transmission specialty shop charge. It's not the $$ I would care about, its more whether the dealer does it right.
I've had poor experience with dealers (severely misdiagnosed several allegedly severe problems, failed to perform proper brake flush procedure) and these were different dealers.
Bottom line, just because it's a dealer doesn't mean it's going to be performed correctly and the independents have a brighter spotlight on their reputation.
I've had poor experience with dealers (severely misdiagnosed several allegedly severe problems, failed to perform proper brake flush procedure) and these were different dealers.
Bottom line, just because it's a dealer doesn't mean it's going to be performed correctly and the independents have a brighter spotlight on their reputation.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 732
Likes: 294
From: MA
Many would agree with you but I have made the mistake of going down that path "dealer knows best" and regretted it.
My worst repair/maintenance experiences have been with Toyota and Honda dealers. I never had a noteworthy bad experience with an independent and I usually use them.
I have no experience with Lexus dealers other than courtesy maintenance.
if it was me, I'd familiarize myself with the tranny fluid replacement procedure and ask the service manager exactly how they perform it.
In my case I actually did query the service manager "how do you perform the brake flush" .
When I got the car back, I caught them red handed and the technician did not perform it properly,
I fully expect to be "chastised" by those who swear by their almighty dealers.
Sorry I just still have a bad taste in my mouth.
My worst repair/maintenance experiences have been with Toyota and Honda dealers. I never had a noteworthy bad experience with an independent and I usually use them.
I have no experience with Lexus dealers other than courtesy maintenance.
if it was me, I'd familiarize myself with the tranny fluid replacement procedure and ask the service manager exactly how they perform it.
In my case I actually did query the service manager "how do you perform the brake flush" .
When I got the car back, I caught them red handed and the technician did not perform it properly,
I fully expect to be "chastised" by those who swear by their almighty dealers.
Sorry I just still have a bad taste in my mouth.
Last edited by hotwings; Feb 1, 2025 at 12:41 PM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
lderidder
ES - 1st to 6th Gen (1990-2018)
27
Dec 23, 2023 12:16 AM
swaangin
IS - 3rd Gen (2014-present)
44
Mar 10, 2021 10:11 PM
konradl
LS - 4th Gen (2007-2017)
65
May 16, 2016 11:23 AM
