Hello All,

I am draining the trans fluid from my 01 GS430 and ran into a problem/question. I thought I was supposed to get 2 quarts to drain out. That is what I got out of my 98 GS400 when I changed trans fluid. Well, the GS430 appears to have drained about 4 quarts out and it is still dripping.

Is this normal for a 430 or is it possible the trans was overfilled? I don't want to burn up the trans. The front of the car is jacked up ....just like the 400 was.


Please advise as I don't want to overfill or underfill. I now wish I had looked more closely at the level on the dipstick prior to changing.

Thanks..

Neil

 

From what I recall, it is around 4 qts

fill with 2 1/2 -3 qts and check level ..add accordingly

 

Typically you should fill the same amount that you drained. While filling you can add 2qts and start checking the fluid level.

Cold is ok to check but final level check should be done with transmission hot.

Process to check level.

1. Park at level surface.
2. Engage auxiallary brakes.
3. Run engine.
4. Press and hold brake till the gear is lever is in park at end of process.
5. Rove the gear shift through all positions. Stop at each position for 15 secs or so.
6. Brinng it back to park.
7. with the engine running (trans in park), check the fluid level.

 

Thanks for the replies.

I actually drained 3 quarts, 19ozs from my tranny.

I bought the car used and it was a CPO back in 5/03 with 26K. The 30K service was done 5/04 33K. I am assuming that Lexus changed all fluids at the 30K service. I bought the car in 11/05 with 54K. I checked the trans fluid and found the level OK but I do not remeber exactly where it was on the dipstick.

Now when I saw the drain pan filing much higher than 2 qts, I became concerned that someone overfilled the trans. I checked the owners manual and it calls for 1.9 qts for drain and refill but doesn't t cover how to check the trans fluid level - I wanted to verify that it is checked with the engine running and hot.

I started out adding 2 qts,, 2.5 and now have added 3 qts. I drove the car 3 miles and checked the level while the car was running. It is low.

Before I add anymore fluid, I'd like to make sure that I don't have the wrong dipstick stuck in my car or anything like that. TLW, what kind and year is your GS? Anyone else drain and refill close to 4 qts of trans fluid on their GS430?

I swear my 98 GS400 only drained 2.

So far, I have added 5.75 qts of Mobil 1 Synthertic motor oil (first oil change since I bought it). The owners manaul states 5.5 qts with a filter change. Why can't Lexus get their capacities right in the owners manual.

How much oil does it take to fill your GS430s? I remember seeing a thread on that but my search came up empty.


Thanks...


Neil

 

I have a GS 300. Owners manual says 2 qts, but it requires 3.25 quarts to bring it up to the correct level on the dipstick. I think that Lexus screwed up on this one.

 

I guess I can't use the owners manual as the gospel, hell, not even as a reference.

So far, I have added almost 6 quarts of motor oil and 3 qts 19oz of trans fluid to refill what I drained (thank god I dumped the old trans fluid into a see through mile jug to determine quantity). I am less than pleased about running more fliuds than the owners manual states but I guess I have no choice but to believe the dipsticks.

I guess some of you are in the same boat?

I am going to call Lexus customer service tomorrow. I called them about my GS400's oil capacity being more than their stated 5.5 qts. They did nothing and never called me back. The 430 deviates from their stated capacties even more.

What happens to the non-car types who get their fluids changed at a gas station or jiffy lube who just refill with capacities stated in the onwers manual and drive down the road? In my case, I'd almost be .5 qts low on motor oil and almost 2 qts low on trans fluid. Nice.

Ford used stickers on the door jams when oil capacity deviated from what was in the owners manual. They did it on my 98 Cobra. If Ford can do it, why not Lexus?


Thoughts?

Neil

 

I forgot to say that 3qts 19ozz of trans fluid brought the fluid level to the H in Hot. Since the owners manual doesn't show you how to check the trans fluid level and what the 3 notches in the dipstick represent, I guess I'll leave the level alone unless soneone can provide insight.

Thanks...

Neil

 

Is my car wierd or what?


Neil

 

My car took 6 quarts of Amsoil motor oil to fill it, not 5.5 quarts.