About to go in for 60K Service...
#1
About to go in for 60K Service...
Hey everyone! I'm very new to the long-term maintenance schedule for our cars so I'm just making a checklist of what is going to be done for 60k. Let me know if something you think is unnecessary or unneeded or more importantly if I'm missing something.
Necessities
Change oil: 7quarts of 5W-30 Royal Purple High Performance Street motor oil. I tried their regular one and very pleased with the results. Car felt like it had more torque. Got the oil drain plug gasket as well as the oil filter.
Change brake fluid: How many bottles should I buy? 2,3, more?
Change/Clean air intake filter: Got F-sport intake so I'm just going to smack the dust out of it.
Change in-cabin filter: I've had good results with the carbon impregnated cabin filter, will change out for the same one. If you have that moldy smell from the AC, I HIGHLY suggest you get this.
Change spark plugs: 6 spark plugs from Sewell. $10.95 each compared to $17.80 what my local dealer wants. $40+ difference!
Extra:
Fuel Injection Cleaning: Thinking of dropping a bottle of BG 44K into the next tank of gas and seeing what difference that makes. Anyone have any experience with BG 44k or BG Fuel Injection System Cleaner(how much do I use for this one?)
Transmission flush???: Now I hear many varying opinions on this one. Some say 60k, 90k, I've even heard of never changing it as the fluid is "lifetime". Opinions?
Replace rear differential oil: Again, I'm not sure how often people are saying to replace this oil.
Seafoam: Would you recommend? And is it DIY?
Thanks guys, look forward to hearing all your inputs! Hopefully everyone can learn something new about our cars.
Necessities
Change oil: 7quarts of 5W-30 Royal Purple High Performance Street motor oil. I tried their regular one and very pleased with the results. Car felt like it had more torque. Got the oil drain plug gasket as well as the oil filter.
Change brake fluid: How many bottles should I buy? 2,3, more?
Change/Clean air intake filter: Got F-sport intake so I'm just going to smack the dust out of it.
Change in-cabin filter: I've had good results with the carbon impregnated cabin filter, will change out for the same one. If you have that moldy smell from the AC, I HIGHLY suggest you get this.
Change spark plugs: 6 spark plugs from Sewell. $10.95 each compared to $17.80 what my local dealer wants. $40+ difference!
Extra:
Fuel Injection Cleaning: Thinking of dropping a bottle of BG 44K into the next tank of gas and seeing what difference that makes. Anyone have any experience with BG 44k or BG Fuel Injection System Cleaner(how much do I use for this one?)
Transmission flush???: Now I hear many varying opinions on this one. Some say 60k, 90k, I've even heard of never changing it as the fluid is "lifetime". Opinions?
Replace rear differential oil: Again, I'm not sure how often people are saying to replace this oil.
Seafoam: Would you recommend? And is it DIY?
Thanks guys, look forward to hearing all your inputs! Hopefully everyone can learn something new about our cars.
Last edited by Mesca; 10-10-12 at 08:36 PM.
#2
BG 44K gets the thumbs up from me - drive as gently as you can to let the additive remain in the tank for as long as possible, and remember to refill the tank when it gets down to around 1/3 left.
Seafoam has its followers too, but never tried it, and seen nothing that demonstrates it does as effective a job as BG's products do.
Diff oil is 1.1L and should be in your manual as to how often it's suggested to be replaced. For us here in the UK/EU, it's 20K or 24 months, and can't see it being any different for US owners - it's only really your engine oil that you still fall out of step with the rest of the world on.
Transmission flush is always going to be a contentious one, but there's at least a one member here whom I advised to have theirs changed before worrying about having to pay big money out.
Iirc, it fixed their issue, and on advice from a transmission specialist company of 35 years experience, they suggest every 40K for changing the oil.
Presumably yours has never been changed, so consider doing it and then it won't need touched until 100K along with the coolant.
Everything else will be as per the 20K/2 year major service interval.
Seafoam has its followers too, but never tried it, and seen nothing that demonstrates it does as effective a job as BG's products do.
Diff oil is 1.1L and should be in your manual as to how often it's suggested to be replaced. For us here in the UK/EU, it's 20K or 24 months, and can't see it being any different for US owners - it's only really your engine oil that you still fall out of step with the rest of the world on.
Transmission flush is always going to be a contentious one, but there's at least a one member here whom I advised to have theirs changed before worrying about having to pay big money out.
Iirc, it fixed their issue, and on advice from a transmission specialist company of 35 years experience, they suggest every 40K for changing the oil.
Presumably yours has never been changed, so consider doing it and then it won't need touched until 100K along with the coolant.
Everything else will be as per the 20K/2 year major service interval.
#4
BG 44K gets the thumbs up from me - drive as gently as you can to let the additive remain in the tank for as long as possible, and remember to refill the tank when it gets down to around 1/3 left.
Diff oil is 1.1L and should be in your manual as to how often it's suggested to be replaced. For us here in the UK/EU, it's 20K or 24 months, and can't see it being any different for US owners - it's only really your engine oil that you still fall out of step with the rest of the world on.
Transmission flush is always going to be a contentious one, but there's at least a one member here whom I advised to have theirs changed before worrying about having to pay big money out.
Diff oil is 1.1L and should be in your manual as to how often it's suggested to be replaced. For us here in the UK/EU, it's 20K or 24 months, and can't see it being any different for US owners - it's only really your engine oil that you still fall out of step with the rest of the world on.
Transmission flush is always going to be a contentious one, but there's at least a one member here whom I advised to have theirs changed before worrying about having to pay big money out.
Thanks!
#6
Sorry, but the rear diff oil is serviceable every 24 months or 20K miles, for UK/EU ones.
I cannot see how the NA versions are not the same service interval.
Transmission oil exchange is always going to be a bone of contention due to many people believing the manufacturers' claims that the oil is lifetime oil.
But ask yourself this - lifetime of what? The transmission or the oil?
In other words, without a commitment to exact or typical mileages, the life of the oil in my book is only that of the original warranty or any specific extension stated beyond that.
So for us in the UK/EU, that's 3 years or 90K miles, whichever comes first.
After that, an approved used car warranty with a dealer sold vehicle, which has cost them a few hundred to purchase from Lexus, is the only extension, and even then, it's been paid for rather than gratis.
As part of each major service (20K/24 months) transmission visual inspection is performed - I imagine this is x ml drained , checked for colour, and the same amount added back.
If you're convinced the oil is going to remain as effective at 125K as it was at 12.5K for instance, then ask whomever is servicing your car to drain some out, and show it to you.
If it's still as red as the day it was put in, then you need no further convincing that Lexus have it right.
If it's as black as your boots, to coin a phrase, then you'll need no further convincing that all oils do have a lifespan, and yours is past it.
Not to suggest this will happen if the rear diff oil is left untouched, but......http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/for...howtopic=79128
I cannot see how the NA versions are not the same service interval.
Transmission oil exchange is always going to be a bone of contention due to many people believing the manufacturers' claims that the oil is lifetime oil.
But ask yourself this - lifetime of what? The transmission or the oil?
In other words, without a commitment to exact or typical mileages, the life of the oil in my book is only that of the original warranty or any specific extension stated beyond that.
So for us in the UK/EU, that's 3 years or 90K miles, whichever comes first.
After that, an approved used car warranty with a dealer sold vehicle, which has cost them a few hundred to purchase from Lexus, is the only extension, and even then, it's been paid for rather than gratis.
As part of each major service (20K/24 months) transmission visual inspection is performed - I imagine this is x ml drained , checked for colour, and the same amount added back.
If you're convinced the oil is going to remain as effective at 125K as it was at 12.5K for instance, then ask whomever is servicing your car to drain some out, and show it to you.
If it's still as red as the day it was put in, then you need no further convincing that Lexus have it right.
If it's as black as your boots, to coin a phrase, then you'll need no further convincing that all oils do have a lifespan, and yours is past it.
Not to suggest this will happen if the rear diff oil is left untouched, but......http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/for...howtopic=79128
#7
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (5)
^ My friend had an LS400 1996, which by the book required transmission oil change i think every 60k miles. His odo was showing 227k miles, when we checked the dip stick it was red as brand new oil. He has the car for over 10 years and personally drove 170k miles never replaced or serviced the transmission. If transmission is not being abused, or overheated it should still have the same color. The reason engine oil turns darker (black)
Oil turns back due to the cleaning agents in modern quality oil. Generally the newer oils clean your engine and pick up little bits of sludge, dirt, garbage, etc and it contaminates the oil. This is why you run your engine for 5-10 mins before doing a oil change so your oil can pick up junk and it drains right out! Also, as oil breaks down it normally turns a darker color. Transmission on the other hand does not have fuel in it, so there is no reason it should be getting darker unless there is a problem. Again not all of the oil is the same in every car, but particually in a lexus it is not required. Lifetime means LIFETIME of a vehicle. That statement means, basically your car will rust or fall apart before you will change the transmission oil. #1 one killer for any metal or fluid is HEAT, generally thats why all of the transmission start slipping and die.
I will also add, if this was not recommended or bad for the car, would lexus have people not replace it so then the "reliability" trust that lexus toyota achieved would drop big time. Its not a great business decision to think about todays income vs long term income. The only reason I got a lexus because every good mechanic will suggest a lexus. Its very reliable with fewer maintenance required. But then again its different for everyone, OP if its gonna make you sleep better at night and have more confidence in your lexus, by all means go ahead and do it.
Oil turns back due to the cleaning agents in modern quality oil. Generally the newer oils clean your engine and pick up little bits of sludge, dirt, garbage, etc and it contaminates the oil. This is why you run your engine for 5-10 mins before doing a oil change so your oil can pick up junk and it drains right out! Also, as oil breaks down it normally turns a darker color. Transmission on the other hand does not have fuel in it, so there is no reason it should be getting darker unless there is a problem. Again not all of the oil is the same in every car, but particually in a lexus it is not required. Lifetime means LIFETIME of a vehicle. That statement means, basically your car will rust or fall apart before you will change the transmission oil. #1 one killer for any metal or fluid is HEAT, generally thats why all of the transmission start slipping and die.
I will also add, if this was not recommended or bad for the car, would lexus have people not replace it so then the "reliability" trust that lexus toyota achieved would drop big time. Its not a great business decision to think about todays income vs long term income. The only reason I got a lexus because every good mechanic will suggest a lexus. Its very reliable with fewer maintenance required. But then again its different for everyone, OP if its gonna make you sleep better at night and have more confidence in your lexus, by all means go ahead and do it.
Last edited by GS350Lexus; 10-13-12 at 07:57 PM.
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