So..been reviewing the warranty/maintenance schedule for my 09 GS (new to Lexus and want to pick up where the previous owner left off) and am reading that Lexus doesn't call for changing out transmission fluid??! Book says it's a sealed system with no dip stick and it only calls for periodic "checking for leakage". The book stops at 150k (maintenance schedule)...just curious if anyone has had issues with these 3gen tranny's and if anyone has actually serviced theirs. Can't say that I've heard of any transmission that didn't have a maintenance schedule.

 

I did the GS350 tranny fluid at around 80k. Got 12 quarts out and 12 new in. Kinda tricky, but if you take your time it is not any more difficult than changing motor oil. I got almost 3 quarts at a time and refilled with new until i saw the new fluid coming out. The top off procedure is the tricky part. There are write ups on here on how to do it. Do not just measure and put same amount back in. Use the top off procedure as this fluid expands under heat and needs to be done properly.

 

great info! thanks for your input sir

 

toyota here in california charges $179 for a drain and fill and 289 for the flush...

 

Use 2 people when you do the top off. jumper 4 and 13 pin on OBD. Start car and run through a series of shifts from P,R,N,D and back up. This moves the fluid. Then put in park. Then go to D and in 6 seconds move from D to N several times to put car in operating mode. When you see the D light steady on the cluster it is time to do the overflow procedure. You have about 2-3 minutes before the D light starts to blink, meaning above operating temp. I loosened the fill bolt and had a fresh quart ready and I also loosened the internal overflow tube to save time. I had someone sitting in the car to tell me when the D light started blinking. I finished before it did.

There are write-ups on the site if you use the advanced search function and narrow to 3GS

 

Lexus was not persuing perfection when they left the dipstick off.