Respect your tools; service the fluids as they are the lifeblood of your vehicle!

 

Agree! Service the fluids as the carmaker's engineers recommend, because those are the professionals that unquestionably know what is best for your vehicle - advice derived explicitly from phenomenal and extensive testing!

Those fluid service recommendations include engine lubrication, transmission fluid, brake fluid and coolant!


Let's explore some Toyota/Lexus phenomenal, extensive testing protocols!


► How about running engines from idle to redline 200,000 times - an equivalent of 50,000 full throttle runs up a freeway on-ramp.

► How about 180 straight hours of full throttle (WOT) operation to test crankshafts, bearings, connector rods, pistons, valves and camshafts.

► Let's not forget the lubrication and the servicing schedule recommended by these elite, professional engineers that oversee all this testing and make our Toyota/Lexus vehicles reliable!



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Let's look into the fluid we refer to as engine oil lubrication.

Exxon Mobil engineers wanted to test the performance and overall wear protection of Mobil 1 motor oil on a common sedan, they chose one of the most popular models around, a 2015 Toyota Camry, one of the best-selling cars in America.

All of the testing for 'The 500,000-Mile Challenge' took place at the ExxonMobil Research and Engineering facility in New Jersey. The Camry was run at highway speeds for 12 months, and oil changes were performed every 10,000 miles with Mobil 1 motor oil. Engine performance was monitored from mile one to mile 500,000.

After operating for 500,000 miles, the Camry’s engine was carefully removed, disassembled and studied. ExxonMobil engineers Nikki Brown and Ben Eirich visually examined the internal components, focusing on determining the level of wear and deposits. Few signs were found.

High mileage engines sometimes experience oil consumption, but the Camry’s engine didn’t burn any oil throughout the entire test. And many of the parts from the Camry’s engine still met manufacturer tolerances for brand new parts, proving the advanced wear protection of Mobil 1 motor oil.

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering team:



If Toyota/Lexus and ExxonMobil can determine that 50 oil changes over ½ million miles at 10,000 mile intervals results in few signs of wear and no oil burning I think that will likely exceed the mileage that 99.999% of all Toyota/Lexus owners worldwide will drive a single vehicle! I certainly don't foresee anyone here putting 500,000 miles on their Lexus!

Despite some forum enthusiasts rejecting Toyota/Lexus professional's service schedule recommendations, the vast majority of people acknowledge that the Toyota/Lexus engineering and test professionals are far better prepared with proof of facts to know what is best - compared to what some forum enthusiasts might otherwise suggest.

 

It's your vehicle. Do what you think is best. I personally change all my fluids because they do break down. I am also harder on my vehicle and live in both and cold and hot environments. I see a lot of talk about engine wear, xxx miles, etc, but you mentioned the suggested differential fluids. There isn't anything that is "lifetime" for fluids.

Take a look at the drain plug.

Reddit

 

Since each owner drives their vehicle differently and in various environments, there is no one size fits all approach to servicing or no servicing required. The only way to be completely sure and get accurate information for your vehicle is to conduct oil analysis at regular intervals.

The suggestions from internet forums are well-intentioned and can be used as a general guide. The results of the oil analysis will provide you with accurate information, allowing you to make an informed decision about whether or not your driving conditions require servicing.

Its pretty common to do routine oil analysis on heavy duty machinery especially in mining industry that I deal with as part of my day job, and standard practise in routine aircraft maintenance, defence industries etc.

 

Blackstone Labs Says Lifetime ATF Is Real

Blackstone Labs says for non-high-temperature usages, just look out for ATF leaks and let the fluid go lifetime.

Transmission oils are mainly used as a hydraulic fluid to shift the gears though an ingenious invention called the valve body. This is like a circuit board that uses oil rather than electricity, and apparently the cleanliness of the oil doesn't much affect its operation. Sure the oil also lubricates the gears, but as far as an oil's jobs go, that's one of the easiest things for it to do. The oil really doesn't even have to be very clean to do that job well. So if the cleanliness of the oil isn't that critical, then lifetime transmission oils start to make sense.

It has been our experience that what kills most transmissions is heat. If the oil gets too hot it actually loses its viscosity and is no longer able to lubricate properly, which in turn causes more heat and eventually a total failure. What's the number-one cause of the oil becoming too hot? Oil volume lost due to a leak. With less oil circulating through the system, the remaining oil is stretched thinner (so to speak) and gets hot faster. It’s a vicious cycle, one to avoid if possible.

So in closing, if you have a “lifetime transmission oil,” rest easy — there is probably no need to worry about changing it. You'll likely get sick of looking at the vehicle before the tranny dies. However, if you notice your transmission starting to leak oil, that's the time you'll want to have it fixed because its lifetime will quickly expire if you don't. Just be sure they put the right oil back in! "

Blackstone Laboratories, Inc. 2019


Reference: This Ain’t Your Daddy’s ATF

 

Sound decision to never change the transmission fluid per Blackstone Laboratories' recommendation - and of course nothing atypical happened in 24 years.


It's interesting to note that the 24-year-old car is just one year away from being classified as an antique here in the U.S., qualifying it for a special license plate stating it is an Antique Auto!




And in the UK some 15-year-old cars qualify as a Classic with a special plate!

 

@bclexus Might as well be objective if you want to keep going on with your thoughts. I just don't understand why you try sooo hard You even mention that those that have their own opinion "Bottom line - do what you please and what makes you feel good and makes you happy." . I am not bothered, but amused by it all really.

The original heated debate over "lifetime".

OP will make an informed decision and it should be just that.

 

This thread is about 'Fluid Replacement' - not necessarily about 'lifetime' anything unless you want to make it that.

I'm sharing information from recognized, qualified and highly regarded experts at Toyota/Lexus, ExxonMobil and Blackstone Laboratories. Each of these sources provides superior information compared to Internet enthusiasts in my opinion! Besides, the information these experts provide should help others to make 'informed' decisions.

I tend to prefer solid facts from professionals over open-minded opinions from non-experts...or from propaganda advertising to sell a company's branded products.

 

 

It should be apparent to reasonably intelligent people able to understand simple logic, that this Aisin ATF advertisement is an example of purely deceptive propaganda advertising in an effort that began in 2021 to sell their own Aisin Aftermarket Branded Products.

Aisin put out a Press Release announcing its 'new' business division - Aftermarket Product Branding, Logo and Packaging on September 23, 2021.

Someone at Aisin associated with the new global corporate brand identity; AISIN Aftermarket (Americas) division - came up with some crafty deceptive advertising to promote its newly branded ATF.

Who is this (singular) 'Specialist recommends' in the advertisement?
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Maintenance Reminder. Second row last to right.

 

Those are just standard maintenance reminders common from years ago that some carmakers still provide on newer vehicles for customer convenience... It doesn't mean any of the reminders are actually needed unless it is recommended by the carmaker in the Owners Manual...

 

Thiugh. The same engine, trans, and fluid in the 3rd Gen Gs Lexus said change the trans fluid.

 

Nope!

Allow me to provide an absolute undisputed proof-of-fact about this matter straight from Lexus.

The official Lexus Manual in TIS (Technical Information System) for the 3rd Gen GS states the following:

'Periodic checks and replacement of the transmission fluid are not required.'

Here is the Lexus TIS Explanation of Maintenance Items - with specific attention to Transmission Fluid - for the 3rd Gen Lexus GS.

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