We have owned a 2014 Lexus ES 300h for 3 years and a 2002 Lexus SC430 for 3 years. Just bought a 2004 GX470. Never had a Lexus SUV before. Any advice on this model on how to maintain this model, what to watch out for, what to replace when, etc?

Thanks

Michael

 

I would asking this in the GX470 forums but the overall the GX is extremely reliable. Love my 14 GX460.

 

17 years of posts here on every square inch of the truck, should be able to find anything you might want to know....the list of engineering faults and positives are way too long to answer in one post....start with Maintanice schedule along with what records you already have. You can go to Lexus website and put in VIN for any services that were performed at a Toyota or Lexus dealership...

 

Given that many of these are now on their third or fourth owners, you'll likely find that some maintenance and repairs have been skipped. Start by replacing all the usual fluids:

Engine oil: Any commercial oil that meets the API standard printed on the fill cap. No need to pay extra for "high performance" or "high mileage" oil - the 2UZ-FE engine is very easy on oil. Change it every 5k miles, or more often if you tow. Use Toyota filters (beware of counterfeits sold online).
Coolant: Change every 3 years. Use only Toyota Long-Life coolant.
Brake fluid: Change every 3 years, or every 2 if you live near the ocean or Great Lakes. Use any good quality DOT-3 commercial brand.
4x4: Change front & rear differential gear lube every 30k miles. More often if you tow or ford rivers. Use any good quality commercial GL-5 80W-90 brand. For the transfer case you can use the same gear lube, but some people prefer a 75W-90 weight. Grease the zerk fittings on the prop shafts at the same time.
Transmission: Lexus sold most 470's with a "sealed for life" transmission (the 2003's had a dipstick). This is bogus. Do a drain + fill (NOT a flush) every 30k miles which will exchange about 1/4 to 1/3 of the fluid (more often if you tow). Use only Toyota WS brand. It's sensitive to the levels so replace with the EXACT amount you removed, at the temperature you did it. You can't see if there's any shavings on the magnet unless you drop the pan, which if you're doing that, change the internal filter too.
Power Steering: Change every 5-6 years if you feel like it. Use only Toyota power steering fluid, which is a Dexron III blend.

Chip H.

 

i've owned two gx, 04 and 09, so i have 17 years experience...changed oil once a year with amsoil oil and synthetic filters.....swapped out driveline fluids at about 50K and put in amsoil again, have done timing belts, water pumps and coolant change, drained trans and have done total flush....brake fluid gets changed with brake replacement, have never had a engine/drive train issue...i do not tow, the most expensive repair has been rear air springs and compressor.....180K on 04 before traded for a used 09 which now has 80K, we will all be doing electric before any gx470 dies.