DiabloX22

So the weather finally broke here in Chicago, we are going from 60 degrees 1 day to below 30's the next! Anyway was doing a fluid/mint check. My trans mission fluid dipstick (sorry to the guys that dont have 1! JK!) The fluid was VERY low! I went and got 3 qts figuring I would have a extra just incase.
So 1st check (all done after hitting operating temp, drove for 15 min and on a level surface) It was barely on the dipstick way below "cold"
added 1 quart after waiting about 10min after every quarter of a quart and was in the middle of cold and hot.
So I added another quart again 1/4 at a time about 10 to 15 intervals and checking the dipstick 2x this time it was just below the dent of HOT so I added about a 1/8 of a quart very slowly and using the lines on the bottle where you can see the fluid. Did another drive and it was below the HOT dent so I figured it was in the safe zone just below the dent.
Today I wanted to do a final check. Let it warm up to operating temp, drove 15 min, same level surface AND NOW it is about a little over a eighth of a inch ABOVE the HOT dent! Then I noticed a line above the HOT dent. So is that still the safe zone or is the dent the final measuring area? I looked in the manual which says nothing about the dipstick and the fluid does not need to be changed it is "lifetime" which is a whole other thread as to the definition of "lifetime" IMO. So I looked in the owners supplement that came with the vehicle and it says to replace the fluid EVERY 15,000 miles!!!! To me that seems to be extreme, I can see every 30k but that seems to be excess to me also! Back to the correct level, is it at the dent to the HOT or the line above it???? I am letting it cool down as I am typing this but why the fluctuation in levels??? After a 15 drive am I supposed to let it idle for some time? Does anyone have info on the dipstick reading? I know too much is not good either is low. This is driving me nuts! Do I drain a little out so its at the dent at HOT? Or is a little above ok? Why it was so low is probably another thread also, I looked under it and did not see any leaks.

IanB2

To check the trans fluid with a dipstick, you should have a hot engine from a decent drive to bring the trans up to temp as well, parked on a flat surface, keep the engine running (didn't see you mention this), slowly row through all the gears with the shifter, and check the fluid in either P or N positions.

DiabloX22

Ianb, thanks for the reply. I did check it with the engine running, I did not cycle the gears after driving it, I did it before. The indicator lettering seems to have a line after the last dent but before HOT its probably has some build up on it or stained from sitting in trans fluid since 03. I wish Lexus would have some info out there, like a pic in the owners manual or I might buy a new 1. I thought maybe another 03 w/dipstick owner would pop up and give me some info where it should be. Or maybe in the repair manual.

IanB2

I'm not sure what the dipstick looks like as mine's an '04, but you should have a cold line and a hot line, that's all you need to get the level right. These transmissions are picky about fluid level, so make sure you get it right.