Maintenance questions: transmission
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: NC
Maintenance questions: transmission
I recently bought a 2010 Lexus HS250H which 145,000 miles. Excellent maintenance records with 45 services and 90% at Lexus dealerships.
I never saw a service for transmission oil. I'm a bit concerned now. Does it have really dirty transmission oil now?
The car still shifts like a dream and I know there's a great debate about transmission oil and I know Scotty Kilmer and the Car Care Nut on YOUTUBE said if you have never changed the transmission oil don't change it now because you may have problems now. It still shifts smooth, so the questions are:
• I heard about Lexus 'lifetime transmission oil, but I never believed that entirely. I changed my wife's 4Runner religiously, but is it too late to change the transmission oil now and if anyone did after a high mileage did you have problems?
• Shouldn't Lexus seriously recommend changing the transmission oil every 30,000 miles?
• Lastly, I heard about these engine oil cleaners by ATS, and Liqui Moly - should I consider this and what are everyone's thoughts?
Thank you everyone!!!
I never saw a service for transmission oil. I'm a bit concerned now. Does it have really dirty transmission oil now?
The car still shifts like a dream and I know there's a great debate about transmission oil and I know Scotty Kilmer and the Car Care Nut on YOUTUBE said if you have never changed the transmission oil don't change it now because you may have problems now. It still shifts smooth, so the questions are:
• I heard about Lexus 'lifetime transmission oil, but I never believed that entirely. I changed my wife's 4Runner religiously, but is it too late to change the transmission oil now and if anyone did after a high mileage did you have problems?
• Shouldn't Lexus seriously recommend changing the transmission oil every 30,000 miles?
• Lastly, I heard about these engine oil cleaners by ATS, and Liqui Moly - should I consider this and what are everyone's thoughts?
Thank you everyone!!!
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,179
Likes: 1,721
From: VA
Toyota/Lexus hybrids do not use a normal transmission and none of the maintenance stuff you are worried about applies.
It has a Power Transfer Unit that has a single gear. There are no clutches or solenoids. The fluid is good for over 50,000 miles.
It moves power between the gas engine and the electric motor.
To change the fluid is a simple drain and fill that is as easy as changing motor oil. It holds about 4 quarts. Drain, then fill it up until the fill hole overflows then put the fill hole bolt in and you are done. Do not go to the dealer. Find a good independent Japanese car shop or hybrid specialist shop.
It takes Toyota WS ATF.
Do not waste money on engine oil cleaners. Just change it every 5000 and use synthetic oil. Put a bottle of Techron Fuel System Cleaner in once a year.
The good news is that there was a recall for the 2010 models to replace the transmission/power transfer unit. So you already have one with less miles on it than the car.
Use this link to check if and when they replaced it and see the dealer service history.
If you have the VIN you can go the the Lexus Drivers Site, join for free and after entering the VIN look up the dealer service history. https://support.lexus.com/s/article/...ew-my-ser-8226
I do this for all used Toyotas for Lexus
Join the Lexus Drivers Site (free) then enter the VIN of the vehicle you plan to maybe purchase and with a little hunting you can find the dealer service history. Be warned that the site is sometimes cranky about finding service histories.
https://www.lexus.com/My-Lexus
To see the service history at Lexus Drivers do the following:
On the page that lists the car whose VIN you entered there will be a line that states
Vehicle Health Report
Learn More - click this box
Then on the next page it will state
My Service
On the right side it will state Service History
View History - click this box to see the service history
The it will slowly take you to a page you need to scroll down to see the service history
Each entry will be a line, click on the + at the side to see more about each entry
It has a Power Transfer Unit that has a single gear. There are no clutches or solenoids. The fluid is good for over 50,000 miles.
It moves power between the gas engine and the electric motor.
To change the fluid is a simple drain and fill that is as easy as changing motor oil. It holds about 4 quarts. Drain, then fill it up until the fill hole overflows then put the fill hole bolt in and you are done. Do not go to the dealer. Find a good independent Japanese car shop or hybrid specialist shop.
It takes Toyota WS ATF.
Do not waste money on engine oil cleaners. Just change it every 5000 and use synthetic oil. Put a bottle of Techron Fuel System Cleaner in once a year.
The good news is that there was a recall for the 2010 models to replace the transmission/power transfer unit. So you already have one with less miles on it than the car.
Use this link to check if and when they replaced it and see the dealer service history.
If you have the VIN you can go the the Lexus Drivers Site, join for free and after entering the VIN look up the dealer service history. https://support.lexus.com/s/article/...ew-my-ser-8226
I do this for all used Toyotas for Lexus
Join the Lexus Drivers Site (free) then enter the VIN of the vehicle you plan to maybe purchase and with a little hunting you can find the dealer service history. Be warned that the site is sometimes cranky about finding service histories.
https://www.lexus.com/My-Lexus
To see the service history at Lexus Drivers do the following:
On the page that lists the car whose VIN you entered there will be a line that states
Vehicle Health Report
Learn More - click this box
Then on the next page it will state
My Service
On the right side it will state Service History
View History - click this box to see the service history
The it will slowly take you to a page you need to scroll down to see the service history
Each entry will be a line, click on the + at the side to see more about each entry
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: NC
Well I bit the bullet. The transmission oil was changed today at 145,000 miles.
I talked with my mechanic, and he said, as far as he knows, he's has not seen a transmission oil change that caused issues in a hybrid vehicle. Immediately my mpg went up and his recommendation was change your transmission oil every 60,000 miles. One bottle of Techron did wonders for my mpg too.
I talked with my mechanic, and he said, as far as he knows, he's has not seen a transmission oil change that caused issues in a hybrid vehicle. Immediately my mpg went up and his recommendation was change your transmission oil every 60,000 miles. One bottle of Techron did wonders for my mpg too.
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,179
Likes: 1,721
From: VA
Enter your VIN on this link to be positive it was not covered by the recall. This is a link to the NHTSA government recall site.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
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