Will do oil change, tire rotation, change of oil, engine, cabin filters and key fob ourself.

Was thinking of going to an independent car place or toyota and ask them for estimates for the following. Is this a good list? Overboard? Or is there something missing. Comments appreciated.

(was thinking these are a must?)
Inspect brake fluid
nspect rear differential fluid
Inspect transmission fluid

(also a must?)
Inspect Drive belt
Inspect spark plugs

(optional? can wait till 90k?)
Inspect axle shaft boots
Inspect ball joints and dust covers
Inspect brake pads, calipers, hoses, rotor thickness
Inspect engine coolant
Inspect exhaust pipes and mounting
Inspect fuel lines and connections, fuel tank band and fuel tank vapor vent system hoses.
Inspect fuel tank cap gasket
Inspect rack and pinion steering assembly
Inspect steering linkage and boots

 

There maybe more items to change out, but I know the brake fluid flush/bleed needed to be done at 30K miles bc I had this done on all of our Lexi cars. We had this done at our local Toyota dealership and it was around $100. At Lexus dealership will be higher FOR SURE!!!

One thing to note is that the way I understood and was told to do this PROPERLY (especially on our hybrids, RX450h and CT200h), Toyota/Lexus computer software will be needed. So I would ask how the Indy will do this and if they have "Techstream" software?

We are not to the 60K mark, but the differential and automatic transmission fluid flush will be needed. But Lexus will tell you they are "LIFETIME" and no need to do. But "LIFETIME" for whom?

 

Get the transmission fluid flushed or changed, same with brake fluid, transfer case and differential fluids. All those inspections are routine, easily done when on a lift. There is no way to check the spark plugs except electronically which is easily done by them as they should scan the engine for stored codes and to be sure everything is firing properly.
Why rotate the tires yourself if they are going to inspect the brake pads? The tires have to be removed for brake inspection and to rotate them will not cost more at that point and save you a lot of time since it appears you do not know how to inspect your own brakes which is easily done when the tires are off.
The brakes ought to be serviced anyway, which involves removing the caliper slide/guide pins then cleaning and re-greasing them and possibly cleaning and re-greasing the pad contact points.
I just had the transmission fluid flushed on my Mother's 2010 ES350 (same transmission) at the local Priority Toyota in Springfield, VA for about $250. They changed the coolant, brake fluid and transmission fluid for about $550 total. I had already done a bunch of work on it myself.
FYI most good independents had the Techstream software to do a proper brake fluid flush. It is worth their investment as there are millions of Toyota vehicles that need work done!
Also be sure the independent is using the proper transmission fluid!
Where in VA are you? If in Fairfax County etc, which independent are you thinking of going to as I may have a recommendation.

 

Thank you lexusrus. Yes, do have in my notes to ask if they have the software.


Clutchless, did the Springfield Toyota do the differential along with the coolant, brake fluid and transmission fluid for about $550 total. What is the 'transfer case'? I get rotations done at costco but can get the next one done along with these other items since it's not free (didn't get my tires there). So based on your list, this is what I will ask for:


Flush/replace Brake Fluid

Flush/replace Transmission Fluid

Flush/replace Differential Fluid

Fill Coolant

Brakes Inspection and Servicing (caliper slide/guide pins - cleaning and re-greasing and possibly cleaning and re-greasing the pad contact points).

Run Techstream software to check no error codes including for spark plugs.

Did I miss anything else?


I have to be precise since as it's typical to be taken for a ride at car places as a woman Was going to get all my own supplies and get estimates at a couple of independent shops on Fullerton Rd (Yes I am from Fairfax County). Any recommendations appreciated. Did you still prefer the Toyota dealership? Why?

 

I would suggest "not to flush". Replacement is your call. If replacement is not done right, then you would have been better off by keeping the life long fluid.

Salim

 

Pam1980 - I do not know what year your RX is, but would skip the coolant change to save money as Toyota Long Life is claimed to be a 10 year coolant. I did it in my Mother's 2010 ES350 because we gave it to her Granddaughter who will rack up a lot of miles fast and neglect it except for oil changes, so I wanted to help insure longer term reliability. It only had 42,000 miles. She is putting on about a 2,000 miles a month! That vehicle does not have a differential or transfer case as it is front wheel drive.

An all wheel drive RX350 will have a rear differential and a transfer case. The transfer case does what it says, it transfers power to the rear wheels when it detects slippage. The fluid is easily changed and all these components are exactly the same as the Toyota Highlander and Venza.
You should call Priority Toyota Springfield and they will give you a quote for the services you want. Ask if there is any package discount available or a if they have their own 60,000 miles service package.

Regarding the transmission, they do a fluid exchange, not a flush. I was using the term flush generically, but really meant a fluid exchange which is done with the motor running and the transmission pumps the fluid in and out. There is no danger to the transmission from the procedure.
They use the well regarded BG Transmission Fluid Exchange Machine with Toyota WS fluid. They do use the BG cleaning chemicals first. The ES350 shifted just fine after their service. The BG machine monitors the flow and exchange of fluids, see link if you want to get technical.
https://www.bgprod.com/services/transmission/
They also use a BG machine for the coolant change.

 

Thanks Salim. That is very helpful.

Thanks Clutchless, noted, most helpful. We have a 2013 so think I will skip on the coolant at least till the 90k sevice. We put about 12k miles a year. Lucky grand daughter btw

Can you share the name of the independent shop in Fairfax you mentioned earlier?

I will ask for the cost of the 60k but while less than the Lexus dealership, may still be more than the few individual things maybe? I was able to speak to an acquaintance who has a Lexus 450H like me with 70k and has only ever gotten brake service/fluid in addition to oil changes and tire rotations. He said transmission and differential (like lexusrus) are lifetime and why would one even think of that till at least 90 or 120k. Any other thoughts on that?

My New list:
Brakes Inspection and Servicing (caliper slide/guide pins - cleaning and re-greasing and possibly cleaning and re-greasing the pad contact points).
Inspect Brake Fluid and Replace IF NEEDED
Inspect Transmission Fluid and Exchange IF NEEDED
Inspect Differential Fluid
Run Techstream software to check no error codes and reset maintenance needed

 

Pam1980 - Your list is fine except the brake fluid should be replaced as Toyota/Lexus recommends it be done every 2 or 3 years. Brake fluid absorbs water which leads to corrosion of expensive brake system components and this is cheap insurance against future very expensive repairs.
I would also do the transmission now when it has little wear as opposed to 90,000 when it will have significant wear from failing fluid. The first fluid exchange at 60,000 is the most important to get the original stuff out which has more wear contaminants. Besides it has burned up most of the additives by now. Again, cheap insurance if you plan to keep it for over 100,000 miles.

I recommend you contact HRM Automotive https://www.hrmautomotive.com/ They are in the Lorton area

and Craftsman Auto Care, which now has 2 locations, https://www.craftsmanautocare.com/ They have locations in Kingstowne ( near Springfield) and a new Fairfax location.

Or any Toyota dealer that is near to you as Fairfax County is large and has at least 3 or 4 Toyota dealers.

 

My husband travels a lot so I have to figure these out. Your responses and explanation of how it works has been very helpful. My husband had mentioned that since I have a 450H (2013), requirements may be slightly different cf to a non-hybrid. Now that I have a better idea, will call Priority and a couple of others and figure out where I want these done.
Thanks again.

 

Yes the hybrid has a few differences which will reduce your service bill!

The 450H transmission is very different and much simpler and cheaper to service. It simply requires a drain and fill of the Toyota WS automatic transmission fluid, which is done the same as a manual transmission. By this I mean the unit has 2 holes, a drain and a fill hole part way up the side. You drain the fluid then simply fill it until it runs out the fill hole and you are done. It does not take very long and any shop or gas station can do this. It is also much cheaper than the fluid exchange, which cannot be done on this transmission, which technically is not a transmission but a power transfer unit!

Also Hybrid brakes typically get very little wear due the additional braking supplied by the engine/hybrid power regeneration system. Thus you should have little brake pad wear, but really need the caliper guide pins cleaned and lubricated and the lube dries out over time/miles and causes the pins to freeze in the caliper, hurting your braking ability. I know as this happened to my other Lexus which is a hybrid. They need to be serviced every 3 years or 20,000 miles. I just did my RX after that period and a couple of guide pins were already stuck and had to be forcibly removed from the caliper.

PM me if you want to consult further and maybe trade phones numbers to discuss your car service.

 

 

Hi Pam,

The transmission fluid change is only for very fastidious owners who just want to keep their fluid look the right colour. Lexus in USA do not have a recommended change interval for the transmission fluid. Lexus Australia does have a recommended transmission fluid change at the 80,000 km mark, but only when operating in "extreme conditions", e.g. sustained high speed driving, towing, etc. You can find that info towards the end of this existing thread: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...nterval-3.html

I suspect you will be just fine without touching the fluid in your transmission.