transmission fluid
Driver
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 176
Likes: 1
From: CA
I highly doubt the transmission is sealed.
They just mean there is lifetime fluid in there.
I do not believe in lifetime fluid so I will change my tranny fluid at around 40k.
My dad owns a bmw/mercedes repair shop and both manufactuers have life time fluid and you STILL can change the fluid. A tranny CANNOT be completely sealed. For example the Mercedes ML class. In order to change the tranny fluid you have to buy a tranny dipstick from the dealer in order to change and check the fluid. The car does not come with a dipstick.
I do not have my IS yet but once I get it i'm going to put it on my dads lift and check how to change/check the fluid.
They just mean there is lifetime fluid in there.
I do not believe in lifetime fluid so I will change my tranny fluid at around 40k.
My dad owns a bmw/mercedes repair shop and both manufactuers have life time fluid and you STILL can change the fluid. A tranny CANNOT be completely sealed. For example the Mercedes ML class. In order to change the tranny fluid you have to buy a tranny dipstick from the dealer in order to change and check the fluid. The car does not come with a dipstick.
I do not have my IS yet but once I get it i'm going to put it on my dads lift and check how to change/check the fluid.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: ca
im going to do my oil change this weekend and im almost at 15k, ill check if we can change the tranny fluid................i sure hope its not a sealed tranny, i dont think the tranny fluid in there will last forever
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Are we talking auto or manual here? The A760E (IS 350) auto has a fill procedure in the FSM, complete with a table showing how much fluid to expect for different service procedures. So does the A760H (IS250 RWD) and the A960E (IS250 AWD). They are practically identical, and the locations of the drain and fill are the same. FWIW, removing what appears to be the drain will not do anything useful. You'll need to drop the pan at a minimum to remove any significant amount of fluid. There are 20 bolts holding the oil pan in place.
The classic trick of removing the oil cooler lines and doing a complete fluid swap is not possible with these autos. The oil "cooler" is an oil/water unit attached to the rear of the gearbox and it has water lines that go forward, not oil lines. Probably great from an engineering perspective because you don't have a pair of rubber hoses coming up to the radiator that can crack and fail, but it certainly limits the ability to flush the thing with a conventional flushing unit unless you have an adapter you can bolt on in place of the oil cooler. Have fun with those fluid changes.
The RA-62 (IS250 MT) has a normal drain and fill plug just like every other manual gearbox I've ever seen. No problems or issues doing a fluid change there.
The classic trick of removing the oil cooler lines and doing a complete fluid swap is not possible with these autos. The oil "cooler" is an oil/water unit attached to the rear of the gearbox and it has water lines that go forward, not oil lines. Probably great from an engineering perspective because you don't have a pair of rubber hoses coming up to the radiator that can crack and fail, but it certainly limits the ability to flush the thing with a conventional flushing unit unless you have an adapter you can bolt on in place of the oil cooler. Have fun with those fluid changes.
The RA-62 (IS250 MT) has a normal drain and fill plug just like every other manual gearbox I've ever seen. No problems or issues doing a fluid change there.
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Are we talking auto or manual here? The A760E (IS 350) auto has a fill procedure in the FSM, complete with a table showing how much fluid to expect for different service procedures. So does the A760H (IS250 RWD) and the A960E (IS250 AWD). They are practically identical, and the locations of the drain and fill are the same. FWIW, removing what appears to be the drain will not do anything useful. You'll need to drop the pan at a minimum to remove any significant amount of fluid. There are 20 bolts holding the oil pan in place.
The classic trick of removing the oil cooler lines and doing a complete fluid swap is not possible with these autos. The oil "cooler" is an oil/water unit attached to the rear of the gearbox and it has water lines that go forward, not oil lines. Probably great from an engineering perspective because you don't have a pair of rubber hoses coming up to the radiator that can crack and fail, but it certainly limits the ability to flush the thing with a conventional flushing unit unless you have an adapter you can bolt on in place of the oil cooler. Have fun with those fluid changes.
The RA-62 (IS250 MT) has a normal drain and fill plug just like every other manual gearbox I've ever seen. No problems or issues doing a fluid change there.
The classic trick of removing the oil cooler lines and doing a complete fluid swap is not possible with these autos. The oil "cooler" is an oil/water unit attached to the rear of the gearbox and it has water lines that go forward, not oil lines. Probably great from an engineering perspective because you don't have a pair of rubber hoses coming up to the radiator that can crack and fail, but it certainly limits the ability to flush the thing with a conventional flushing unit unless you have an adapter you can bolt on in place of the oil cooler. Have fun with those fluid changes.
The RA-62 (IS250 MT) has a normal drain and fill plug just like every other manual gearbox I've ever seen. No problems or issues doing a fluid change there.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,810
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 10
From: Arizona
The newer automatics since 2004 have been using the new "WS" automatic transmission fluid. The transmission is filled by a fill plug from underneath.
It is indicated by no transmission dip stick and a WS label on the fill plug.
the fluid has a 100,000 mile change schedule, but I'm advised it could be changed sooner.
I'm attaching a TSB for Toyota for a reference.
It is indicated by no transmission dip stick and a WS label on the fill plug.
the fluid has a 100,000 mile change schedule, but I'm advised it could be changed sooner.
I'm attaching a TSB for Toyota for a reference.
The fill plug is on the left side under a cover near the middle of the gearbox. The "drain" in the bottom is actually an overflow. You put fluid in the hole in the side and fill until it drains from the hole in the bottom, because it's not a conventional hole, it's actually a tube with a specific height. Just like most manuals. It is not intended to be used to fill the gearbox according to the FSM.
Yes the approved fluid is WS.
Yes the approved fluid is WS.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 28
From: Utah
The newer automatics since 2004 have been using the new "WS" automatic transmission fluid. The transmission is filled by a fill plug from underneath.
It is indicated by no transmission dip stick and a WS label on the fill plug.
the fluid has a 100,000 mile change schedule, but I'm advised it could be changed sooner.
I'm attaching a TSB for Toyota for a reference.
It is indicated by no transmission dip stick and a WS label on the fill plug.
the fluid has a 100,000 mile change schedule, but I'm advised it could be changed sooner.
I'm attaching a TSB for Toyota for a reference.
Koz
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: CT
Word of warning
I'd be very careful about doing a transmission flush and fill on this transmission by yourself. My Lincoln has a sealed transmission that contains "lifetime" fluid good for 150K miles. The process for doing the change is NOT straightforward. It requires special equipment (some sort of pump) as well as special fluid and seals.
Several guys on the Lincoln LS board have attempted to change their transmission fluid on this sealed transmission. If it is not done correctly, transmission problems result (mostly in the form of "whining" at speed, but in one case a transmission got burned out). Before attempting to change the fluid on the IS, I would definitely do some homework about whether special equipment is required and what the procedure is.
The dealer may have better advice, but my own thoughts are that if your transmission is not giving you problems, leave it alone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Several guys on the Lincoln LS board have attempted to change their transmission fluid on this sealed transmission. If it is not done correctly, transmission problems result (mostly in the form of "whining" at speed, but in one case a transmission got burned out). Before attempting to change the fluid on the IS, I would definitely do some homework about whether special equipment is required and what the procedure is.
The dealer may have better advice, but my own thoughts are that if your transmission is not giving you problems, leave it alone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 28
From: Utah
I'd be very careful about doing a transmission flush and fill on this transmission by yourself. My Lincoln has a sealed transmission that contains "lifetime" fluid good for 150K miles. The process for doing the change is NOT straightforward. It requires special equipment (some sort of pump) as well as special fluid and seals.
Several guys on the Lincoln LS board have attempted to change their transmission fluid on this sealed transmission. If it is not done correctly, transmission problems result (mostly in the form of "whining" at speed, but in one case a transmission got burned out). Before attempting to change the fluid on the IS, I would definitely do some homework about whether special equipment is required and what the procedure is.
The dealer may have better advice, but my own thoughts are that if your transmission is not giving you problems, leave it alone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Several guys on the Lincoln LS board have attempted to change their transmission fluid on this sealed transmission. If it is not done correctly, transmission problems result (mostly in the form of "whining" at speed, but in one case a transmission got burned out). Before attempting to change the fluid on the IS, I would definitely do some homework about whether special equipment is required and what the procedure is.
The dealer may have better advice, but my own thoughts are that if your transmission is not giving you problems, leave it alone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Koz