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IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013) Discussion about the 2006+ model IS models

Differential oil change?

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Old Sep 1, 2008 | 12:47 AM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by Kurtz
The transmission is sealed, it's physically impossible to change the fluid.

You can get small amounts of it out removing certain parts, but nowhere near all of it.
This thread is about the rear differential fyi
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Old Sep 1, 2008 | 09:24 AM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by IS35O
This thread is about the rear differential fyi
I'm aware of that.

Originally Posted by iSuxeL
There was enough room to just squeeze but if you can find an adapter then I'd recommend that, as it was a little tough but I managed.

Theres no recommended time to change it technically, you can change it whenever you want. I'm over 50k so I figured I should do it, plus I didnt like the way mines felt. Next up is the tranny fluid.

That's the post that first brought up changing the tranny fluid as well, I was simply pointing out that it is impossible to do so.
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Old Sep 1, 2008 | 09:44 AM
  #18  
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Regardless of removing ALL of the tranny fluid or not, I'm still planning on changing it. IMO it will never hurt a motor or a car if you change the fluid early.
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Old Sep 1, 2008 | 03:58 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by iSuxeL
Regardless of removing ALL of the tranny fluid or not, I'm still planning on changing it. IMO it will never hurt a motor or a car if you change the fluid early.
Except you're not doing that.

What you -are- doing is opening up a sealed system and potentially allowing contaminants to get into it in exchange for swapping out maybe 15-20% of the total fluid.

That's not an especially good idea.
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Old Sep 1, 2008 | 08:38 PM
  #20  
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I don't understand what the big deal is about replacing the ATF. I understand it is WS fluid and we have replaced the fluid time after time on several cars. This fluid first showed up on the 04 models and that is nearly 5 years ago. We have had a few cars with over 100k miles on them now and have had their ATF serviced. Its a whole lot easier than you think. Also you don't need to follow the fill procedure to the "T". I made a special adapter to fill up the ATF using the overflow bolt. The drain bolt is used to drain the fluid. The refill bolt is never removed for this reason (it is a PITA to get to). You will need the OEM scantool to datalist the ECT temp sensor. There is a window of operation for the refill procedure.

Back to the subject, I replaced my diff fluid with Castrol Syntec 75W90 GL-5 synthetic. The fluid was dirty and the magnet has all sorts of contaminants on it. I'm glad I changed it.
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Old Sep 1, 2008 | 08:58 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by carchitect
I don't understand what the big deal is about replacing the ATF. I understand it is WS fluid and we have replaced the fluid time after time on several cars. This fluid first showed up on the 04 models and that is nearly 5 years ago. We have had a few cars with over 100k miles on them now and have had their ATF serviced. Its a whole lot easier than you think. Also you don't need to follow the fill procedure to the "T". I made a special adapter to fill up the ATF using the overflow bolt. The drain bolt is used to drain the fluid. The refill bolt is never removed for this reason (it is a PITA to get to). You will need the OEM scantool to datalist the ECT temp sensor. There is a window of operation for the refill procedure.

Back to the subject, I replaced my diff fluid with Castrol Syntec 75W90 GL-5 synthetic. The fluid was dirty and the magnet has all sorts of contaminants on it. I'm glad I changed it.

Can you explain how you drained all the fluid using the drain plug when the service docs claim removing the entire pan only gets around 1 1/2 quarts of fluid out of the system (out of just under 9 total)

The tranny fluid change thread is here-
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=236728

It's mostly pages 3-4 that have the diagrams and the fluid amounts removed for various procedures.

If the entire thread and its conclusions are wrong and there's some way to get more than a small fraction of the fluid out easily, a -lot- of folks would love to know about it (and details should probably get posted in that thread too for future searches)

Last edited by Kurtz; Sep 2, 2008 at 05:43 AM.
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Old Sep 1, 2008 | 09:22 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Koz
There is absolutely no reason to touch the trans. Leave it be!

Koz
If you are under a 60k sure, I dont care how well the tranny is built how well its lubricated none of this matters because parts will rub and do rub. Audi has a maintenance free transmission too but that doesnt stop the dealer from selling atf fluid atf filter's and atf gasket's its all in the name of preventative maintenance.
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Old Sep 2, 2008 | 05:55 AM
  #23  
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hey carchitect, can you pm me at what mileage you changed ur diff fluid and how much it should run me to get it changed?
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Old Dec 30, 2008 | 07:19 PM
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anyone know where I can buy a fill bolt for the differential? Mine is stripped. I know how to get it out, I just need to know where to buy the new plug. My Lexus dealer said they do not sell them.
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Old Dec 30, 2008 | 08:53 PM
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Looks like he's telling the truth. I don't see it in the parts breakdown anywhere.

How is yours stripped? The threads are stripped or the hole is rounded so you can't use a tool in it?
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Old Dec 31, 2008 | 02:08 PM
  #26  
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Hole is rounded. I plan to cut a groove in it and then unscrew it
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Old Dec 31, 2008 | 03:14 PM
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Originally Posted by burny
Hole is rounded. I plan to cut a groove in it and then unscrew it
Any chance it's thick enough that you won't compromise the seal when you cut the groove? That would be ideal.
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 08:08 PM
  #28  
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Bumping this back up, but when it is recommended to change the differential fluid? 50k? Planning on getting this done this week if its worth it.

Also, if anyone can let me know, what size gears are we running in the back?

Thanks,

Mario
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 08:51 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by MiamiIS350
Bumping this back up, but when it is recommended to change the differential fluid? 50k? Planning on getting this done this week if its worth it.

Also, if anyone can let me know, what size gears are we running in the back?

Thanks,

Mario
According to Lexus, that'd be never.

Factory manual says to inspect every 15k, but never requires replacing it.
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 11:11 AM
  #30  
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https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...every-15k.html

I did mine @15K....got tons of black gooey stuff in the drain plug.....

just a simple drain/fill....
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