Transmission Fluid change for 3IS
Pit Crew
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 146
Likes: 18
From: Georgia
So, lifetime is at the end of the life of the transmission and it can be different for rack car. So there is no set number of miles for the lifetime and it can happen at 100K, 150K, 200K, or maybe 300K. To prolong the life of the transmission you can service it to ensure it will last longer.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 382
From: nj
In my 2010 Corolla (1.8L 4 cylinder) I was told transmission fluid was for life. Bought the car brand new, changed oil every 5K miles, and beat the ****** out of that car. 130K miles when sold, never changed transmission fluid on that car and it still ran fine.
No, you get the powertrain warranty which if I remember correctly is 10 years 80K-100k miles? So after that, if your transmission fluid makes your car go bad, it's on you. I did my 2/3 transmission fluid change at a dealership at 40K miles.
In my 2010 Corolla (1.8L 4 cylinder) I was told transmission fluid was for life. Bought the car brand new, changed oil every 5K miles, and beat the ****** out of that car. 130K miles when sold, never changed transmission fluid on that car and it still ran fine.
In my 2010 Corolla (1.8L 4 cylinder) I was told transmission fluid was for life. Bought the car brand new, changed oil every 5K miles, and beat the ****** out of that car. 130K miles when sold, never changed transmission fluid on that car and it still ran fine.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: WI
Every 80,000 km you need to change the transmission oil + filter + the trans rubber ( i really don't know what y'all call it in English LOL )
However, the Lexus dealer in Saudi Arabia every 80,000 Km change ( engine oil with filter + trans oil with filter and rubber + fuel filter + differential oil )
Picture attached of all three items for the transmission
Attachment 475781
However, the Lexus dealer in Saudi Arabia every 80,000 Km change ( engine oil with filter + trans oil with filter and rubber + fuel filter + differential oil )
Picture attached of all three items for the transmission
Attachment 475781
2nd gear
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 2
Likes: 3
My sons Jaguar XJ had a lifetime transmission fluid with no dipstick...turns out the lifetime of that transmission was 154,000 miles. We checked the level when it failed and it was right where it should be and smelled very burnt.
I learned that lesson and did a drain and fill of the "lifetime" Toyota fluid in my 2015 IS 350 F Sport AWD @ 60,000 miles. Was right at 4 quarts. Shifting didn't seem that bad to me before, but after the change it was noticeably smoother. It still shifts just fine now but I'm doing it again this month @ 100,000 miles. Also, don't forget to change the differential(s) gear oil while you're down there.
Just remember, after filling it with slightly more fluid than you took out (good idea to pour it into an old 5qt oil jug etc. to measure) that you need to pull the overflow plug with the engine running and the transmission in the correct temperature range. Lexus / Toyota has a transmission temperature diagnostic mode that you can enter (with the transmission cold) instead of buying extra software etc. For the 2015 you put a paperclip jumper between pins 4 and 13 on the DLC3 (OBDII) port. You may not have to do that for newer models but for the 2015 you do. Start the car and it will read "DIAG VGRS" on the dash with all the lights flashing. Shift to drive and then back and forth from N to D half a dozen times or so about 1 sec between shifts (don't need to get out your stop watch) until when in neutral the N on the dash disappears. Put the transmission in park and let the engine run (the P for park will also be gone) and the transmission warm up (expanding the fluid). When the transmission hits the lower end of the correct transmission temperature range "D" will reappear on the dash (even though you are in park). Just FYI this took about 8 minutes of the engine running sitting in park after starting my car. Once the "D" reappears, pull the transmission pan overflow plug and let the excess transmission fluid drain. If nothing comes out you need to add fluid. "D" started flashing on the dash about 14 minutes after starting my engine, indicating that it was now too hot to pull the overflow plug and set the level correctly, so if you're not done you need to let the transmission cool down, which can take many hours.
Honestly I don't know how much difference there is between pulling the overflow cold and warm but it's not that hard to do it right.
I learned that lesson and did a drain and fill of the "lifetime" Toyota fluid in my 2015 IS 350 F Sport AWD @ 60,000 miles. Was right at 4 quarts. Shifting didn't seem that bad to me before, but after the change it was noticeably smoother. It still shifts just fine now but I'm doing it again this month @ 100,000 miles. Also, don't forget to change the differential(s) gear oil while you're down there.
Just remember, after filling it with slightly more fluid than you took out (good idea to pour it into an old 5qt oil jug etc. to measure) that you need to pull the overflow plug with the engine running and the transmission in the correct temperature range. Lexus / Toyota has a transmission temperature diagnostic mode that you can enter (with the transmission cold) instead of buying extra software etc. For the 2015 you put a paperclip jumper between pins 4 and 13 on the DLC3 (OBDII) port. You may not have to do that for newer models but for the 2015 you do. Start the car and it will read "DIAG VGRS" on the dash with all the lights flashing. Shift to drive and then back and forth from N to D half a dozen times or so about 1 sec between shifts (don't need to get out your stop watch) until when in neutral the N on the dash disappears. Put the transmission in park and let the engine run (the P for park will also be gone) and the transmission warm up (expanding the fluid). When the transmission hits the lower end of the correct transmission temperature range "D" will reappear on the dash (even though you are in park). Just FYI this took about 8 minutes of the engine running sitting in park after starting my car. Once the "D" reappears, pull the transmission pan overflow plug and let the excess transmission fluid drain. If nothing comes out you need to add fluid. "D" started flashing on the dash about 14 minutes after starting my engine, indicating that it was now too hot to pull the overflow plug and set the level correctly, so if you're not done you need to let the transmission cool down, which can take many hours.
Honestly I don't know how much difference there is between pulling the overflow cold and warm but it's not that hard to do it right.
Last edited by 307Fsport; Mar 15, 2025 at 03:23 PM.
Driver
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 91
Likes: 21
From: BC
No fluid is lifetime. That is bull****. I don't know how they got to this point. When I worked at a lube shop straight out of high school, the recommend oil change was 5000kms. Now some manufacturers recommend up to 12,000kms! That is unreal. Nothing has changed in the oils, yet the intervals have doubled.
I got my is350 used, with about 80,000kms. I changed it soon after, and it made a huge difference in the smoothness of shifts.
If you want your vehicle to last, change ALL your fluids regularly. Engine, transmission, diffs, radiator, and even brake fluid, yes, brake fluid. Luckily we don't have to worry about steering fluid. I change all my fluids every 25,000kms, and oil every 5000kms.
If you know you know.
I got my is350 used, with about 80,000kms. I changed it soon after, and it made a huge difference in the smoothness of shifts.
If you want your vehicle to last, change ALL your fluids regularly. Engine, transmission, diffs, radiator, and even brake fluid, yes, brake fluid. Luckily we don't have to worry about steering fluid. I change all my fluids every 25,000kms, and oil every 5000kms.
If you know you know.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 674
Likes: 114
From: Ontario
No fluid is lifetime. That is bull****. I don't know how they got to this point. When I worked at a lube shop straight out of high school, the recommend oil change was 5000kms. Now some manufacturers recommend up to 12,000kms! That is unreal. Nothing has changed in the oils, yet the intervals have doubled.
I got my is350 used, with about 80,000kms. I changed it soon after, and it made a huge difference in the smoothness of shifts.
If you want your vehicle to last, change ALL your fluids regularly. Engine, transmission, diffs, radiator, and even brake fluid, yes, brake fluid. Luckily we don't have to worry about steering fluid. I change all my fluids every 25,000kms, and oil every 5000kms.
If you know you know.
I got my is350 used, with about 80,000kms. I changed it soon after, and it made a huge difference in the smoothness of shifts.
If you want your vehicle to last, change ALL your fluids regularly. Engine, transmission, diffs, radiator, and even brake fluid, yes, brake fluid. Luckily we don't have to worry about steering fluid. I change all my fluids every 25,000kms, and oil every 5000kms.
If you know you know.
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