After the next oil change or two, I'm thinking about the transmission fluid. Has anyone done it and is it a simple drain and fill?

 

I'm really curious as to why you are thinking about doing this. Do you think you have having issues with your tranny? I was curious, so took a quick peek in the owners manual, and it didn't appear anywhere on the service intervals. It later then says this about the transmission:

" The transmission and transmission fluid are a completely sealed unit. Therefore, periodic checks and replacement of the transmission fluid are not required, and there is no dipstick on the transmission. Any repairs that require adding or replacing fluid should be performed by a qualified technician following procedures in Lexus service and repair publications."

So the answer to your question is clearly that it is not a simple drain and fill, but even further, it should not be required at all.

 

When I have my GS F, I remember its not an easy task to just drain and fill, you need tech stream software to warm up the trans temperature to fill in to correct level.

 

Some Lexus models do not schedule tranny fluid changes. Is there a schedule for it? and when.

 

Read my reply above - it is not a scheduled item, and is a sealed unit.

 

Thanks TGIF. Between you and my wife, I'll stay in line!

 

Doesn't look to be too complicated with the OBD scan tool for the engine temp. It looks like you just need to drain the fluid and then pump it in the fill hole and run at temp and check the fill hole to see if there is an overflow.

'lifetime' to me is just when the warranty expires.

 

Theres a good thread in the ISF/RCF forum about doing a drain and fill. If its anything like those trans the fill plug is on side and its a little tricky to fill up. "Lifetime" transmission fluid is a joke if you plan on keeping these cars a long time. If you are planning to do a drain and fill, i'd say do a drain and measure what comes out then add the same amount and then run the fluid check process. There's a really narrow temp window that they specifiy in the process but I would think that should get you really close.

Btw, how many miles do you have? I honestly wouldnt even consider this unless youre like 75k miles.

 

I'm at 40k but the I've been reading/hearing do it at 60k or 6 years which ever comes first.

 

Does it show in the Lexus LC 500 scheduled maintenance booklet?

 

It does not. "Lifetime fluid" they claim but I want to keep this car forever. Just like how BMW and Merc say 15k oil change or once a year and look how often they break down.

 

The 2004-2006 LS430’s were like that too. Lexus claimed it was a lifetime fluid but it had a service interval outside of the United States. This topic had been heavily debated on the LS forum.

I never ended up getting it done as I couldn’t find anyone who had done it before. I asked a lot of the techs at my dealership years ago and none of them had done it before. One tech was planning on doing it to his own LS430 but I don’t know if he ever did it. If you have the equipment and knowledge to do it yourself then I would go for it, or if you have a dealership that can do it.

 

I had a 2005 LS430. I had the trans fluid changed twice. once around 100k, then again at 200k. I sold the car at 220k or so.
Was completed at a local Toyota/Lexus independent shop.
Never had a transmission issue and don't believe in any fluid that claims to be "lifetime".. my 2 cents
Still miss that car!