Transmission fluid change (DIY)
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 215
From: North Carolina
thank you for all your insight. I will be doing it this weekend. Any additional advice? I’ll have the car leveled. Open the fill valve first. Then the drain valve. Measure the amount drained. Close up the drain valve. Fill new fluid in. Start up the car and wait for it to reach a certain temp. Unscrew the overflow bolt, then tighten it after it trickles. Then done!
two questions: what temp do you wait for it to be? And also the overflow drain, is that opened with an Allen wrench?
two questions: what temp do you wait for it to be? And also the overflow drain, is that opened with an Allen wrench?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 270
Likes: 21
From: CA
lol!! Haha ok I got you ! I’ll report back after I do it this weekend (or next). Sure as heck hope the overflow bolt is opened with an Allen wrench lol
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 215
From: North Carolina
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 1,004
From: NH
3) I read the procedure others were kind enough to post on how to check the oil level based on temperature accessed through a lot of gearshift lever moving. I figured I would get off easy by using my scanner but I was wrong as my scanner did not read trans temp. Faced with the hassle of 'the procedure' and the fact that I am inherently lazy, I decided to try something different.... I used my infrared temp gun to shoot the bottom of the trans pan. I read 115F. Since we are allowed a window of 115F - 130F, and I figured the oil inside had to be at least a little hotter, I went ahead and pulled the overflow plug and let the fluid drain to a thin flow. As a backup, I shot the oil that came out and it read 124F so I feel I was OK in that regard. Frankly, using a wire to jumper pins on the OBD port sounds like a miserable pain in my back and with my eyesight I was afraid I'd take forever to get the right ports.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 270
Likes: 21
From: CA
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 270
Likes: 21
From: CA
actually I just checked. Toyota documentation for LS 460 is actually 95 degrees
link along with documentation attached
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...re-35-42c.html
Lexus Champion
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,218
Likes: 300
From: NA
Just a small point to make
When you’re checking the fluid level by opening the level plug, keep the engine running. If you turn the car off, the transmission fluid dumps back into the pan and the fluid level will be totally wrong. So keep the engine running!
When you’re checking the fluid level by opening the level plug, keep the engine running. If you turn the car off, the transmission fluid dumps back into the pan and the fluid level will be totally wrong. So keep the engine running!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 270
Likes: 21
From: CA
Did this today. Super weird... I only had 2 quarts come out when I drained. It was super early and the very first one that was done because the transmission fluid was black and thick (looked almost identical to old engine oil). So I put back 2.25 quarts. And then had the car pan heat up to 95 degrees. Opened up the overfill bolt but nothing came out !! So weird. I think it might be due to 95 degrees not being hot enough and may have to wait to 115 degrees next time.
also, in case anyone is wondering, the fill bolt is indeed 24mm and I used a box end wrench to open it. The overflow bolt is 5mm and the drain bolt is 14mm. Be sure to open up the fill bolt before draining to make sure you’re able to even open the fill bolt! Lol. Side note: super hard to put the fill bolt back in lol
also, in case anyone is wondering, the fill bolt is indeed 24mm and I used a box end wrench to open it. The overflow bolt is 5mm and the drain bolt is 14mm. Be sure to open up the fill bolt before draining to make sure you’re able to even open the fill bolt! Lol. Side note: super hard to put the fill bolt back in lol
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 1,004
From: NH
That means your transmission was under filled. You need to add more fluid. I believe, the manufacture manual calls for going through all the gears after refilling the transmission.
For AWD
https://workshop-manuals.com/lexus/l..._transmission/
For AWD
https://workshop-manuals.com/lexus/l..._transmission/
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 270
Likes: 21
From: CA
That means your transmission was under filled. You need to add more fluid. I believe, the manufacture manual calls for going through all the gears after refilling the transmission.
For AWD
https://workshop-manuals.com/lexus/l..._transmission/
For AWD
https://workshop-manuals.com/lexus/l..._transmission/
it’s been sealed and never changed (I’m at 102k miles). If 2 quarts came out, and I put 2.25 back, I should be ok. Right? There are no transmission fluid leaks from looking at the black pan.