I have 105K on the tranny. Im looking to see if I should replace my filter. As far as I can see, it has never been done before.

I am worried about putting much new fluid in and creating problems there after.

Think I should do it or no?

Matt

 

Having any troubles out of your tranny?

I think you'd be allright replacing it -- I wouldn't worry about swapping out the fluids, the only real danger is inproper 'power flush' systems. There are some good machines, and some that can cause damage. 105k isnt' that much for the lexus tranny. It is time for a new filter, but many go twice your mileage without one. So it is really your call. I think it wouldn't make any noticable difference, but on the same token it shouldn't hurt anything if done properly.

 

To access the filter you will be doing the equivalent of a drain & refill anyways.

3 qts of T-IV should do the trick. Chart below tells you the % of old Tranny Fluid that remains after a given # of drain & refills.

23% new after your filter change & refill.

--------------------------------------------------------
Percentage Old AT Fluid Remaining after a ATF Drain and Refill Process, and subsequent Drain and Refills
(1) 77.8%
(2) 60.5%
(3) 47.1%
(4) 36.6%
(5) 28.5%
(6) 22.1%
(7) 17.2%
(8) 13.4%
(9) 10.4%
(10) 8.1%

 

Thanks, thats some good info!

 

This is another of those areas where the Lexus rule of thumb seems to be to leave it until it rears it's head up, rather than take a preventative approach and change it early.

On other vehicles of mine, we changed the tranny filter and fluid at least every 60000 KMs, but on the Lexus the consensus seems to be nothing as strict or regimented.

The fuel filter is a similar story -- the guys at my local Lexus dealership (several, both in parts and in service departments) personally told me it was a "lifetime" fuel filter, and didn't need changing unless there was a specific problem dictating it (damage, clog, accident, etc). They went as far as tried to talk me out of buying it. On other cars, it was recommended to be changed maybe every three years going by memory, and I can tell you there was usually a noticeable difference on most of my past cars (non- Toyota or Lexus) after changing it. We discussed the fuel filter issue on here a few months back, and there were some horror stories about gasoline burns from trying to get the freaking filter off when the threads commonly seized on it.

My only take on these types of issues is that now that the cars have been around for a few years, the service depots who have worked with them for the past sixteen years (since the 1992 was introduced) have come to see certain service procedures just aren't needed on these cars in the same ways that they are on other vehicles.

 

My '98 es300 has 184K mi and the tranny fluid or filter hasn't been changed yet either. My tranny is as smooth as can be...I did want to do some preventive maintainance and change out the filter and fluid but as someone mentioned before, if it ain't broke, don't fix it....I'm a bit hesitant... its almost 200K with no change but then again, its running very smooth....what to do...

 

As far as I know, you should do a fluid flush about every 30,000 miles, or when the fluid starts getting dirty. But as for the filter, I believe its simply a little screen that doesn't need to be replaced unless you're dropping the pan, and even then you may just need to clean it. If your pan is leaking, then reseal it and replace the screen, but don't go through the trouble to replace the filter if the pan isn't leaking. Be careful doing a flush if you have high millage on your car and haven't had a trans service done. That can cause more damage than it prevents.

 

I never undertand the logic of leaving a majority of old ATF after 30K miles with the owner happily satisfied with the service (even pay $ for it). If the same mechenics change only 1 quart of motor oil and did not change the oil filter after 3000 miles, these same owners will never pay for such a poor engine oil service.

Just because a practice is a commonly accepted approach, does it mean it is what is needed by the car?
At one point, earth is considered flat by 99% of the population, does it mean the earth is really flat?