Necessary Maintenance
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: NY
Necessary Maintenance
My 2012 RX 350 has 72,000 miles. I bought it used at 14,000 miles and the only maintenance I've done is oil changes every 5,000 miles, brakes when needed, tire rotations, air & cabin filters.
Is it necessary to change the brake fluid (my mechanic says no), belts, hoses, coolant, transmission fluid, differential fluids, spark plugs, if there is no problem with any of these? While i don't expect to keep my RX for 200K miles, i don't want to break down while driving.
What has been your maintenance schedule?
Is it necessary to change the brake fluid (my mechanic says no), belts, hoses, coolant, transmission fluid, differential fluids, spark plugs, if there is no problem with any of these? While i don't expect to keep my RX for 200K miles, i don't want to break down while driving.
What has been your maintenance schedule?
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
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From: VA
I was going to move this to the RX350 forum where you will get a ton of responses but thought to give my own answer first.
This is all addressed in your owners manual which lists all service intervals. I will go down your list:
You need a new mechanic. Brake Fluid absorbs water, this leads to corrosion of expensive brake control components like the electronic brake force distribution thing ($3000) and the ABS unit ($$S) Toyota/Lexus recommend it be flushed (have the brakes bled) every 3 years. This costs around $140 more or less. It can be done when replacing brake pads.
Belts and hoses last at least 10 years and should just be inspected. The belt may need replacement sooner but is easily inspected.
Coolant is supposed to last 10 years or 100,000 miles according to Toyota/Lexus. It is called Super Long Life coolant for a reason.
The transmission fluid should be changed this is called a fluid exchange or you can do a couple drain and fills, around 60,000 - 70,000 miles. Some shops will do this service and some won't just call around until you find one that will do it. Some will say it is sealed forever. They are wrong. If you want the RX to last well over 100,000 miles without worrying about replacing the transmission, then get the fluid changed NOW.
If you have All wheel drive then you have a rear differential and a transfer case in front. Their fluids can be change when you do the transmission service.
Spark Plugs are good for about 120,000 miles. This is an expensive job as the intake manifold has to be removed to access the rear cylinder bank.
Change your engine air filter and cabin air filter every 15,000 miles.
This is all addressed in your owners manual which lists all service intervals. I will go down your list:
You need a new mechanic. Brake Fluid absorbs water, this leads to corrosion of expensive brake control components like the electronic brake force distribution thing ($3000) and the ABS unit ($$S) Toyota/Lexus recommend it be flushed (have the brakes bled) every 3 years. This costs around $140 more or less. It can be done when replacing brake pads.
Belts and hoses last at least 10 years and should just be inspected. The belt may need replacement sooner but is easily inspected.
Coolant is supposed to last 10 years or 100,000 miles according to Toyota/Lexus. It is called Super Long Life coolant for a reason.
The transmission fluid should be changed this is called a fluid exchange or you can do a couple drain and fills, around 60,000 - 70,000 miles. Some shops will do this service and some won't just call around until you find one that will do it. Some will say it is sealed forever. They are wrong. If you want the RX to last well over 100,000 miles without worrying about replacing the transmission, then get the fluid changed NOW.
If you have All wheel drive then you have a rear differential and a transfer case in front. Their fluids can be change when you do the transmission service.
Spark Plugs are good for about 120,000 miles. This is an expensive job as the intake manifold has to be removed to access the rear cylinder bank.
Change your engine air filter and cabin air filter every 15,000 miles.
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lexitaxi
RX - 1st Gen (1999-2003)
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Apr 7, 2010 12:03 PM