Has anyone done a transmission (eCVT) or rear differential fluid change yet?
I’m coming up on 60,000 km with my 2022 NX 450h+ and wondering if I should be doing this sooner rather than later.
Lexus doesn’t list a specific service interval for these fluids—just to inspect them.

 

I've gleaned this from Car Care Nut guy per his advice:

Note Toyota has a newer fluid for transfer / differentials out but NX doesn't use it. At time of replacement I would recommend you to contact dealer to see if an updated fluid is recommended as things change with time!
ALWAYS USE TOYOTA fluids for coolants, transmission, ecvt, inverter, differential/transfer case, and OE plugs

Conversion Distance in Kilometres 8 kms = 5 miles / 48 = 30 / 100 = 60 / 80 = 50 / 190 = 118
maintenance intervals

All in Kilometres below
engine oil 8,000 or 6 months
transmission fluid / cvt fluid 100,000 or 6 years
engine coolant 80,000 or 5 years
inverter coolant 80,000 or 5 years
brake fluid 48,000 or 2-3 years
differential / transfer case fluid 100,000 then 80,000 kms Use Toyota Genuine ATF WS

spark plugs 190,000 or 10 years

You Tube

 

I am nowhere close to that mileage with either of my two 450h+ vehicles but, I plan to drain and refill these myself around that time, I believe that the fluid in both the rear diff and eCVT is just Toyota ATF WS so, it should be fairly straight forward. I've never subscribed to the theory of "lifetime" fluids or "sealed for life". All fluids will break down over time and lose some of their lubricating properties. I consider it cheap insurance.

 

Agree 100%.
As I noted in my post, always give the dealer a call since Toyota and the Oil Experts / Manufacturers always continue to develop new fluids over time.

 

Lexus does list 60k miles as replacement interval (Perform this service only if you drive while towing, using a car-top carrier, or heavy vehicle loading. Not all
vehicles are designed for towing.), download Warranty & Service guide for your model. It's the same interval for all Lexus/Toyota cars with automatic transmissions since over a decade.
Maybe NX 450h+ has something special but I don't believe it.

60k km is nowhere close to it. Wait for 150k km at least if you are not towing. Especially that it's eCVT which is supposed to be easier on oil than CVT.

 

Sorry, but IMO the manufacturer's recommended replacement / service intervals are not to be trusted by any stretch of the imagination. All manufacturers will have disclaimers typically stating all the 'opt out' conditions like dusty environments, hot or cold environments, long periods of idling, towing loads, humid conditions ... running your car on any day that ends in Y.

The all time classic story I've ever heard is not honouring a warranty claim for a failed Jeep differential because the owner went four wheeling with it and drove through a shallow stream. Water got into the diff and ruined it. So lesson here is do all your four weelin in the Walmart parking lots only and don't go through any puddles .

Oil is cheap, transmissions are not. My math says spend a few bucks, do it early, rest easy. Your evidence of having done any maintenance well prior to manual recommendations will only be of help to you if there's ever a problem with the component down the road. If the manufacturer wants to take you to task over a failed part, they have all those if and or buts to contest covering any failures. If you're leasing, totally other set of parameters, do what lease requires to keep manufacturer happy.

 

I didn't have any problems with Toyota service intervals. Like, yes I had changed ATF on CVT but at 100k miles. Local Toyota dealer gives the same advice, and dealers are known to try to sell services sooner than needed. The old car went cross continent and back afterwards just fine.
Typically Lexus/Toyota people have issues with worn out transmission much later, closer to 200k when they get wrong ideas from urban legend about "lifetime fluid".

Yes I read many claims on internet you need to change it at this or that interval, but these are made out of thin air, not by engineers with access to fleet data. Some especially bad cases of oil OCD came out and produced old leaflets telling to change transmission oil every 10k or 20k km 🤡🤡🤡. We are decades past such oil. Especially that we are talking about eCVT. You have much higher chance of somebody messing up something when changing eCVT oil rather than eCVT failing on its own.

 

i have never changed it to the cars i had,i'm having them each 7-8 years.never had trans or diff problem in my life.
if u must-do it at the dealership.more chance u will mess smth up with other.

 

Never changed ours on our sixth Lexus. Lexus says no change needed. Shop Manager 25 years with Lexus has more knowledge than anyone on this site and a friend said don't change. He went to the factory where the transmissions are built for training. Asked the question what is the number one cause of transmission failures. Answer wrong fluid and wrong level both factors in changing.

 

I keep my cars for about 15 years, sometimes down thru the kids. Some of you are blindly correct that Lexus/Toyota says it is a "lifetime" fluid, which is designed in their business model for 100k miles. I will put 300k miles on a car if it holds up, so I need 2 more changes to make it a lifetime fluid. Very simple. For people that dump their cars after 7 years, of course they have no need to change their fluid; they couldn't care less if it fails on the next guy. Oil breaks down from heat and shear, it does not last forever, no matter who tells you that, or what level of service adviser he may be.

 

(Shop Manager 25 years with Lexus has more knowledge than anyone on this site and a friend said don't change). Post your credentials on how much experience you have in car mechanics. You are telling members to go against what their manufacturer says so you must be some experienced certified master transmission expert.

 

Agreed. Oil (of any kind) is cheap insurance. Can’t expect a dealership service employee to go against the Lexus company line, except when they push dubious service add ons. 😂