Neil4Speed

Hey Guys,

I just wanted some opinions on this. Just out of curiousity, I asked the dealer the price to change the Diff fluid in my 1998 SC400 (I don't believe it has ever been changed), and was surprised to hear it was only $60, and to do the Transmission Fluid change was $95. Does that sound about right? Is there any benefit to getting it changed at the dealer vs an independent?

soarer93

The Differential Fluid is just Hypoid 75w90 Gear Oil - not terribly expensive to buy.
The Tranmission Fluid is Type T-IV fluid ONLY - and will cost an arm and a leg - so 95$ is not accurate.
The benefit of getting it done at the dealer is that you can Ensure they put the proper fluid in and not some crap that says its compatible with Type T-IV - use the Toyota stuff and nothing but for that Transmission.

*Assuming you have the original Automatic Transmission*

KA8

iTrader: (1)

I just did diff oil($10) and tranny flush myself ($50 for 10 qts toyota t4 fluid @ carson toyota) using method shown here. Took less than 2 hrs to do both.

http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/trans...ransflush.html
Pretty sure you can follow this as LS and SC4 share similar drivetrain.

Shop will most likely do a drain and fill about 2-3 qts so doing a flush will ensure most of the dirty fluid is replaced.

Vrank

iTrader: (4)

Price given sounds like a drain/fill, probably right around 3 quarts. I work at a dealer, they're ****ing idiots. The services you mentioned will be done by retarded lube techs who are probably hungover or just got back from smoking weed at lunch. Drain and fills don't really do a whole bunch for it. If you can't do it yourself, tell the service advisor you don't want the express techs working on your vehicle. Honestly, I wouldn't let half the main shop techs work on it either. Common sense is not required to be a tech. Just some bull**** certs that anyone can get for a fee. I'm on lunch right now and seriously considering not going back today or ever because of the amount of idiots on every level.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

^^ I imagine if this is a common practice it's part of the dealer's effort to placate Lexus owners who know very, very, very little about what it takes to service or maintain a car (let alone a complex model) who would complain about a longer wait time for an oil or fluid change. Yeah, I'd request a senior technician at the expense of more wait time too. Interesting to hear that a Lexus dealer isn't following the requirements for correct fluids in the factory service manual at that.