ref my '05 330, I am looking for a DIY site, perhaps even with photos of the plugs and such. I am an accomplished gear head (well at least with regards to classic cars and normal DIY stuff on my other cars) and not afraid to tackle anyting. And I don't own any manuals for this car, yet.

After doing my oil and filter change I went to enter the data in the maintenance log and noticed a transfer case and differential fluid change. At 15000 miles? On a car driven by a little old lady (don't tell my wife I said this! ).

FWIW, I plan on using the Mobil 1 synthetic and I see where others have used similar products as opposed to the suggested 80w differential oil. Any comments on that?

Gary
ps, this is also posted on the us.lexusowners.com forum, so no flaming please.

 

Ypu might find this post helpful .. It is for the 300 RX AWD.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...transfer+fluid

 

Had mine done last month at local Toyota dealership.. All in cost $103 CAD. (thats $88 USD down south of the border)

Since I only plan on having this done every 50,000 km (31000 miles) hardly worth the DIY effort.
Given the mess and having to raise the vehicle.

The trani drain and fill is the DIY process that I plan on doing every 30,000 km (18600 miles) which personally I find much more important.
(not as much heated generated in the transfer case or rear diff to justify changing earlier)


Just my $.02
cheers,

Fern

 

You may want to check your owners manual on this. It is not required on the RX 300. I am not sure if things changed for 05 RX 330.

 

Not to sound like a smart a$$ but my post states that the differential/transfer case drain and fill is part of the 15000 mile service check. Having owned many rwd cars and changing out the differrential oil, it is odd that this is required every 15000 miles.

Gary

 

I don't want to sound like a smart a$$ either, just trying to be helpful. I also find it odd that this service is required at 15,000, especially when it is not required on the RX 300. When you said you noticed this service was required when you entered data in your maintenance log, I had no idea what log you are talking about (online, Lexus website, owners manual, or whatever). I am still not sure, but being that you re-stated "it is required at 15,000" above, I guess it is safe to assume it is coming from your owners manual.

 

i'm not sure if this applies to the 330, but if you do a search, the 300 has/had a history of tranny related failures, which prompted some (if not all) dealers to shorten the service intervals for fluid replacement... for example, my dealer says to replace the transfer case fluid ever 24 months/24k kms (not sure what that is in miles), which is shorter than what my owner's manual says.

 

The trouble with email and electronic message boards is that you can't hear the tone or see the faces of those corresponding. If I stepped on toes I apologize. The log I am talking about is in the supplemental owner's manual. That is where the service intervals are located as well as the area where the service department enters their stamp, mileage and date, showing that the service was done.

Gary

 

I just checked my 2001 supplemental owner's manual. If I look at the 15,000 service, differential and transfer fluid change are listed down the bottom under special operating conditions. Then there is a footnote indicating if you primarily do towing to change them. They don't even seem to care about occasional towing just primary. I don't think many RXs fall in this category. Is it the same for 05 or did they change this?

 

Gary,
For RX300, Lexus' Supplement Manual recommend replacement of differential oil (GL-5 gear oil) @ 60K miles. Follow 15K interval only when you tow. I replaced mine about 54K w/ mobil 1 75w90 synthetic gear oil. My RX did not tow but oil near drain plugs are already black with fine metal particles.

 

What year is your supplement manual? I am looking at the manual for my 01 and it lists transfer and differential fluid change only if you tow @ 60k, same as it does at 15K. I think the manual for my 2000 was the same.

 

Mikey00, mine is 2000, you are right, replacement should be under "special operating conditions". But it is not just towing, also one qualifies (according to Lexus) if driving short distance below freezing, which is about everyone who lives in Midewest and Northeast. I used to spent one and half winters in the salt belt and am glad to get rid of fine metal particles near both drain plugs.