1-"OP"- is original poster.

2-I have a 350, and purchased 4 quarts of WS from my local Toyota dealer for about $21 and did a drain and refill at 30,000miles. Easy and cheap insurance. I did 15,000 miles on our previous 330 but my wife drives this and is very easy on the car and fluid came out still pretty much the cherry red color of original oil and no burned smell at all.

Regards-Bill

 

Not to sound like a moron, but $21 per quart, or $21 for four quarts total? Sounds like that is what I will do too, just drain what I can and refill with the new stuff.

 

Sorry-It was 21$ for the total 4 quarts, approximately. Basically the same price for the JWS3309 or T-IV for the RX330. I was surprised also, but I did the Toyota store rather than the Lexus store. Bill

 

i will be doing this tomorrow

 

Thanks for the update and especially the updated price.

 

over here in texas , list price for toyota atf t-IV is $5.36 per quart.

today i drained about 4.5qts.

 

I have been looking through my Lexus 2007RX Warranty and Service Guide Booklet. Specifically, checking the maintenance log schedule for the ATF recommended change interval. The first mention of replacing the transmission fluid is at 60,000 miles and then only if you are towing. The next mention is at 120,000 miles and again only if you are towing. Apparently Lexus doesn't require the ATF to be changed at all if you don't tow or go off road. They do recommend the level be checked at each oil change and additional ATF added if needed.

 

I would not go over 30,000 miles on a change in any automatic transmission. Like the engine,the fluid is the life blood of the transmission.(p.s if you tow or not)

 

sorry to resurrect this thread... new 07 RX350 owner here with 53,000 miles. It is not CPO. Since i dont know when all the fluids were last changed i took it to a toyota dealer to get the oil, atf/front diff, rear diff, and transfer case fluids changed out.

they said i have world standard atf so they will not replace the transmission fluid, they checked it and its fine. wow a dealer being honest for once. But with all this talk about transmissions and proper maintenance I wondering if I should push the issue and have it done anyway?

 

CHANGE IT! Nice to see a dealer trying to save u money now but what about in the future?
U don't know the history of the vehicle, it may have been driven hard.
Did they do a lube analysis to say it was OK? Just looking at it & smelling it doesn't cut it.

 

World Standard transmission fluid is supposed to be good for the life of the vehicle. Having said that, I plan to change mine at 4 years or 60K miles, whichever comes first.

 

Great idea, maybe by not changing the fluid one shortens the life of the vehicle, so I guess they could be right after all.

 

Thanks. I asked again about the ATF and he said they were sticking to the lexus maintenance schedule. Maybe in 2 more oil changes when I hit 60K Ill ask them to do it then. what does the lube analysis involve anyway, can they do it there or do they send a sample to a lab somewhere?

 

That's what I thought when I first read about it! It makes all the sense in the world for a manufacturer to spec to the warranty so the customer has to replace the vehicle with a new one...if you're an accountant who doesn't realize that the customer won't buy your brand after being treated to an unreliable vehicle. This infamously happened to the Big 3 in the 70's.

Having said that, I'm commuting in a 12 year old Camry with 170k miles on the clock. The transmission fluid was changed once at 70K miles, before my wife's grandfather gave her the car in 2001. I changed it last year at 155k miles. It's kind of amazing how well the engine and transmission seem to work at this point in time given the complete lack of maintenance. The suspension on the other hand is not exactly in "new" condition!

 

so whats the general consensus? how many people on this board are sticking with the original WS fluid?