mcfancy

Ive been searching the forums for 2 days and havent found a step by step w/pics showing how to drain and fill w/new tranny fluid for rx330....sorry if I'm missing it but does someone have a good step by step diy w/pics? big thanks

bagsbie

I saw a DIY for RX300 but complete flush and fill with pan removal and filter replacement. It is here:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...er-change.html

I noticed that in 1st generation the poster says he drained ATF from the transfer case!? I believe he meant front differential drain plug but who knows. That's why I would think that for our cars it might be slightly different but should not be too complicated if only drain and fill. One thing I learned from some postings on here is that transmission shares the housing with the front diff (at least in RX330), so there should be two drain plugs. Do not confuse with the transfer case either.

I'll be doing transfer case and rear differential fluid drain and fill tomorrow. I'll snap some pictures and/or post some more information once I see what the drain plug configuration is...

mandyfig

Pics ready? Even though I do not have a transfer case, I would like to see this DIY.

mandyfig

I have seen a DIY with the RX330 for the oil change...pretty much the same except you will be draining the tranny bolt....

Kostyan

this is an easy job and anyone can really do it. On our RX330 AWD, the transmission seem to "share" the case with front differential, so there's one drain plug for that. The fluid that goes in there is a special Toyota ATF type IV fluid. I had taken my car to a neighborhood mechanic and watched him drain all fluids. I only paid someone to do it because don't have a garage and dont want to get too messy with it.

mcfancy

is it too much trouble for someone to post a pic of the drain plug so im certain to be unscrewing the right thing (does it use a hex head wrench like rx300???)

bagsbie

I've got the pics, although, I did not do a proper DIY. Will upload them as soon as I get around to it. Been traveling for work... It does use the hex bit but I do not recall the size.

Kostyan

sorry dont have pics but if you're asking these questions, then you probably want to do it yourself. You should not have a problem checking out the shape of the drain plug yourself, or stop by the dealership's parts dept and ask them to show you the drain plug part.

mandyfig

Do not quote me, I think it is a 10 mm hex. I will check my folder tonight, I usually note down the sizes of the wrenches I use so that when it is time to do it again, all I have to do is check my list.

mandyfig

10 mm is for my Camry for sure, and probably is for the Lexus, too, wait and I will tell you for sure.

mcfancy

reasonm I asked for a pic was to avoid possibility that I may drain something other than the tranny fluid. Is there a danger of this occuring or is their only one plug in the vicinity??

bagsbie

Here're the pictures I had taken when changing the fluids in the transfer case and the rear differential a while back. Transmission+diff body and transfer case photo:



Transfer case drain (opening is towards the passenger side):



Transfer case fill opening. It faces passenger side and is located above the exhaust pipe. You'll need some sort of a hand pump to pump that 1 litre gear oil in there (Pep Boys or AutoZone should carry one). Should be filled up to the edge of the fill hole:



Bottom pan of the transmission with the drain plug:



I haven't done the transmission fluid change. While doing that I am planning on dropping the pan to clean the filter and the magnets. Lexus dealer said that filter does not need to be replaced and can be simply cleaned.

Rear differential and its drain hole in the below photo:



I hope the above photos help someone who wants to do it themselves.

bagsbie

Amsoil synthetic gear oil for transfer case and rear differential:



Amsoil synthetic ATF. The back label is fuzzy but I underlined where it says that it satisfies Toyota Type III and Type IV standard:



label:

Lexmex

Nice job on this.

bagsbie

Thanks. I should really clean this up a bit and notate the photos better. Also, should mention that I use hex bit to remove the drain and fill plugs. I believe, and someone had already mentioned it in some other posts, it is 10mm hex.