WhipTrip

I just took my new to me RX350 with 62K miles in for a "transmission service". Per the Service Guide, Lexus recommends a transmission fluid change at 60k miles under the rough driving conditions portion. I only opted for this because the previous owner had the car in Paris, Texas (potential for lots of dirt roads) and I don't know how the previous owners drove it.

I took it to the local Toyota dealership here in town in order to ensure the proper fluid was used. I assume that the Toyota dealership would have done a drain and fill and not a flush. I did not think to ask that when I dropped it off. And it wasn't till tonight that I read postings that a "flush" is not good practice.

Is "drain and fill" their typical practice or would they have used a flush machine? Is there a trans filter that should have been changed out? Should I call to confirm? If they did a flush is there anything I should/can do about it? Car does seems to shift better (more decisive) than before the service.

Also should I plan on doing a trans fluid change every 60K now? I plan on keeping this car very long term. It is going to be a daily driver on normal roads/highways and no towing.

I paid $180 for the service, was this a fair deal? And in the future is this a simple DIY?

dcdyd

I don't think that 350 has a trans fluid filter that you can replace.

GatorMike

Careful tossing out "I don't think...." if you don't know. There certainly is a filter but you must drop the transmission oil pan to get to it. And at that point you should install a new gasket on the pan before replacing

RX330inFL

NAPA Online shows a filter kit for the 2nd Generation RX350:

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...057_0345616692

Similar if not the same for the RX330.

dcdyd

Sorry for the careless post. ABout how lonf that the filter needs to be replaced?

lexus114

Well mine is in their over 105,000 miles now. I did dab it with a paper towel when I dropped the pan three years ago @ 58,000 miles. No dirt showed on the towel at all, and the filter looked clean too.

Rainbird

You need to watch Toyota carefully and double check what they are going to do. They wanted to service my transmission at 30K and did not know that the Lexus 2007 and newer uses World Standard Fluid. I cringe to think they might have replaced the fluid with Type IV and damaged the trans.

WhipTrip

Yikes. I guess I better give them a call and find out what fluid they used and what type of service they did.

RX330inFL

For that price I am going to guess a system flush using WS fluid which is what you need. If they had used T-IV it should have been much cheaper.

Rainbird

BTW, I told the service advisor at Toyota that the vehicle used WS fluid and that the transmission did not need a flush or change of fluid for the life of the vehicle. He had no clue - (WS really?). In any event I had them do the 30k service and was very pleased with the work performed. You just need to to know that some dealerships and independent shops are not aware of fluid requirements on Lexus. Be informed - ask questions...

WhipTrip

Well as it turns out the answer to the fluid used was right in front of me this whole time.
The invoice shows the following:

$144.03 "World Trans Service" - 29tozwts (Curious if this is the same job code/part number that Lexus would use??)

$37.32 "World Standard AU" - 00289 -ATFWS

Still need to confirm if they did a flush or drain and fill