Hodgestg

I’ve owned my 2011 RX350 since purchased as new in February 2011 (154 months) and has it’s gone 109,000 miles. I’m wondering if I am way past replacing transmission, transfer case and differential fluids. My Warranty and Services Guide ONLY calls for these fluid changes if the car has regularly towed a trailer, used a car top carrier or towed heavy vehicles, none of which apply. All these systems seem in fine shape with no leaks. Can anyone offer comment on this?

Clutchless

Change them all as soon as you can. It is not too late for the transmission fluid, differential and transfer case fluids to be changed. Your vehicle will drive better afterward and these components should last longer if you intend to keep the RX.
Also you are due to change the coolant if it has not been done. Lexus calls for it to be changed after 10 years or 100,000 miles.
The brake fluid should be changed every 3 years or so.

For the transmission I recommend Idemitsu TLS-LV automatic transmission fluid as it is a full synthetic designed to meet the Toyota WS specifications. Amazon sells it in 5 quart jugs. https://www.idemitsulubricants.com/p...tf-type-tls-lv

I recommend you use synthetic fluids in the transfer case and differential too. See the manual for the proper lubricants. I recall the differential takes 75-90 or 80-90 gear oil and I think the transfer case also takes the same stuff.

carguy75

I purchased my 2015 RX350 AWD used with 172k miles. I changed all the drive train fluids and the RX350 runs like it only has about 40k miles. Change the fluids.

My advice would be to use OEM or Valvoline brand fluids. Both work well in Toyota engines and transmissions. I use Valvoline Max-life transmission fluid, Valvoline High mileage engine oil, and Valvoline 75w-80 gear oil.

I also used the same fluids in my son's 2007 Highlander 3.3V6 4WD with over 280k miles and it runs like new as well.

Correction: I used 80w-90 gear oil in the 2007 Highlander and 75W-90 in the 2015 RX350.

RX in NC

Your son has a 2077 Highlander? Where did he obtain his time machine?

Felix

I just changed the oil/filter, trans fluid/filter, pto(transfer case) & rear diff fluid the other day.....0w-40 M1, Wix xp filter, a gallon maxlife trans fluid, Wix filter, cleaned the magnets, 2qtrs of Royal purple 75w-90 diff fluid for the rx......

Clutchless

Felix - How is the 0w-40 working out? How many miles on your RX and how cold does it get wherever the Jet City is located?
I use a blend of 2 quarts 0w-40 and 4.5 quarts of 0w-20 as it seems to reduce start up noise etc. I learned about this blend from some threads at the bobistheoilguy.com forums.https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/

ColAngus

My guess is either Winnipeg or New York?

carguy75

Darn. I meant 2007.

carguy75

Sounds good.

Correction: I used Valvoline 80w-90 fluid not 75w-80 in my son's 2007 Highlander and Valvoline 75w-90 in the 2015 RX350. I also used some AT-205 reseal(an ounce) in the gear oil to help rejuvenate the old seals in the differentials and transfer case. The same for my 2015 Lexus RX350.

Felix

I've been using the M1 0w-40 w/ a M1, K&N, or a Wix xp filter, for yrs now w/ no issues. No cam phazer rattle even w/ a week of not using it. I add a bottle of Zinc oil additive, such as Lucas or Rislone zinc additive with every oil change, of which I did last week, as well as the trans fluid/Wix filter.....We're just s/e of Lake Washington....Its ok up here, I do miss at times Long Beach (Rose Park) as well other places Palo Alto (the Circle's), Tempe, AZ, &now we're up here......The place were in now has gone up 3.5 X's now......as well as the taxes...No escaping those. My wife doesn't want to move as she's kinda tired of it.

Hodgestg

When I have the transmission fluid changed, should the filter be changed as well?

Clutchless

It is not necessary. Some will argue that it should be changed to be thorough. It partly depends on how many miles are on it and if it has been changed before or regularly. It adds a lot more to the cost. If under 100,000 miles I would skip the filter change.

In 2018 I got a used 2013 Sienna with 89,000 miles and probably the original fluid and it has the same transmission and engine as the RX. I did several drain and fills but never touched the filter. It ran better on the new fluid and ran great when I traded it in with 122,000 miles 2 years later. It was a great moving van.