Universe93

At 64k miles on my 2013 ES350. I drive around 60-80 miles a day just for work. I've posted on transmission fluid threads before. So with this "sealed transmission," I passed 60k miles and the Lexus dealership refuses to do a transmission fluid change. I know someone posted instructions on how to do a fluid change yourself, but I don't have time and not gonna deal with this at home.

Are the majority of users here going to just follow the instructions and never change their fluid? How about at 100k?

at this point even at 100k miles, I would need to have a private Japanese shop do the fluid change.

I would be more at peace of mind if the majority of users are never going to change their fluid. That being said, my dad owns a 2007 ES350 with 174k miles with no transmission fluid change and still smooth shifts (he doesn't care for "extra" maintenance if it's not in the manual).

WNC

I have a 2008 with 201,000 miles. I had a transmission fluid change at 120,000 miles. Don't know why, I just thought it would be a good idea! Wasn't having any problems ans still don't have any problems!

Freds430

I find it humorous how posters will talk about the Lexus dealership stealing from them by doing work not needed and than insist on a transmission fluid change. My local Lexus Service Manager when I asked him about a transmission fluid change said it is not needed and could cause more harm than good. I appreciated his honesty. He was refusing my money.

355F1

I think one of my old threads may help you answer this!


https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...-analyzed.html

GES

This transmission oil analysis report is a more objective way of answering the question and again supports the idea that if you are an average driver who doesn't abuse his car, doesn't drive it hard all the time and doesn't do a lot of off road driving, then you shouldn't worry about changing the transmission fluid, at least till you are well over 100,000 miles.

BradTank

FWIW, my former LS430 also had the WS "lifetime" transmission fluid. When I checked the records, the fluid had never been changed. I thought it might be a good idea to get it changed, but 3 dealers refused to change the fluid when asked. I normally change my own transmission fluid, but didn't feel comfortable doing it myself because you're supposed to use the TechStream software to set the temperature on the transmission ECU.

So I just left it alone, and I ended up putting close to 180k miles on in with the original fluid, absolutely no issues when I sold it.

But just about the only time anyone had a problem with their transmission on the LS forum, it started out with :
"so I just had the fluid changed and now my transmission is slipping...."
All sorts of people though were on their original fluid after 12+ years and no problems.


I'm in the camp that says just leave it alone. I think it's far more likely the rookie lube jockey that ends up changing it, screws it up.
I will say it makes me feel uncomfortable leaving it in there, but at least in my experience it held up like it was supposed to.