Transmission Fluid - Change or Not? (Merged threads)
12-12-19, 06:48 AM
#181
Are you going to keep the car forever or put 200k miles on it? If not, I would say do not worry about it. But the naysayers will say something different, so basically do what makes you comfortable. Like changing oil. Do it at 3k miles, 5k, or 10k. Manual says once per year basically.
Saying that, if you plan to dump the car into the hands of the next owner before the mileage gets too high, and using this as an excuse to not care for your transmission is like saying you don't need to change your engine oil. Let the next owner worry about that.
Obviously transmission fluid does not see the same level of abuse as engine oil, but the fluid and filter is still a wear item which MUST be cared for, regardless of how long you plan to keep the car for..
12-12-19, 06:54 AM
#182
Between 60-70K is time for a filter change. After 100k, it's even more imperative you do so. By 150K miles, you're beginning to damage your gearbox.
Doing a simple drain and fill with your original filter in there at like almost 200k miles is probably going to destroy your transmission. I;ve seen it happen. The original magnets inside the pan filter cannot hold the extra metal shavings any longer, so when you do a drain and fill, the cycling of the new fluid greatly increases the chances of these little metal shavings breaking loose and clogging one of the many intricate passageways inside your transmission.
When installing the new pan filter back inside, be very sure to thoroughly clean the metal mating surfaces, both on the bottom of the transmission and the top of the pan, and use a gasket seal paste just to be safe and avoid any leaks.
Once your pan filter is replaced, from that point on, for the next 60K miles I would recommend doing 1 or 2 drain and fills.
Keep in mind, that, dropping your pan to let the fluid out, or even doing a drain and fill will only dump roughly 25% of the transmissions fluid contents out...So, ensuring that the pan filter (magnets) are always clean and ready to do their job throughout the life of the gearbox is highly imperative.
I strongly recommend to use Redline D4 ATF fluid for your fluid change. --- https://www.redlineoil.com/d4-atf
Doing a simple drain and fill with your original filter in there at like almost 200k miles is probably going to destroy your transmission. I;ve seen it happen. The original magnets inside the pan filter cannot hold the extra metal shavings any longer, so when you do a drain and fill, the cycling of the new fluid greatly increases the chances of these little metal shavings breaking loose and clogging one of the many intricate passageways inside your transmission.
When installing the new pan filter back inside, be very sure to thoroughly clean the metal mating surfaces, both on the bottom of the transmission and the top of the pan, and use a gasket seal paste just to be safe and avoid any leaks.
Once your pan filter is replaced, from that point on, for the next 60K miles I would recommend doing 1 or 2 drain and fills.
Keep in mind, that, dropping your pan to let the fluid out, or even doing a drain and fill will only dump roughly 25% of the transmissions fluid contents out...So, ensuring that the pan filter (magnets) are always clean and ready to do their job throughout the life of the gearbox is highly imperative.
I strongly recommend to use Redline D4 ATF fluid for your fluid change. --- https://www.redlineoil.com/d4-atf
12-12-19, 07:36 AM
#183
Intermediate
I changed mine at about 70k miles shortly after I bought the car. I also used Valvoline Maxlife which some will say is a terrible idea. I've used it in my Camry that had shifting issues and it helped. I've put 10k miles on the new fluid and I have had no issues. If I ever have any issues with the transmission I'll let the forum know so they can blame it on the Valvoline. Anyway, I know I'm kind of gambling with not using WS but to each his own and use at your own risk.
As I've pointed out in other threads, other Lexus markets such as Australia have recommended ATF change intervals.
As I've pointed out in other threads, other Lexus markets such as Australia have recommended ATF change intervals.
<-- bclexus
12-12-19, 09:47 AM
#185
I changed mine at about 70k miles shortly after I bought the car. I also used Valvoline Maxlife which some will say is a terrible idea. I've used it in my Camry that had shifting issues and it helped. I've put 10k miles on the new fluid and I have had no issues. If I ever have any issues with the transmission I'll let the forum know so they can blame it on the Valvoline. Anyway, I know I'm kind of gambling with not using WS but to each his own and use at your own risk.
As I've pointed out in other threads, other Lexus markets such as Australia have recommended ATF change intervals.
As I've pointed out in other threads, other Lexus markets such as Australia have recommended ATF change intervals.
12-12-19, 10:17 AM
#186
Lexus Test Driver
I changed mine at about 70k miles shortly after I bought the car. I also used Valvoline Maxlife which some will say is a terrible idea. I've used it in my Camry that had shifting issues and it helped. I've put 10k miles on the new fluid and I have had no issues. If I ever have any issues with the transmission I'll let the forum know so they can blame it on the Valvoline. Anyway, I know I'm kind of gambling with not using WS but to each his own and use at your own risk.
As I've pointed out in other threads, other Lexus markets such as Australia have recommended ATF change intervals.
As I've pointed out in other threads, other Lexus markets such as Australia have recommended ATF change intervals.
At 25:45 in this video the discussion about Toyota's WS ATF begins...
Last edited by bclexus; 12-12-19 at 10:21 AM.
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Chaos236 (12-18-19)
12-12-19, 11:44 AM
#187
Pole Position
Very informative BC! Learned a lot there of things he mentioned that I never thought of. It kind of spooks me now using Mobil 1 recommended for GM,Toyota & Honda motor oil in my cars. 
12-12-19, 01:09 PM
#188
Lexus Test Driver
12-12-19, 02:48 PM
#189
The WS discussion interests me. Whilst WS is designed specifically for the Aisin box, I would argue that specifically doesn't mean it alone must exclusively be used. Obviously Toyota want to flog their product, but it's priced well so there's no reason not to use it, Toyota always have plenty in stock in 4L tins.
That said, reputable transmissions specialists the world over use compatible alternatives every day of the week. In my experience only dealers use WS, indys here generally use the appropriate Penrite product. There are hundreds of thousands of Camrys and 3GS out there with non genuine fluid and they're not dropping dead - they just aren't.
Theoretically mechanics in a US Lexus dealership would never have serviced a Lexus GS transmission in their professional life(excluding filling fluid on replacement units) unless they did so in previous employment, being officially sealed units. I would be inclined to trust a transmission specialist whose life is transmissions moreso than a dealer whose staff hadn't opened one. Even using a flush machine doesn't require dropping the pan.
I suspect this topic is much like the engine oil viscosity and brand debate. There's always the 'you must use this recommendation' from the manufacturer but in the real world vehicles are using all sorts just fine. Clean, suitable non genuine oil is always better than dirty oil, no matter where in the vehicle it goes.
That said, reputable transmissions specialists the world over use compatible alternatives every day of the week. In my experience only dealers use WS, indys here generally use the appropriate Penrite product. There are hundreds of thousands of Camrys and 3GS out there with non genuine fluid and they're not dropping dead - they just aren't.
Theoretically mechanics in a US Lexus dealership would never have serviced a Lexus GS transmission in their professional life(excluding filling fluid on replacement units) unless they did so in previous employment, being officially sealed units. I would be inclined to trust a transmission specialist whose life is transmissions moreso than a dealer whose staff hadn't opened one. Even using a flush machine doesn't require dropping the pan.
I suspect this topic is much like the engine oil viscosity and brand debate. There's always the 'you must use this recommendation' from the manufacturer but in the real world vehicles are using all sorts just fine. Clean, suitable non genuine oil is always better than dirty oil, no matter where in the vehicle it goes.
The following 3 users liked this post by Cwang:
12-12-19, 03:15 PM
#190
The WS discussion interests me. Whilst WS is designed specifically for the Aisin box, I would argue that specifically doesn't mean it alone must exclusively be used. Obviously Toyota want to flog their product, but it's priced well so there's no reason not to use it, Toyota always have plenty in stock in 4L tins.
That said, reputable transmissions specialists the world over use compatible alternatives every day of the week. In my experience only dealers use WS, indys here generally use the appropriate Penrite product. There are hundreds of thousands of Camrys and 3GS out there with non genuine fluid and they're not dropping dead - they just aren't.
Theoretically mechanics in a US Lexus dealership would never have serviced a Lexus GS transmission in their professional life(excluding filling fluid on replacement units) unless they did so in previous employment, being officially sealed units. I would be inclined to trust a transmission specialist whose life is transmissions moreso than a dealer whose staff hadn't opened one. Even using a flush machine doesn't require dropping the pan.
I suspect this topic is much like the engine oil viscosity and brand debate. There's always the 'you must use this recommendation' from the manufacturer but in the real world vehicles are using all sorts just fine. Clean, suitable non genuine oil is always better than dirty oil, no matter where in the vehicle it goes.
That said, reputable transmissions specialists the world over use compatible alternatives every day of the week. In my experience only dealers use WS, indys here generally use the appropriate Penrite product. There are hundreds of thousands of Camrys and 3GS out there with non genuine fluid and they're not dropping dead - they just aren't.
Theoretically mechanics in a US Lexus dealership would never have serviced a Lexus GS transmission in their professional life(excluding filling fluid on replacement units) unless they did so in previous employment, being officially sealed units. I would be inclined to trust a transmission specialist whose life is transmissions moreso than a dealer whose staff hadn't opened one. Even using a flush machine doesn't require dropping the pan.
I suspect this topic is much like the engine oil viscosity and brand debate. There's always the 'you must use this recommendation' from the manufacturer but in the real world vehicles are using all sorts just fine. Clean, suitable non genuine oil is always better than dirty oil, no matter where in the vehicle it goes.
12-13-19, 11:34 AM
#192
Lexus Test Driver
The Owners Manual Scheduled Maintenance Service goes to 180 Months or 150,000 Miles with no requirement to replace the transmission fluid.
Last edited by bclexus; 12-13-19 at 11:37 AM.
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mrplesh (12-13-19)
12-13-19, 01:41 PM
#193
Thanks BCLexus. My original point was that the owner's manual does not recommend any transmission fluid service. Which is why I said if you plan on keeping your car to 200k miles or more, then you may want to change it since the manual ends at 15 years or 150k miles. If not and you keep it to only 100k miles with no transmission service change, and then get rid of the vehicle, it is not against recommended maintenance schedule. I said do what makes you comfortable, which some people interpreted as I am suggesting you should neglect maintenance on your car and pass it along to someone else. Not my intention. If the maintenance is not required, and you do have it changed (properly), then that is your decision. It may not be helping anything or hurting anything. In other words, there is not one right answer.
12-14-19, 08:17 AM
#194
12-14-19, 10:27 AM
#195