First post -- new GX owner
02-10-20, 06:10 AM
#1
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First post -- new GX owner
First post here of a new owner of 2015 GX460 Lux.
I'd like to thank the forum for providing incredible amount of context for my pre-purchase research of the make and model. A few words about myself. I've always loved cars and working on cars. Since college I've prided myself on doing my own maintenance and repairs on my vehicles. For a long time a was (still am I suppose) a BMW fan. I've had 3! 3-series up to now (e30/e46/e90) and neither ever saw the dealer service bay. The e90 is still my daily. I would hae stayed with the pattern, but the sad thing is the quality of the components being going downhill with each model change, and the last two strikes were the direct injection and manual tranny deprecation. So no more 3-series for me. With that I came to a realisation that I wanted something of a dinosaur for a change. I wanted V8, I wanted old school body on frame, I wanted port injection and something I could service in my garage. I wanted three rows, as somwhere along the road my family no longer fits in two. And that how I came into this fine (all options but the driver support) 2015 Lux. It's everything BMW is not. And I love driving them both back to back.
Phillip
I'd like to thank the forum for providing incredible amount of context for my pre-purchase research of the make and model. A few words about myself. I've always loved cars and working on cars. Since college I've prided myself on doing my own maintenance and repairs on my vehicles. For a long time a was (still am I suppose) a BMW fan. I've had 3! 3-series up to now (e30/e46/e90) and neither ever saw the dealer service bay. The e90 is still my daily. I would hae stayed with the pattern, but the sad thing is the quality of the components being going downhill with each model change, and the last two strikes were the direct injection and manual tranny deprecation. So no more 3-series for me. With that I came to a realisation that I wanted something of a dinosaur for a change. I wanted V8, I wanted old school body on frame, I wanted port injection and something I could service in my garage. I wanted three rows, as somwhere along the road my family no longer fits in two. And that how I came into this fine (all options but the driver support) 2015 Lux. It's everything BMW is not. And I love driving them both back to back.
Phillip
Last edited by PhillipT; 02-10-20 at 06:30 AM.
02-10-20, 06:20 AM
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Only had my truck for a week. Here is what I've done to it so far.
- Greased the driveshaft with Valvoline red (multivehicle) grease. That went fairly easy with the newly purchased LockAndLube grease gun. . I do recommend the gun and the LockNLube contraption. Made greasing one hand effortless. Where I was not so confident was the amount required to fill the slip yokes. I pumped 4-6 times into each slip joint and decided to let it be. I figured the grease will get to where it is supposed to go by centrifugal force. Overfilling and straining the shaft with hydrolock was to me an unnecessary risk. If you have good tips/argument to the opposite fell free to voice them.
- Dropped the pan and changed ATF fluid with Valvoline MaxLife. Changed the strainer/filter while I was there. I love the simplicity and the ease of access of the truck already. Here is where the forum helped again, for which I am very grateful. I've installed OBDFusion on my phone and with the Toyota pack could see the atf temps. Will follow up shortly with 2nd change, but without dropping the pan this time.
Last edited by PhillipT; 02-10-20 at 06:32 AM.
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Acrad (02-10-20)
02-10-20, 06:27 AM
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Things planned but not performed yet
- Diff/TC/Front diff change with assorted Redline oils (always had good luck with Redline).
- Secondary injection mod with UF107
- Second ATF drain/fill with Valvoline MaxLife (love my Walmart auto section)
Last edited by PhillipT; 02-10-20 at 06:33 AM.
02-10-20, 07:27 AM
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It's been pointed out to me (because I like to change my fluids more periodically than the manual requires) the manual recommends 10K Engine OCIs, so you should be fine doing it at that interval or sooner should you so desire.
I'm curious why you selected Valvoline over the OEM tranny fluid? just personal preference?
02-10-20, 07:57 AM
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Valvoline vs OEM. This is a PERSONAL preference. Here is how I rationalize it. Toyota does not make neither tranny, not fluid for it. So there is nothing proprietary, no secret sause 
in either. Valvoline MaxLife is WS rated which is what the manufacturer of the tranny (Aisin) required (WS stamped on the fill plug, check it out). Besides being highly thought of on BITOG, It is also extremely convenient and price efficient for me. Local Walmart has it for 17$ gallon and I use it for both this and wife's minivan. If you maintain multiple vehicles you might as well settle on common fluids. Same goes for engine oil, I plan to use the same Idemitsu 0W-20 in either vehicle...
As to oil change the dealer has changed it before the sale, but I have no idea what was used. So 5K later Idemitsu 0W-20 would go in (5K should be good with any oil, mineral or synthetic). After that I'll probably test it 10K later and decide if I like the results. Expect to see the UOA here, but it'll be a year with me switching between cars for commute....
in either. Valvoline MaxLife is WS rated which is what the manufacturer of the tranny (Aisin) required (WS stamped on the fill plug, check it out). Besides being highly thought of on BITOG, It is also extremely convenient and price efficient for me. Local Walmart has it for 17$ gallon and I use it for both this and wife's minivan. If you maintain multiple vehicles you might as well settle on common fluids. Same goes for engine oil, I plan to use the same Idemitsu 0W-20 in either vehicle...As to oil change the dealer has changed it before the sale, but I have no idea what was used. So 5K later Idemitsu 0W-20 would go in (5K should be good with any oil, mineral or synthetic). After that I'll probably test it 10K later and decide if I like the results. Expect to see the UOA here, but it'll be a year with me switching between cars for commute....
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GB2011GX (02-25-20)
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02-11-20, 07:19 PM
#8
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Tranny shifts better with the fluid change. I think the p.o. had the level set incorrectly. The tranny pan had no gasket, wtf? Do they come that way fro the factory?
secondary injection mod complete. In all fariness it was not necessary with the foam looking new. Oh well...
secondary injection mod complete. In all fariness it was not necessary with the foam looking new. Oh well...
02-11-20, 07:42 PM
#10
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i dont think the drain and fill would account for the shift improvement... its either the fluid or the level....or placebo, thats been known to happen
02-11-20, 08:26 PM
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02-12-20, 06:05 AM
#13
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18.53 mpg on the second full to empty tank. This experience just keep getting better. Decades ago I owned another "tank", Vovlo 240DL, that averaged 22. With I think 2.3L 4 cylinder and a 4sp manual that could barely got out of it's own way...
02-16-20, 10:56 AM
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Did second atf drain and fill. Same for TC and rear diff. Rear diff fluid looked the worst, cloudy dark brown. Not sure what the oe fluid looks like when new, the redline that went in was reddish brown and transparent. Good for another 60k i would think. The tranny will get 30k drain and fill from now on.
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GB2011GX (02-25-20)
02-24-20, 05:28 PM
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Finally got around to front diff. Surprisingly it looked not nearly as spent as the rear fluid. Judging by that subjective criterion, I'll be doing the front diff fluid changes at 60K intervals, and the rear diff/tranny at 30K. Not sure about TC, I'd probably go with 60K on that just as well. Anybody knows why the front is easier on oil than the rear? What is the front/rear power distribution in these models?