Transmission Service for Lexus IS
04-26-23, 05:05 AM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Transmission Service for Lexus IS
I see a lot of opinions on if/when you should have your transmission serviced. Lexus uses a “lifetime” transmission fluid that is not supposed to be touched unless you are having transmission problems. In my opinion, it doesn’t make total sense. I have a hard time thinking any fluid is good for a vehicle’s “lifetime”. However, I do find it difficult to deviate from the suggested maintenance from the engineers who built the car and know it inside and out. I’m a logistician who works very closely with navy engineers every day. Engineers who develop systems (like a car) know what they are talking about regarding maintaining a system.
That being said, is there anyone who has never had their transmission fluid replaced but still achieved high miles and limited issues? Please reply with your odometer reading, I’m trying to prove a point.
Can you still hit over 200k miles without ever servicing your transmission?
Side note: My car has around 75k miles. I spoke to 4 Lexus service centers, 3 Toyota service centers, and 2 independent transmission shops and everyone told me not to let anyone touch the transmission unless you begin having problems. Mostly everyone on the internet says to drain and fill your transmission every 30-50k miles but I find it hard to believe with the research I’ve done.
That being said, is there anyone who has never had their transmission fluid replaced but still achieved high miles and limited issues? Please reply with your odometer reading, I’m trying to prove a point.
Can you still hit over 200k miles without ever servicing your transmission?
Side note: My car has around 75k miles. I spoke to 4 Lexus service centers, 3 Toyota service centers, and 2 independent transmission shops and everyone told me not to let anyone touch the transmission unless you begin having problems. Mostly everyone on the internet says to drain and fill your transmission every 30-50k miles but I find it hard to believe with the research I’ve done.
04-26-23, 10:39 AM
#2
I would say change it at 30-50k there is not such thing as lifetime lubrication imo. Most Lexus and Toyota service center will say what corporate tells them otherwise it creates a whole back and forth and consumers are litigious. Previous Lexus I owned didnt change the fluid till 100k because of slow shifting it helped but the damage was done it never shifted like new and the fluid was very burnt.
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Lukewarm (04-26-23)
04-26-23, 01:05 PM
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
I would say change it at 30-50k there is not such thing as lifetime lubrication imo. Most Lexus and Toyota service center will say what corporate tells them otherwise it creates a whole back and forth and consumers are litigious. Previous Lexus I owned didnt change the fluid till 100k because of slow shifting it helped but the damage was done it never shifted like new and the fluid was very burnt.
04-26-23, 02:47 PM
#4
I have heard that drain and fill is the way to go and to never do a full flush unless under certain circumstances. There is a video on YouTube of a Toyota/Lexus mechanic who recommends drain and refills every 6 years or 60k miles. I currently have 27k on my 2014, seeing as how next year my car will be a decade old, I'm thinking about doing a drain and refill then. Or perhaps even waiting till 40k or 50k miles, just haven't decided yet.
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Lukewarm (04-26-23)
04-26-23, 03:01 PM
#6
Can you go the life of the car without fluid change yes. Will changing the fluid harm the car no. It will come down to you what you think you’re comfortable with. As high mile my wife 08 is250 first transmission drain was at 180k. Had no issues with shifting. Even after the change still felt the same. Only reason it was change due to we sold the car to her sister. Her sister husband made a mistake draining the trans fluid instead of the oil change . So I hand to put back what he mistakenly drained out.
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Lukewarm (04-26-23)
04-26-23, 03:29 PM
#7
I see a lot of opinions on if/when you should have your transmission serviced. Lexus uses a “lifetime” transmission fluid that is not supposed to be touched unless you are having transmission problems. In my opinion, it doesn’t make total sense. I have a hard time thinking any fluid is good for a vehicle’s “lifetime”. However, I do find it difficult to deviate from the suggested maintenance from the engineers who built the car and know it inside and out. I’m a logistician who works very closely with navy engineers every day. Engineers who develop systems (like a car) know what they are talking about regarding maintaining a system.
That being said, is there anyone who has never had their transmission fluid replaced but still achieved high miles and limited issues? Please reply with your odometer reading, I’m trying to prove a point.
Can you still hit over 200k miles without ever servicing your transmission?
Side note: My car has around 75k miles. I spoke to 4 Lexus service centers, 3 Toyota service centers, and 2 independent transmission shops and everyone told me not to let anyone touch the transmission unless you begin having problems. Mostly everyone on the internet says to drain and fill your transmission every 30-50k miles but I find it hard to believe with the research I’ve done.
That being said, is there anyone who has never had their transmission fluid replaced but still achieved high miles and limited issues? Please reply with your odometer reading, I’m trying to prove a point.
Can you still hit over 200k miles without ever servicing your transmission?
Side note: My car has around 75k miles. I spoke to 4 Lexus service centers, 3 Toyota service centers, and 2 independent transmission shops and everyone told me not to let anyone touch the transmission unless you begin having problems. Mostly everyone on the internet says to drain and fill your transmission every 30-50k miles but I find it hard to believe with the research I’ve done.
Just don't do it. If you are looking for 200k without a Trans problem go ask the service centers and Trans shops if they will replace it if you have a problem up to 200K? See if they keep that same don't energy. That's a better question to ask.
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04-26-23, 04:48 PM
#8
04-26-23, 05:52 PM
#10
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
What's the point here? To make you feel better about not doing the Trans fluid? You have already stated - "but I find it hard to believe with the research I’ve done."
Just don't do it. If you are looking for 200k without a Trans problem go ask the service centers and Trans shops if they will replace it if you have a problem up to 200K? See if they keep that same don't energy. That's a better question to ask.
Just don't do it. If you are looking for 200k without a Trans problem go ask the service centers and Trans shops if they will replace it if you have a problem up to 200K? See if they keep that same don't energy. That's a better question to ask.
It's not that I'm trying to justify a decision, I just want to hear what other people have experienced. A lot of my research showed that people do drain and fill their trans fluid...but how long do their cars last in doing so? How long to people's cars last who never change their fluid?
I also wanted to share my experience and findings on this topic. I was surprised that the independent transmission shops also told me not to worry about servicing the trans unless there was a leak or obvious shifting problem.
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jgscott (04-26-23)
04-26-23, 06:04 PM
#11
Lexus Champion
This topic has been beaten to death, brought back from the dead then beaten to death again.
Here is what I know for certain. A transmission that is serviced on the regular will almost never fail. Every transmission you see that did fail very likely never had fluid changes.
Here is what I know for certain. A transmission that is serviced on the regular will almost never fail. Every transmission you see that did fail very likely never had fluid changes.
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04-26-23, 06:16 PM
#12
Maybe I wasn't super clear in my initial post, but the information that I'm looking for is "Can you still hit over 200k miles without ever servicing your transmission?" and "Is there anyone who has never had their transmission fluid replaced but still achieved high miles and limited issues?"
It's not that I'm trying to justify a decision, I just want to hear what other people have experienced. A lot of my research showed that people do drain and fill their trans fluid...but how long do their cars last in doing so? How long to people's cars last who never change their fluid?
I also wanted to share my experience and findings on this topic. I was surprised that the independent transmission shops also told me not to worry about servicing the trans unless there was a leak or obvious shifting problem.
It's not that I'm trying to justify a decision, I just want to hear what other people have experienced. A lot of my research showed that people do drain and fill their trans fluid...but how long do their cars last in doing so? How long to people's cars last who never change their fluid?
I also wanted to share my experience and findings on this topic. I was surprised that the independent transmission shops also told me not to worry about servicing the trans unless there was a leak or obvious shifting problem.
Some will make it 200k maybe. Some will not. Most have Not bought thier IS new and driven as 1 owner 200k to get a accurate data point.
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04-26-23, 10:10 PM
#13
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I would think that it's a lot like comparing someone driving around town like a taxi, someone driving like they stole it, or someone who only uses their car for leisure vacations. Who do you think will wear everything out on the whole car fastest? If you want to be safest, you treat your oils like the hard driver, but drive like you're on vacation.
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I would think that it's a lot like comparing someone driving around town like a taxi, someone driving like they stole it, or someone who only uses their car for leisure vacations. Who do you think will wear everything out on the whole car fastest? If you want to be safest, you treat your oils like the hard driver, but drive like you're on vacation.
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04-27-23, 07:46 AM
#15
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
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I would think that it's a lot like comparing someone driving around town like a taxi, someone driving like they stole it, or someone who only uses their car for leisure vacations. Who do you think will wear everything out on the whole car fastest? If you want to be safest, you treat your oils like the hard driver, but drive like you're on vacation.
--
I would think that it's a lot like comparing someone driving around town like a taxi, someone driving like they stole it, or someone who only uses their car for leisure vacations. Who do you think will wear everything out on the whole car fastest? If you want to be safest, you treat your oils like the hard driver, but drive like you're on vacation.
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