04-06 Sealed Transmission fluid change interval? (The Mother thread)
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Bsavage (10-12-19)
#393
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Ramps (if you have them) might give you more clearance, depending on how high you choose to jack up the front end. Bock the rear wheels, use parking brake and be sure the transmission is in park when you do this, either using ramps or jack stands.
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Bsavage (10-12-19)
#394
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Use everything I have. Ramps, floor jack and jack stands. You are almost completely under the car for quite a while for this operation. I always use the belt and suspenders method in terms of safety when working on my cars. The downside of anything going wrong with the supports being used when you are under a car will ruin your whole day.
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Bsavage (10-12-19)
#395
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My 2001 LS has 146,000 miles of which I put on approximately 48,000 miles in the last 10 years. I have never changed my trans fluid and at my last inspection of fluid it looked clean and still fairly red. Car shifts like a dream and although I wasn’t planning on doing a drain and refill, I might ask my Indy during my next oil change.
#396
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My 2001 LS has 146,000 miles of which I put on approximately 48,000 miles in the last 10 years. I have never changed my trans fluid and at my last inspection of fluid it looked clean and still fairly red. Car shifts like a dream and although I wasn’t planning on doing a drain and refill, I might ask my Indy during my next oil change.
Did my wife's GM myself since it has a dipstick at 73k (note to self yes that's a tapered drain plug and needs thread sealant), black. After 2 drain/fills, pink. 1.5 years later, clearish gray pink.
Color probably isn't the determining factor but smell might be. my .02
give us a clutch/3rd pedal so we can not worry about this stuff lol
edit: noteworthy--when the rear output shaft leaked it was actually bright pink--now a tranny expert likely can explain why that's not black like what is drained out--this accumulates on the trans mount that is silver aluminum. wonder how many out there might have this issue but don't know it, it does not get on the driveway until it gets much worse, and Lexus did not catch it on mine, the indie did (last thing Lexus wants to do is to replace a $14 seal not enough profit on it)
Last edited by Johnhav430; 10-12-19 at 05:29 AM.
#397
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Searching through the history of my car, prior to my purchase (10 years ago), There was an 85,000 or 90,000 mile service which I believe included a transmission fluid change. Prior to that, all the services were recorded and were done by Lexus for years and I'm fairly certain some included addressing the transmission fluid. How else could it look so good? PS....Besides the fluid looking good, I did the smell test and it does not smell burnt. All is well. Thank god for a dip stick!
#398
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Searching through the history of my car, prior to my purchase (10 years ago), There was an
85,000 or 90,000 mile service which I believe included a transmission fluid change. Prior to that, all the services were recorded and were done by Lexus for years and I'm fairly certain some included addressing the transmission fluid. How else could it look so good? PS....Besides the fluid looking good, I did the smell test and it does not smell burnt. All is well. Thank god for a dip stick!
85,000 or 90,000 mile service which I believe included a transmission fluid change. Prior to that, all the services were recorded and were done by Lexus for years and I'm fairly certain some included addressing the transmission fluid. How else could it look so good? PS....Besides the fluid looking good, I did the smell test and it does not smell burnt. All is well. Thank god for a dip stick!
Yes! I would prefer one. I have seen how difficult it is to get my wife's to the right level, despite measuring etc. Took me 6X of adding fractions of 1/4 quart. I don't think one wants to drain/fill cold, and it defies logic how much this stuff expands with heat.
My indie says it's not difficult to get the level right in his shop so I just accept it. I did say does it hurt things that the tranny is HOT already when I get here? He said no. (I don't want to overanalyze this one like everything else that I overanalyze I'll just accept it!) My car got 4X in 121k so I likely would wait another 2 years before touching it again. I thought it was $80 per drain/fill but I think it's actually $120, would have to check the invoice as I'm never there for just one item. So imagine how much can be saved DIY, just pay for fluid which is not that much. Like a brake fluid flush so inexpensive when DIY....
#399
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Yes! I would prefer one. I have seen how difficult it is to get my wife's to the right level, despite measuring etc. Took me 6X of adding fractions of 1/4 quart. I don't think one wants to drain/fill cold, and it defies logic how much this stuff expands with heat.
My indie says it's not difficult to get the level right in his shop so I just accept it. I did say does it hurt things that the tranny is HOT already when I get here? He said no. (I don't want to overanalyze this one like everything else that I overanalyze I'll just accept it!) My car got 4X in 121k so I likely would wait another 2 years before touching it again. I thought it was $80 per drain/fill but I think it's actually $120, would have to check the invoice as I'm never there for just one item. So imagine how much can be saved DIY, just pay for fluid which is not that much. Like a brake fluid flush so inexpensive when DIY....
My indie says it's not difficult to get the level right in his shop so I just accept it. I did say does it hurt things that the tranny is HOT already when I get here? He said no. (I don't want to overanalyze this one like everything else that I overanalyze I'll just accept it!) My car got 4X in 121k so I likely would wait another 2 years before touching it again. I thought it was $80 per drain/fill but I think it's actually $120, would have to check the invoice as I'm never there for just one item. So imagine how much can be saved DIY, just pay for fluid which is not that much. Like a brake fluid flush so inexpensive when DIY....
#400
Instructor
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Yes! I would prefer one. I have seen how difficult it is to get my wife's to the right level, despite measuring etc. Took me 6X of adding fractions of 1/4 quart. I don't think one wants to drain/fill cold, and it defies logic how much this stuff expands with heat.
My indie says it's not difficult to get the level right in his shop so I just accept it. I did say does it hurt things that the tranny is HOT already when I get here? He said no. (I don't want to overanalyze this one like everything else that I overanalyze I'll just accept it!) My car got 4X in 121k so I likely would wait another 2 years before touching it again. I thought it was $80 per drain/fill but I think it's actually $120, would have to check the invoice as I'm never there for just one item. So imagine how much can be saved DIY, just pay for fluid which is not that much. Like a brake fluid flush so inexpensive when DIY....
My indie says it's not difficult to get the level right in his shop so I just accept it. I did say does it hurt things that the tranny is HOT already when I get here? He said no. (I don't want to overanalyze this one like everything else that I overanalyze I'll just accept it!) My car got 4X in 121k so I likely would wait another 2 years before touching it again. I thought it was $80 per drain/fill but I think it's actually $120, would have to check the invoice as I'm never there for just one item. So imagine how much can be saved DIY, just pay for fluid which is not that much. Like a brake fluid flush so inexpensive when DIY....
Weber State University (WSU) - Automotive Technology Department - Transmission Lab.
Some guy changing and checking his at proper temps
Last edited by 430SLOwner; 10-12-19 at 12:09 PM.
#401
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Hey guys,
Just joined this forum, bought a 2005 LS430 a few months ago with 115k miles on it, it has about 127K miles on it now.
About a couple of weeks ago the transmission started to shift harshly, and as the cold weather sets in, it has gotten worse.
I would like to get the transmission flushed, but don't have the physical resources to do it myself.
I would really appreciate if anyone could recommend an honest mechanic in the Bethesda, MD area or in around Tysons Corner, or someone at a Lexus service center who is not on "Corporate Autopilot".
Thanks
Just joined this forum, bought a 2005 LS430 a few months ago with 115k miles on it, it has about 127K miles on it now.
About a couple of weeks ago the transmission started to shift harshly, and as the cold weather sets in, it has gotten worse.
I would like to get the transmission flushed, but don't have the physical resources to do it myself.
I would really appreciate if anyone could recommend an honest mechanic in the Bethesda, MD area or in around Tysons Corner, or someone at a Lexus service center who is not on "Corporate Autopilot".
Thanks
#402
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Hey guys,
Just joined this forum, bought a 2005 LS430 a few months ago with 115k miles on it, it has about 127K miles on it now.
About a couple of weeks ago the transmission started to shift harshly, and as the cold weather sets in, it has gotten worse.
I would like to get the transmission flushed, but don't have the physical resources to do it myself.
I would really appreciate if anyone could recommend an honest mechanic in the Bethesda, MD area or in around Tysons Corner, or someone at a Lexus service center who is not on "Corporate Autopilot".
Thanks
Just joined this forum, bought a 2005 LS430 a few months ago with 115k miles on it, it has about 127K miles on it now.
About a couple of weeks ago the transmission started to shift harshly, and as the cold weather sets in, it has gotten worse.
I would like to get the transmission flushed, but don't have the physical resources to do it myself.
I would really appreciate if anyone could recommend an honest mechanic in the Bethesda, MD area or in around Tysons Corner, or someone at a Lexus service center who is not on "Corporate Autopilot".
Thanks
#404
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I agree with the above posts. NO FLUSH. Drain and fill only.
#405
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I would do multiple drain and fills, not just one. Three (spaced apart by a few miles minimum of course) is the usual route to get most of the old out. Have the shop verify the fluid level is OK, since your transmission does not have a dipstick. Low fluid level could be part of your problem.