thomas1

By the way you are lucky Lexmex, the carquest locally do not carry the AMSOIL... I called like 7 of them. And they dont have the wire mesh filter either, just the paper one.

mikey00

After reading about how free flowing the screen is in your link, I am not in such a big hurry to change or clean it anymore. I was worried about possible plugging. Two different Toyota dealers told me it is a stainless steel mesh with no maintenance required and not to mess with it. I will get to it eventually because I am curious to see whats in there.

thomas1

I wish I could remember what kind I have in mine, I am going to have to drop the pan and see. I am going back to screen mesh if that is not what is in there because I have the external filter....

code58

Mikey- My son bought this car as a lease return for my DIL and took it to Lexus (when he bought it at about 32k) and had them do all the maintenance. They obviously replaced the filter at that time because it had not had the trans. serviced again til I serviced it at 97k and it had the paper filter in it. I ordered all the parts from an online parts place in So. Cal. They sell orig. eq. parts in generic boxes (all orig. eq. with Toyota on the parts) and when I opened the filter box it had the orig. Toyota screen filter. I don't think the screen would be very likely to clog up though. Someone on one of the Lexus sites made the statement that A/T fluid is not detergent- I totally disagree- the fluid in that trans. was nasty!, but the inside of the trans. was clean and even the pan was relatively clean. The dirt all seemed to be in suspension. Mikey, if you have a screen filter, even if it was dirty you should have no problem cleaning it with carb cleaner or something strong like that- there is no evidence of anything but metal to it- I don't think anything to be hurt. But it probably wont have any dirt that solvent won't wash off anyway.

ccc70

Just wondering if anyone has tried this kit

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...e=1158&PTSet=A

from Advanced Auto Parts. Seems to be half the price as the Toyota kit and certainly looks the same.

Thanks

Lexmex

I don't like the cork gasket, but if this kit had the rubber gasket I might be interested.

rx300s415

Hey everyone, I jsut ran over to Toyota today and picked up a case of T4. This will be my second time changing the tranny fluid on the RX300 (I'm at about 130,200 miles now). I'm using the fluid evacuator pump to siphon the tranny fluid out through the dipstick. I only manage to get about less than 3.5 quarts at a time. I heard I'm supposed to get a quart more, but I guess since the method I'm changing the fluid by is through circulate then change again 2 more times this doesn't really matter(Right?).
I put about less than 3.5 quarts back in and I tried to take a reading but of course since I filled up through the tranny dipstick hole, I can't get a good reading because the dipstick picks up fluid from the sidewalls of the dipstick hole(Anybody know a way to get around this and get a good reading?).
After watching a movie or two I went out for a 20 minute drive and came back and took another reading. This time I expected the dipstick to be pretty accurate since that should be enough time for any fluid on the sidewalls of the tube to drip down. I got a reading about 1 or 2mm over the maximum hot nitch. Is this alright? I'm planning to do 100 miles then another "drain-and-fill." Then repeat one more time or two more times (since I will have enough extra fluid) to "completely change" the tranny fluid.

salimshah

rx300s415

You are technically not doing a drain and fill. The transmission pan has a drain plug and the front diff has a drain plug. See the pictures posted by Lexmex. Remember to pick up 2 crush washers and hex key. Drain is better to get the sediments out. It is easier than removing the oil filter.

Salim

lastplace

I did the drain/fill yesterday on my 2002, 85000. There was some confusion, the dip stick and manuel state the transfer case requires 85w-90 fluid. I called the dealership and talked to a service mgt who was a Toyota master mech. He said that did not start until 2003.

I filled the tranny with about 4 quarts (amsoil) and drove it about a 1/2 mile. Got back under and pulled the transfer plug, it was full so the tranny fluid does "pour over" to the transfer case.

Has anybody added the 85w-90 to the transfer case. How would you do it?

BTW, thanks lexmex for the fluid change thread.

Lexmex

Sucking it out won't get as much because there is still a good amount of fluid over in the front differential. That is why I recommend draining both of the bolts underneath the vehicle. TunedRX300 has the best way to drain and fill the transmission, https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=220061

Lexmex

Transfer case is something entirely different found only on AWD RX300s. There is something else called a front differential that is attached to the transmission. It has a separate drain plug. Here is a thread that shows this distinction, https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=308916

But if you have an AWD you will want to see my thread below about the transfer case and rear differential. 85W90 is nice, but you will do RX a world of good going to a 75W90 synthetic from Amsoil, Mobil 1, Royal Purple or Redline. I like the Royal Purple (you can usually find it at Napa), but have been experimenting with a Pennzoil 75W90 at the moment.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=214000

lastplace

thanks for clearing that up.

rx300s415

Thanks for the recommendations Salim and Lexmex!