Hi All,

I知 getting my 60k spark plug change on my 2013 RX 350. I知 getting OEM Iridium spark plugs. My mechanic tells me I should change out the ignition coils while I知 at it. I知 not sure if I should do that.

Research online suggests ignition coils are not a consumable, and should only be replaced if malfunctioning. However, taking apart the intake manifold to get to the spark plugs is a lot of labor (4.5 hours), so I feel like there may be merit to changing out the ignition coils.

looking for guidance and advice. Thank you!

 

He is selling you a service that is not yet required or needed.
The spark plugs do not need changing before 120,000 miles on the third generation RX350 and RX450h (2010-2015). Save your money for something else.

The later 4th generation models with the direct injection engine require a 60,000 spark plug change. Either your mechanic needs to make a boat payment or he does not know the service schedule. It is all in your owners manual.

If the plugs are replaced it is a good idea to at least replace the rear coils which are difficult to access. However, you do not need to replace yours at this time unless Canada has a different service schedule from the USA.

 

^^ What he said. The factory spark plugs are iridium and will typically last for much longer than the 120,000-mile recommended change interval as long as the vehicle is properly maintained. Sounds to me as if you need to find a more honest mechanic if you cannot do the work yourself.

 

Change your mechanic. Not the plugs.

 

I just replaced my spark plugs at the Toyota dealer, where I service my RX. Car had 120k miles (approx 200.000 kms). That' when they are due. The coils were fine. Total cost at my Toyota dealer in NC was a bit less than 600 u$ dollars. I do feel a big improvement!
At some point I owned a Corolla with same iridium plugs. Also lasted 120k miles.

 

Thanks for the information everyone, this helps a lot.

I was on a Reddit post where a certified Lexus mechanic recommended that I change my spark plugs at 60k against the manual recommendation of 120k: https://www.reddit.com/r/Lexus/comme...iles_soon_any/

I'm so confused!

Another thing that confuses me about the manual: it never told me to change out my transfer case, differential, or steering fluids. I had them changed recently, and I'm noticing a marked improvement in handling and mileage. The fluids were dirty when they were drained. This is the second time they're being changed, the first time, the Lexus dealer did it for me, even though it wasn't in the manual.

I have been using this awesome post in this forum as a guide for pre-emptive maintenance: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/mai...nance-faq.html

Which is why I have become a little bit suspicious about following the manual, since it seems like the manual is incomplete? It says differential and transfer case fluid is for the lifetime of the vehicle, but it doesn't say they consider the lifetime of the vehicle to be only 5 years!

 

Now you know you cannot believe everything you read on the internet and that that guy may not actually be a Lexus tech. Was he directing you to his shop?
Lexus & Toyota don't tell you to change those things and claim they are lifetime because to them lifetime is the length of the warranty and maybe extended warranty. They want you to buy another car, not keep yours forever. If the lifetime fluid happens to make your transmission fail at 123,000 miles and that makes you buy a new Lexus, they are very happy.

FYI there is no power steering fluid. We have electric power steering.

I also recommend you get the transmission fluid changed. 60,000 miles is the perfect time to do a fluid change as preventive maintenance. Before it has had a chance to deteriorate further and do damage. Some Toyota & Lexus dealers will not change it. Just call around until you find one that will change it. They just have different business models and philosophies about maintenance.

I glanced at the link above which covers many different Lexus models. I think from your post you complained of some hesitation. Try pouring a large bottle of Techron Fuel System Cleaner in your gas tank. Maybe even run 2 bottles, one after the other on 2 tanks of gas. I bet that will clean out your fuel system enough for you to notice it runs better. It is available at most auto parts stores. Only get Techron. It has a large amount of the main cleaning chemical and was developed by Chevron.

 

Treat the recommended [milage/time] service items as the minimum standards. There is nothing that says you should not do them more often.

The manufacturer is on the hook for the duration of the warranty. Rest is based on inspection and observation of the machinery.

Components and oils have evolved. Long time back [previous century] all Lexus V8 required plugs to be changed every 60K miles. Modern plugs have much longer life typical irridiums last well beyond 100K miles.

The only caveat is perform the service properly.

Salim

 

I second Salim and Clutchless. Do the transmission fluid only at the dealership. I did mine at the Toyota dealer with 100k miles.

Don't believe Youtube mechanics or the internet. Just go by the book. They don't mention certain things because it depends on the use you give to the vehicle. If you tow you will need to change fluids more often, etc...

If your rear shocks are the factory ones I would be planning on replacing them too.

My philosophy is simple: good tires when needed, good gas, good oil and filter and service religiously every 5k miles (including a tire rotation and balancing). I never cheap out on my car. You do that, and just enjoy your car!!

 

Understood. Thank you for all the helpful information here everyone!

My plan:

1. Cancel the spark plug change. 3rd gen RX can do it at 120k miles/200km just like the manual says.
2. Don’t do an ignition coil change either. When at 120k miles, though, maybe do change the ones that are hard to reach in the back and need the intake manifold to come apart for.
3. Get someone to look at the rear shocks. We had a leaking shock absorber couple years ago, 2018, dealership fixed it. But I think that was only one of the rear shocks. Is this something to do every 60k miles?

also, further points to note:

1. Only get a dealership to do transmission oil changes. I actually got mine changed in December by an independent mechanic, so never again! My initial transmission fluid change was from a Lexus dealer, closer to the 30k mile mark (~50k km).
2. I used Gumout 30002 Multi-System Tune-Up instead of Techron, Clutchless. That stuff is in my tank right now, haven’t managed to drive it down to near-empty yet. I think I feel a difference, and
   Scotty Kilmer
   recommended it!

 

The Gumout 3002 has a good dose of the PEA cleaning chemical, similar to Techron and should clean out your fuel system.

You are way ahead of most on preventive maintenance, with 2 transmission fluid changes by 60,000 miles!

A qualified experienced independent can do a Toyota 6 speed transmission fluid change or exchange as well as a dealer. It is all about if they know what they are doing and how to get the fluid level correctly adjusted. I know of an independent Toyota specialist around here that does the transmission service.

The rear shocks should not need to be replaced at 60,000 miles unless they are leaking. You can do this check yourself. Look under the rear of the car, if the bottom of either shock is wet, then it is leaking. Signs of being wet are it being shiny, or lots of dirt etc stuck to the shock body.
If needed you should replace both at once at your mileage and again, any independent can do this simple job. There are only 2 bolts on each rear shock. It takes less than an hour to remove them and install new ones. You can get Lexus ones that are made by Tokico. KYB, or Monroe or Sachs aftermarket ones are at Rock Auto. KYB is a popular choice.
The Sachs are softer than the KYBs. So if you want to make it ride softer get those.

 

I’ll report back after I take a good lock at my rear shocks.

FTR both times technicians told me the transmission fluid looked dirty. I understand that visual assessment isn’t definitive on these fluids, but I err on the side of trusting my mechanics, mostly because I don’t have a choice.

By having my transmission serviced by an independent mechanic, have I introduced any risks to my transmission? Should I take it to a dealer to make sure everything in there is OK, or have them service it, so I know that professionals have seen it last?

 

Just curious, the transmission is sealed. How could they have seen that the fluid is dirty?

 

You can slightly loosen the drain plug and let a drop or two of ATF escape, but my guess is that they did not bother to look. Most owners have no clue about their transmission design and some will undoubtedly fall for whatever the so-called service advisor tells them.

You could also remove the fill plug (as long as the transmission is cold) and stick something like a wooden dowel or perhaps even a Q-Tip in there to grab a sample of ATF.

 

I've watched many YouTube videos made by mechanics about this this transmission. What they do is they open the drain plug to get a sample of the fluid for inspection, it's easy.

"Sealed transmission" is kind of like a marketing term, it only means no dipstick. But this transmission has a drain and a fill plug, and it has a vent on top like all other transmissions and gearboxes do. It's not really "sealed"