Lexus Service recommends transmission service at 30k?

[vipergrhd]

Come on guys. You may say it's a ripoff but you're probably not seeing that the $1000 total includes the 35,000 mile service at the bottom.

You're basically paying for the driver's floor mat inspection and road test with a free transmission fluid exchange.

And why do they only balance front tires? I would never do that, all the tries are off why not do all four tires?
I turned wrench my entire life and that is a bit overkill IMO, my wife's ES is at 52k and haven't done the transmission I will wait till 60k.

 

[gasman4u]

No ATF has "lifetime" service value. Changing your transmission fluid, and your brake fluid, yearly, is the only way to ensure a lifetime of service from a lifetime truck.

There was a time when I didn't believe either statement was true. The first time I opened a 300,000 mile Toyota Land Cruiser transmission proved it to me. Now my transmissions and brakes are serviced yearly. Can you wait 10, or 20, years to do it? Yes. Should you? You decide.

Agreed on the “lifetime” fluid legal jargon being b. S. Who’s “lifetime” in the real question.

You really do brake fluid every year? I am curious.

 

[Zill]

No ATF has "lifetime" service value. Changing your transmission fluid, and your brake fluid, yearly, is the only way to ensure a lifetime of service from a lifetime truck.

There was a time when I didn't believe either statement was true. The first time I opened a 300,000 mile Toyota Land Cruiser transmission proved it to me. Now my transmissions and brakes are serviced yearly. Can you wait 10, or 20, years to do it? Yes. Should you? You decide.

Yearly transmission fluid replacement is a stretch. The fluid has plenty of protection additives still in it (unless you’re driving 50K+ miles a year).

 

[Malleus]

Based on what, exactly?

 

[doru]

We should post correct info here. Here is what the manual from Mr. T says (same for 120k). They do not say "lifetime".

 

[Mingus Dew]

We should post correct info here. Here is what the manual from Mr. T says (same for 120k). They do not say "lifetime".
View attachment 3946175

According to this there is no need to change ATF at 60 or 120 for a mall crawler. That’s the problem with relying on the manual.

Inspecting for leaks is a different matter entirely.

 

[IslandCruiser23]

The interval is 6 years or 60,000 miles.. I think the lexus dealer is advising to change because it is over 72 months. This is consistent with what the CarNut says... IMO, it should be changed..

 

[IslandCruiser23]

2017 LX570. I was surprised when scheduling my next fluid change the service writer saying Lexus recommended a full trans fluid flush at 30K. I don't see that anywhere online and was wondering if I'm just missing it or what. Any help is appreciated.
View attachment 3941920

Not too unreasonable for a dealer estimate even with balance front tires. WS fluid is expensive and the labor to do a drain and refill per the toyota spec will take a few hours..I would go to an independent shop or do it yourself. I did it myself following the Toyota procedure from Techstream in 3-4 hours on my 2018 LC .

 

[gaijin]

Not too unreasonable for a dealer estimate even with balance front tires. WS fluid is expensive and the labor to do a drain and refill per the toyota spec will take a few hours..I would go to an independent shop or do it yourself. I did it myself following the Toyota procedure from Techstream in 3-4 hours on my 2018 LC .

What makes you think the OP's dealer estimate included Toyota WS fluid? Here's what's on the estimate:

The name of the service is "BGTF" which I take to mean "BG Transmission Fluid."

The description of the service is "PERFORM BG TRANSMISSION FLUID EXCHANGE" which I take to mean that BG transmission fluid will be exchanged for the "worn out transmission fluid" which is currently in the transmission.

As a final observation: I would love to see the details of the "Lifetime BG Protection Coverage." My guess is, that the conditions of the coverage include the use of BG products - not Toyota WS.

HTH

 

[IslandCruiser23]

Some good points.. I read BGTF as the fluid exchange service not the fluid.. Transmission – BG Products, Inc. - https://www.bgprod.com/services/transmission/

I would be surprised if they put anything other than WS fluid in an AE80 transmission since the warning in the owners manual is very specific. The procedure for an AE60 (6speed) transmission is very different from a AE80. The 6 speed is a flush by disconnecting one of the lines going to the radiator, while the AE80 is a drain and refill (3 times). My guess is they dont do many 8 speeds and the line item language on the estimate is for a 6 speed.. in either case, IMO, the fluid should be drained and refilled per the toyota procedure..

 

[Julian73]

30k is way overkill, more like 60k if subjected to heavy usage. I would also be more concerned using BG fluid rather than the Toyota WS.

 

[IslandCruiser23]

30k is way overkill, more like 60k if subjected to heavy usage. I would also be more concerned using BG fluid rather than the Toyota WS.

From what I understand, time in use is as much a consideration as miles... just like, do you change your motor oil every year regardless of mileage. what I see and read is to change when the miles or time has elapsed..

So I change my oil every year regardless of less than 5k I have driven for the year, change the ATF every 60k or 6 years, change the diffs, transfer every 30k...

It maybe overkilll, but it is what I do...

see this video from carNut on how to make you LC/LX last 300K+ miles..

 

[gasman4u]

The interval is 6 years or 60,000 miles.. I think the lexus dealer is advising to change because it is over 72 months. This is consistent with what the CarNut says... IMO, it should be changed..

View attachment 3946301

All hail his name.

Seriously though, as much as I’m a fan of HPL/amsoil in my rig, I’d be leery of BG for a fluid exchange. I don’t know enough about their stuff to make a comfortable go ahead for that to happen. The other stuff? Sure! BG? Not enough data for me to consent.

 

[stonepa]

Problem is you can go by owners manual or the lying, deceptive dealers trying to up charge you.

For normal driving, I stick to the owners manual. Then again, I would never keep a vehicle 20 years or 200k miles.

My driving is not considered special operating conditions which the manual says you should do some maintenance more frequently. I am not in that bucket.

I have 51k miles on my LX.

Yeah I buy new and then keep them literally for ever. So absolute reliability and longevity are key to me.

 

[weaponoffreedom]

Crazy for something that is really easier to do than the standard oil change once you consider the time involved in removing skid plates and the engine oil filter. Only real challenge is monitoring the trans oil temp to insure the fill level is correct.

I wish there was a dipstick

 

[Julian73]

From what I understand, time in use is as much a consideration as miles... just like, do you change your motor oil every year regardless of mileage. what I see and read is to change when the miles or time has elapsed..

So I change my oil every year regardless of less than 5k I have driven for the year, change the ATF every 60k or 6 years, change the diffs, transfer every 30k...

It maybe overkilll, but it is what I do...

see this video from carNut on how to make you LC/LX last 300K+ miles..

There is a very good reason for changing eng oil annually vs the needs of a transmission. Oil accumulates with combustion products with form with condensation in the oil pan for form acid compounds,; the oil detergents and wear additives break down with cycles of use, not shelf life. Likewise gear box oils/fluid wear additives do slowly break down with use, but there are not additions of hydrocarbons, carbon and heat (extremely localized and high on the cylinder wall and piston skirt) to create new compounds. Likewise brake fluid has a very high moisture absorption rate which but deteriorates the fluids hydraulic performance, causes vapor bubbles from boiled water and corrodes brake parts. This is why on a track cars it's good to flush each weekend and on passenger vehicles once a year, and maybe stretched to two years if not subjected to much high temperature braking.

 

[stonepa]

Problem is you can go by owners manual or the lying, deceptive dealers trying to up charge you.

For normal driving, I stick to the owners manual. Then again, I would never keep a vehicle 20 years or 200k miles.

My driving is not considered special operating conditions which the manual says you should do some maintenance more frequently. I am not in that bucket.

I have 51k miles on my LX.

No problem at all. I don’t follow the owners manual