So I called my local dealer today to ask a few questions and order a few parts for baselining the new LX470. I asked him what tranny fluid it took and he told me it was a Toyota Specific Type4 fluid. Told me to do a full flush I needed to buy a full case and I had to order the fluid from the dealer. I understand I need a lot of fluid to do a full flush but isn't "TYPE4 ATF" fluid available at any auto parts store? Any issue with going full synthetic?
What tranny fluid am I putting in my 03?
- Thread starter bhicks
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Been using AMSOIL synthetic for the last five years. Many use Mobile 1. Either would be a good choice. It's the general conscious that it doesn't matter as long as you use a high grade fluid. Just open the transmission drain plug to remove about three quarts and refill each time you change your engine oil. Mixing standard fluid and synthetic is not forbidden.
Unless it's been a very long time since any was removed you should be fine.
Unless it's been a very long time since any was removed you should be fine.
Valvoline MaxLife works just fine. As jemsec says, drain the pan (approx 3.75q) and replace with each oil change for four or five iterations.
Well, maybe a majority on here are ok with any quality brand and any base and any mix, but it's not a consensus because I'd go for the Toyota TypeIV. I think it can be found for around $70 a case (which will do an almost complete exchange at about 3-4 quarts per drain). Transmissions are tough, but with expectations of a more than a third of a million miles out of these, I'd use Toyota fluid.
Your choice is a good one. But, why did you ask a question when you already had the answer.
03s have a drain plug in the pan and a dipstick to fill with, easy to do incremental fluid changes.
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- #8
the reason I asked is because the dealer told me that the tranny fluid was "special" and could only be ordered at the dealer. I almost believed it until in his discription of the fluid he said it was Type 4 fluid. I know I have seen TYPE 4 Import ATF many times at the parts store. I also wanted to believe him because the AHC is a "special" fluid and can only be purchased at the dealer. I was thinking Mr. T found another way to force me to buy dealer stuff. Apparently the parts guy was just full of it. I'm starting to learn that the parts guys at Redlands Toyota have no clue what they are doing. They told me that one jug of AHC fluid would not be close to flushing the system. He told me that I need at least 11 jugs and would spend $600 just in fluid. That's total garbage. After searching on here I realized how wrong he was. Lexus of Ontario told me I only needed two jugs but wanted to charge me $96 per jug plus $600 for the flush. It scares me how often they are wrong on what I need and HAVE to buy from the dealer. I'm all about using OEM parts as much as possible, but I'm not big on getting ripped off and misinformed.
I believe the dealer is correct. IIRC 03 was the 'twenner' year... ATF in the 98-02, Type IV in the 03, and WS in the 04+.
That said, I have a friend with an 03 that had his trans flushed at a local Toyota dealer for about $150, labor and fluid. Try Toyota instead of Lexus.
I'd probably stick with OE Type IV on this one. I'm just picky like that. Not that there's been a single A750F failure on the board that I'm aware of and I gotta believe there are a number of Jiffy Lube trans flushes in the history of the ranks.
That said, I have a friend with an 03 that had his trans flushed at a local Toyota dealer for about $150, labor and fluid. Try Toyota instead of Lexus.
I'd probably stick with OE Type IV on this one. I'm just picky like that. Not that there's been a single A750F failure on the board that I'm aware of and I gotta believe there are a number of Jiffy Lube trans flushes in the history of the ranks.
- Thread starter
- #10
Thanks for the info and suggestions. Unfortunately I have to ask the stupid question that the rest are too embarrassed to ask. What is WS fluid?
I believe WS stands for Toyota "World Standard" transmission fluid.
FWIW, Amsoil shows their ATF (red label) is compatible with both Type III and Type IV. The WS is a lighter weight fluid that matches up with the Amsoil "Fuel Efficient" ATF (blue label).
FWIW, Amsoil shows their ATF (red label) is compatible with both Type III and Type IV. The WS is a lighter weight fluid that matches up with the Amsoil "Fuel Efficient" ATF (blue label).
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