2007 Lexus IS250 with 258,000 miles on it
Hi Scotty I truly enjoy your content. You make it fun and break down all the technical terms into bite size pieces.
I recently took my 2007 IS250 RWD to the dealer to replace my rear differential oil. Nothing was slipping or wrong. I just recently fell back in love with my IS due to your videos. I have always maintained it and it still looks kind of new. No rust, beautiful red, excellent interior. I baby it for years now.
While at the dealer they suggested a transmission flush. I have heard all the stories over the years about transmissions with high milage. I have never had this done before and neither has the dealer ever suggested it.
I objected to the flush due to past stories.
The mechanic stated he had 18 years with the Lexus dealer and brought in a cup of my transmission fluid. He showed me with a flashlight that if we saw reflections floating it meant metal pieces in the fluid. He stated my transmission will be fine. He said it had no smell of being foul fluid indicating damage. He also said he has never seen a transmission failure happen to my model RWD IS250 since he has worked there from this flush procedure. "The Japanese engineering is superb"
I gave the go-ahead to flush because I was at the dealer and wanted to trust them. They flushed the transmission fluid he said by hooking up a machine and at the normal flow the car would push out the old and suck in new.
They test drove it and the tech said the shifting felt softer than he expected but give my computer time to adjust over the course of a few weeks of driving. I drove 30 minutes home from the dealer. Mostly highway.
Sorry for the long story. My question to you Scotty; Will my car's transmission fail? Did I just pay money for an upcoming catastrophic failure? I haven't been able to sleep since I allowed them to do it. My IS250 has been bullet proof.
You made a bad mistake listening to anything the dealer said. Look forward to them trying to sell you a new transmission when yours fails.
It depends on what kind of "flush" they did. A power flush may have caused issues. If they just did a fluid exchange (typically done by tapping into the cooler lines and using the transmission's own internal pump) there would be no excess pressure applied and it should be OK.
That's as far as the trans flush itself. However if the fluid had never been changed in 258K miles even with a Toyota/Lexus transmission internal friction materials could have been worn and without the additional friction provided by the old fluid it might slip.
It's hard to see how changing fluid would require the computer to relearn shifting, but if the friction characteristics of the new fluid are different I suppose it is possible.
Paging moderator @dan who is probably familiar with these transmissions...
Yes. The Lexus tech said it would be no pressure. They would tap the cooler lines and as the old oil left the new oil would go in. I must say it shifts even smoother since the flush. It has only been two days now and it is still shifting well. I plan to baby it for the first 500 miles and make sure I don't punch it or stress it. Thanks for your input. If it goes out, I guess getting a new transmission would be less cost than a new car.
Sounds like the best result possible. Like I said that kind of "flush" is really just a fluid exchange and is safe in and of itself. People have even done that kind of thing at home, but I've always chickened out and just done multiple drain and fills.
Will my car's transmission fail?
If the transmission failed due to the flush, then you would know it already.
I must say it shifts even smoother since the flush.
Enjoy your car, fresh transmission fluid, and improved shifting. With that many miles on it, it could still fail in the near future.
But it will because of mileage and lack of frequent service, not the flush.
The glitter in the fluid is metal particles from the steel clutch discs. I hope they changed the filter for you.
Try to service it every 50k instead of 250k.
