Vehicle: 2013 Lexus ES350, auto transmission, 122,500 miles
When I bought this vehicle at 121,300 miles, the automatic transmission fluid had never been changed. After receiving good advice from this forum, I did a drain and fill at Lexus. Only about 1 1/2 quarts drained. The car hasn't had any transmission problems. So I am planning to do my next drain and fill, but I wanted to do a pan drop with the drain and fill. The Lexus service tech said it would take about 11 hours to complete; estimated cost just for labor over $2,000! My independent mechanic confirmed that a pan drop is a big job and would be costly. I don't want to do a transmission flush; the fluid from the first drain and fill was very dark. But doing a drain and fill yielded only a small amount of fluie. This is why I though I would go for a pan drop, in addition to the drain and fill. But I can't afford it, if what the Lexus and my mechanic are true.
I'm unsure about what to do next. Please share your recommendations. Mahalo.
Only a small portion of the fluid in a transmission is changed at one time. Don't do a flush. Bump it up and do it sooner, next time.
Yes, I wish the previous owner had serviced the transmission earlier. He said, if the mechanic said it had to be done, he would have had it done. But as it is, the mechanic did the maintenance inspections - which is to inspect for leaking fluid - and there was none. So the transmission was never serviced. That's the sad tale.
My plan is to do drain and fills - and pan drops - to slowly clean out the old fluid more often. I've heard too much bad news about flushes, especially on old cars that have never been serviced. Thank you for your advice.
The Lexus service tech said it would take about 11 hours to complete
My independent mechanic confirmed that a pan drop is a big job
Were they able to explain why?
It looks like a pretty standard filter replacement to me. Less than an hour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8b9j55EaK4
According to Lexus and independent mechanic, my car does not have a replaceable filter. I have watched Youtube videos on pan drops and it didn't seem very complicated to me either. But I think the independent mechanic is getting tired of my constantly asking questions; I feel like he thinks I don't trust his answers.
This is my understanding - The independent mechanic says their shop's transmission "flush" doesn't force the fluid into the transmission. Rather, they use the transmission's regular flow to push out the old fluid and then allow in the new fluid. I'm not exactly sure how this is different from a regular transmission flush. But anyway, the mechanic explained this to me, because I said I didn't want a transmission flush, just a drain and fill. He said the drain and fill wouldn't help clean out the old fluid and I would be wasting my money and time. The independent mechanic swears that they have never had any problems with their transmission flushes ever on any vehicle, even those not properly serviced. My gut says to stick with just a drain and fill. What do you think??
I would be wasting my money and time
He means their time and money. They love using their machines because it allows them make a lot of money, really quickly. They can pump a lot of cars through.
He said the drain and fill wouldn't help clean out the old fluid
neither will the flush. All the sludge stays in the pan and filter.
According to Lexus and independent mechanic, my car does not have a replaceable filter.
then what's that thing in the video?
I think the independent mechanic is getting tired of my constantly asking questions;
it doesn't sound like he's fully answering them though. Maybe you should try a different mechanic.
@mmj "then what's that thing in the video?"
At 5:10 in the video that's definitely a replaceable filter...definitely! 😉
The Lexus part # for the transmission filter is 3533048020. https://parts.lexus.com/p/lexus__RX-350/Transmission-Oil-Filter/62925942/3533048020.html