Scotty,
Long time fan of your channel. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and real world experience with us. I listened to your advice and recently purchased a used 2007 Lexus rx350 AWD with 145K miles. Before purchasing I checked it over thoroughly and used my portable scan tool. It runs great and shifts like a dream fine however it has original spark plugs and a spotty service history. My questions are 1) when replacing the spark plugs should I also replace the coil packs? 2) Should I also change the transmission fluid if it has good color, no smell and no slippage? Do you have any other service recommendations?
Thank you for your time
- Wavblaster
- No
- Yes
Read the owner's manual maintenance section.
Why bother changing the coil packs if they're working properly? With a spotty maintenance record, I would change ALL the fluids and the trans filter. I like to know where things stand withe my vehicles, not guess. Definitely get new spark plugs.
Drain and fill the transmission with OEM fluid, only. No flushes. And, pull and inspect the spark plugs. They should tell you a lot about the condition of the engine. (And then replace the plugs, if they're the original OEM). Replace them with the one's that the owner's manual recommends (usually specific Denso or NGK stock numbers, only). And beware of counterfeit plugs on the Internet.
You might want to bleed the brakes, as well, and check the condition of the serpentine belt. (There's a cheap $5 tool that measures how deep and wide the grooves are on serpentine belts).
Good times are to be had with your Lexus, to be sure. Congratulations.
