Leaderboard

Mt .02 cents worth as to changing the transmission fluid. I purchased a 1994 LS400 this past June with a questionable history - no records, etc. for a very good low price. It had a 135K miles on it and basically needed a lot of TLC. Best part was the interior was in excellent shape. In the month after the purchase - I changed the engine oil and filter and I followed a procedure here on LOC forum to change the transmission fluid and filter. I dropped the pan, changed the filter and reinstalled the pan. I then located the return line from the transmission cooler going back to the transmission. I purchased from the local Lexus dealer parts depart. a case of the Type 4 transmission fluid for a cost of $80. I ran the hose that was attached to the transmission line to a five gallon bucket .. my wife would crank the car - I then monitored how much transmission fluid came out - when three quarts were pumped out - Turned engine off, and then put 3 quarts of new transmission fluid in. We did this cycle until the fluid coming out turned from a brownish color to the nice pinkish red color of the new fluid. that was approximately 10 quarts. Just to make sure - I let another quart come out and then re-attached the transmission line to the return line to the transmission. At that point, I only had to add one quart more transmission fluid for the mid-mark on the transmission dipstick to be reached. Checked all connections, pan bolts and called it it "done". Now - I like to think I could tell a difference in the drivability of the car.. well... not really. It shifted fine before I changed the fluid - however I feel better knowing that there is fresh transmission fluid in the transmission. And 5000 miles alter - no issues, no problems, engine and transmission are operating smoothly and very nicely. It went so well - we changed the transmission fluid in my wife's 1998 LS400 (178K miles) the same way. No problems have risen with changing the transmission filter and fluid in the 2000 miles she has driven it. Cost was approximately $120 bucks for each car - fluid, filter, gasket. And I also got samples (a quart at a time) as the fluid came out of the line to put in glass jars to set aside for a week to let any metals, brass, steel, dirt, etc settle to the bottom to see if there were large amount of metal or other sunstances in the fluid. The 1994 had some dark particles - maybe steel but .. not much at all .. and the 1998 LS400 was very clean... just a darker color there.