carquestman

I didn't mean to suggest that you do just a flush. I highly recommend a flush along with dropping the pan and changing the filter. Most machines allow you to drain the pan of fluid thus making it a much easier and cleaner job to drop the pan and change the filter and clean the magnets. Once the pan is replaced, the machine then finishes the job of replacing the fluid. The whoe process takes about 25 minutes. Bob

One thing that everyone needs to remember and take into consideration when talking about transmission longevity is the different driving habbits and uses of your Lexus. Do you tow? Do you live in a mountainous area? Do you simply have a lead foot? Heat is the biggest factor in transmission life and towing and other factors can greatly reduce the life of your transmission fluid and therefore your transmission. No two drivers or conditions are exactly the same so use some common sense in making your determinations on servce intervals. Also make sure that you are getting a fluid flush and exchange using a machine like the MotorVac TransTec II or BG's and Wynn's version. Some shops simply drop the pan and change the two or three quarts the pan holds and change the filter and call it a transmission service. By using a machine like the ones mentioned before, you actually get all the fluid out of the torque converter and they usually run a couple of extra quarts of new fluid through the transmission before they are done ensuring a complete exchange of fluid in the entire system. Don't be afraid to ask your service shop how what method they use. Don't forget that transmissions cost more than engines in todays vehicles, so take care of it and it will probably outlast the car. Bob

Hi, I just bought my first Lexus, a RX300 and I too am new to the forum. To tell the truth I was looking for a car to replace my worn out Acura Legend and was going to purchase a used RL but when my wife saw the beautiful Black RX 300 she wanted to drive it after we had already drove two Acuras. We were instantly convinced that this was a superior vehicle over the the two Acuras and a BMW we had looked at. The comfort and ride along with good power and handling was the reason we decided on the Lexus. It's a great car.