[max77srx]

I do have a question to all Florida SRX owners regarding transmission fluid and the weather conditions we are dealing with here in Florida ...
At how many miles have you changed the transmission fluid?
Do you feel that this was a good time to change it or you would rather do it sooner if you just knew how bad it is?
or the opposite ... you should wait longer.
Thank you for all the answers.

 

[jdavis]

In my experience, the weather in FL doesn't pose a problem for transmission fluid unless you use your car under heavy loads or long periods of slow movement or idle in hot weather. Look at the maintenance schedule in your owners manual and go by the recommendations rather than some commissioned service writer. I tend to go by the color of the fluid and change it if it shows any signs of changing from it's original red color. I have a '98 Lexus that has 70K miles without a change and the fluid still looks good even though the service writer at the Lexus dealership would like to have me change it every 30k if they could get away with it.

 

[louisn]

I tend to go by the color of the fluid and change it if it shows any signs of changing from it's original red color. I have a '98 Lexus that has 70K miles without a change and the fluid still looks good even though the service writer at the Lexus dealership would like to have me change it every 30k if they could get away with it.

Aren't the maintenance costs on a Lexus outrageous in the real world?
I remember seeing the prices for routine stuff posted by a dealer years ago and was shocked.

 

[ericzoom]

In my experience, the weather in FL doesn't pose a problem for transmission fluid unless you use your car under heavy loads or long periods of slow movement or idle in hot weather. Look at the maintenance schedule in your owners manual and go by the recommendations rather than some commissioned service writer. I tend to go by the color of the fluid and change it if it shows any signs of changing from it's original red color. I have a '98 Lexus that has 70K miles without a change and the fluid still looks good even though the service writer at the Lexus dealership would like to have me change it every 30k if they could get away with it.

I agree with that also. The weather here in FL doesn't have a big effect on fluid, and unless you are towing or in a lot of stop n go driving, I would also go by the owners manual recommendations.
Certain ATX's that tend to be problematic like the Jatco in my Mazda6, have to be taken care of a little more. I had to add an ATX cooler, and do several drain-refills using synthetic fluid to control the temps and eratic shifting in this ATX.

 

[max77srx]

Thanks for all your opinions. I took care of service Today and they recommended the transmission flush and power steering flush ( even though I checked the PS fluid beforehand with the service adviser and he confirmed that looks OK). I will wait with a transmission service until around 50K. Thanks again.

 

[jdavis]

Aren't the maintenance costs on a Lexus outrageous in the real world?
I remember seeing the prices for routine stuff posted by a dealer years ago and was shocked.

You are correct. The dealer prices and rates are rather high. After the warranty ran out on my car, I either take it to a private shop or do the work myself. Fortunately, this LS400 had been nearly bullet proof. My wife has driven it since new with practically no problems at all. She doesn't want to trade it despite its age as long as I keep a newer model Cadillac in the garage.