Zuke

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/64-5mm-14-Flute-Oil-Filter-Wrench-Cap-Tool-Housing-Remover-For-Toyota-Rav4-Lexus/303220403924?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Hi Chaps, I bought an oil filter removal tool from ebay a while back. Came to do a filter and oil change but this tool isn't quite what I thought . It's an ally casting with three grooves either side . I thought these cut-aways would fit over the two wings on the filter housing , but it seems not . The tool did actually remove the filter just on the flats of the housing bit its a very sloppy fit . So have I bout the wrong tool ? Is there a tool that locates on the flats and fits over the wings >>??

The one on ebay is £30 inc post and looks a bit tatty , also it is in Lithuania. It isn't just a clip-on cover, it is attached to this steel rod with the spring on it.

This is a picture from ebay of the plastic part

Hi guys, just noticed a broken piece of plastic on the car side of the boot latch . It has broken to the left hand side and reveals a light spring and a stainless rod about 3mm in diameter ? Only had a quick look but it seems accessible by means of three screws in the boot ?? Is this a common thing and can I buy the parts ?? Any help, pictures etc muchly appreciated as usual . Cheers ! Alan.

Fuchs Titan Sintopoid FE SAE 75W-85 Manual Transmission Fluid Gear Oil GL5 1L This should be ok I reckon ??

Thanks for that John, that's what I was thinking to be honest. I bought the Toyota gear oil at £75 for 5ltrs but that was a bit different.

FULLY SYNTHETIC LT 75W-85 I can only find this on ebay ?

Diff oil change time.....which oil goes in there ??? I think it takes 1.2 ltrs ?? Torque settings ??

Hi , is there a particular thread for the bolts holding the plastic coverings on under the car or are they just 10mm hex head self tappers? Mine are rotten. Zuke

Thanks for that Declan....that was my understanding but best find out for sure ! Vlad , it is being done at The Hinds Head Garage in Chorley , cost £100 .

The car is going in tomorrow for the oil and filter change in the box. One thing I'm not sure of , the oil level on refill , is is with the engine running or not . Is the level plug replaced when the oil begins to "glug" . Alan

Hi Guys, the two chrome tail pipe covers , do they come off ? The chrome is shot on mine , wheres the best place to get a new pair ? Maybe stainless ? Any idea of the pipe O/D ? Cheers !

Thanks Jeff , just priced the oil , saves me £ 25 inc post !! Cheers !!

Hi Mike , I have been recommended the Hinds Head garage Chorley by another Lexus owner , the owner Paul has a lexus himself . Small family firm with good reviews ! My car is going there next week to have the transmission filter changed .

Hi Vlad , the filter , or to give it Lexus' name "strainer" is located behind the transmission sump plate. On mine (IS250) it doesn't look like a difficult job to be honest , if you have a ramp or can get the car fully off the ground like the guy in the video . I'm just on with making something to get mine off the deck and level (and safe) There really isn't much to these strainers and they are readily available for a fraction of the Lexus price, mine was £17 . 50 I think..the gasket was less than £4 . According to Lexus it is a sealed for life unit , but as I said in another post , what exactly does LIFE mean? Aisin who make the box recommend oil and filter change at 40-50k . And as you say, not all of the oil comes out either with the drain plug out ( bit of a poor design because it is recessed and is above the height of the actual sump) I don't know just yet how much comes out with the sump off , the job will be getting done soon, I'll let you know when I know Vlad. So because all the oil doesn't come out , maybe less than half , it might be a good idea to "refresh" the oil every 20k-40k or so?? This by removing just the drain plug , catching what comes out , measuring the amount... put the same amount ( plus half a ltr???) getting the box to the correct temp and removing the level plug . I think this is what I will be doing anyway Vlad. Just out of interest , I see you are in Gr Manchester ? I'm in Warrington. I knew a Vlad that worked at Getrag , that you by any chance ??

I have heard some stories of ebay oil being fake? Sounds hard to believe but there you go! So I'm doing a Transmission service and want (obviously) to but genuine Toyota specified oil. Any advice ? I'm going to buy 6 litres IO think , just to be on the safe side. So it it just go to the dealer or ebay? Is there a part number of something to identify the correct oil ?

Thanks a lot guys for getting involved in this discussion, its been an education ! Great to talk to you guys who have done and got the tee shirt for these jobs! So I will getting this done ASAP , makes sense to me !! Thanks Again Guys !

Had a ring around today to see what I could learn about these transmissions (A960E) Tried to speak to Aisin directly but it proved impossible , but did get to speak to a firm of automatic transmission specialists in Cornwall of all places . JPAT Automatic Transmissions Ltd. They deal a lot with AISIN , they told me according to Aisin, the A960E should have an oil change at 40k AND a filter. Spoke the the guy for some time on the phone , very knowledgeable !! Anyway they strongly recommend an oil and filter change . Lexus oil filter is £85 .... they fit, and have never had a problem with an American after market filter at £17.50 bit of a difference ! The gasket is £3.60. So am I to understand that , with the drain plug out I will only be able to get about 1ltr of oil out of this box? Is that the same with the pan off ?? Guy on youtube reckons he dropped nearly 6ltrs from his??

There is indeed a lot of opinions and advice as you say. Lexus say its a " sealed for life transmission" Having worked for Getrag transmissions for 34 year (manual only) I have seen the state of the oil after about 60k YUK ! The box is made by AISIN I believe and they recommend the filter and oil changed at 40k . Getrag called there transit box a sealed for life , but what does "life" mean? Is it the entire life of the box ? or the life of your warranty ? Expensive job , £83 for the filter , oil about £60 ish plus labour . But how much is a replacement box ? Got me scratching my head whether to have it done or not ??

looking to identify the transmission used in the 2006 six speed automatic? The believe it is made by Aisin but need to know more info to try and locate a filter .

Can anybody point me in the right direction here ? Looking for a good quality or OE transmission filter ?? Priced one with Lexus main dealer @ £ 97 seems a bit steep tp me ??

Hi Mike ! my daughter lives in Chorley and her next door neighbor owns a Lexus 430 , had it for years I believe. He recommended Hinds head to me but that is the only reason, What I have been looking for and asking for on here is a specialist "trusted" and know to you guys for me to go to. I am an engineer myself , worked on transmissions for the last 34 years and I can see that oil and filter change in the tranny is no big job , but I have no access to a ramp and its not really a job to do on yer back !! There seems to be some process needed to be followed regarding the refill as well. So yes, that's the only reason Mike . If you know anybody you can recommend by reputation then I would be happy to try there ? This forum is a great place for this type of info, like the post above from Paul . Asked lots of times about engine oils but that seems a matter of taste and opinion ? maybe I should get the stuff from Toyota like the gearbox oil ? Cheers Mike ! Alan.

Thanks for that Paul , that's great , if a little scary info. I'll be buying the oil and filter from a Lexus / Toyota dealer , they have it on ebay (8217) for £21 for 4ltrs , having said that, I have heard some scary stories about ebay oil being blag ?? So it's dealer to be safe I think for both. This is the kind of stuff I need to know before I go ahead with this kind of work so thanks for taking the time to post that for me Paul, muchly appreciated !!