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This subject of ATF oil changes crops up on the forum fairly regularly over the years, and always seems to divide into two camps - the 'dos' and the 'do nots'. On the Mk 4 the service schedule is for a fluid change every second 'B' service, ie at 36.000, 72,000, 108,000 etc. In Lexus speak "Fluid change" means drain what ATF is in the oil pan and replenish - normally about two litres can be drained off this way. This does not constitute a flush of the transmission, of which approximately a further ten litres of ATF will be held in the torque converter, transmission cooler, pumps and associated pipework. My last service at a main Lexus agent was at 108,000 miles back in 2008, and despite being previously assured that all items on the schedule would be carried out, all they actually did was a standard B service without reference to overall mileage or time. When I queried the lack of fluid change, the Service Manager stated that the transmission fluid on the dipstick was a nice colour, and didn't need changing. Quite true, the dipstick oil did present a fairly healthy pink complexion, but as others have noted, this is not necessarily indicative of the true state of affairs. I therefore decided to do a fluid drain and refill myself. The fluid that came out was not pink and healthy when viewed in bulk, and had a distinctly purple/brown colour, with non of the clarity of new Type IV fluid. Proof positive that appearances can be deceptive when viewing the oil condition via the dipstick. Quite by accident, I discovered that after having left my car with its nose up in the air overnight on a set of ramps, a further three litres of ATF could be drained out of the pan, having drained back down from the torgue converter etc. So, five litres of fresh Type IV later, I had a dipstick that really did look "in the pink", and still does. I'm not an advocate of flushing auto boxes unless absolutely necessary - it can sometimes disturb sediment and cause more problems than it cures. I am however an advocate of draining two litres out every 36,000 and replenishing, as per the Lexus schedule. Aisin gearboxes are generally very reliable indeed, but I can't help but feel that the drain and refill has been put in the schedule for a good reason. For those who have horrible brown sludge or the smell of burnt ATF fluid, I see little alternative but to try and replace as much of the fluid as is practical. Regular drains and refills may just have the edge over a full blown flush. The one thing that I would emphasise is the importance of using Toyota's Type IV fluid in the Aisin gearbox - they tend not to like Dexron or other alternatives, no matter what the manufacturer's claims as to meeting the correct specification. Regards, Alan

Thats one problem sorted now just concentrate on getting better. Dont forget to let us know how you are getting on even if its just to say how rough you feel, you will always get a sympathetic hearing on The LOC. Good luck Mike

Sublime to ridiculous, replaced my now departed ls400 with a wee beetle softop....seems to be getting around 50 mpg so my wallet is opened much less....but surprising thing....I jumped in, put seat right back....and couldn't reach pedals properly...its VAST behind wheel if not in back....daughter has a mk4 golf tdi, essentially same car but it feels tiny behind wheel...obviously no where near refinement of LS, but what is....I doubt I will buy another big car as nothing will compare....until o can afford a low miles sc430 or ls600 that is.....any how, don't excommunicate me coz I drive a beetle....

Softer suspension on 3rd

Yup, and for what it's worth, I think you made right decision...

Im sure this time next year graham you will have a smile from one ear to the other. Best of luck mate.

I still think they will It would be stupid not too!!

Lance I got the battery from europarts but it was fine. It was the fuses and the relay which was the problem....all good now apart from the radio which I need to reset! Thanks for the advice all!

Frankly, I don't have much personal angst about this. Whilst in general I am not a fan of the EU, I am in favour of the Block Exemption Regulation. According to the UK Department of Business Education & Skills, the empowerment created by this law provides competition in the automobile industry as vehicle owners now have the opportunity to repair and service their vehicle at alternative workshops to the automobile manufacturers. BER provides automobile users the flexibility and benefit to reduce the amount spent on servicing, thereby providing consumers more choice and better value for money. The car manufacturers have resisted this legislation for all they are worth, making the availability of tools to access the computers built in to their vehicles as difficult and expensive as they can get away with. In the olden days you could open things up with a spanner or screwdriver and fix them. Now you can't. I am all in favour of anything which helps to enforce the EU regulation (which is the law). We should be able to fix our cars ourselves or go to a local garage which can afford to buy the necessary diagnostic/access equipment at sensible prices. PS - same goes for Workshop manuals and parts lists.

Thanks for all replays ..... As yet still not sure what I'm doing with car Seriously cant see me ever finding a car like this again in a years time or however long it takes me to recover It's a 5yr old car and only 2 small stone chips with only 27k on clock and interior looks like no ones ever sat in it.... Had car valued 2wks ago and kinda happy with the valuation £5 short of 30k 😃 I kinda love this car lol ie spec and color I always wanted and more importantly when I drive this I can see the envy in everyone's face as I go by lol.... Reading what I've just written I think my mind is made up KEEPING IT I have a large heated garage so will park her up and caress her bodywork lol when I'm feeling down n low (gunna be a few weeks /months of that I foresee Thanks for the offers of looking after her and keeping her running lol but NO-ONE and I mean no one gets to drive her whilst my names still on the docs lol Wife n kids are lucky I let them be passengers hahahahaha Thanks again guys

Does seem the only real option. Practical enough for weekends, sporty drive and an experience to drive, luxurious enough and iconic as well. 997 s looks like the winner as it stands but will see what happens in 2 years.

It is a shame they don't do a petrol IS250 manual ,then we could fit short shifters etc,why can bmw make a good manual gearbox and Lexus can't ,the discovery of perfection but can't get a good gearbox to work hmm ,imagine the isf with a manual ,it would be unreal .

when it comes to overtaking ability i think we could all attest it boils down to the car in front which one is trying to over take and at which speed and gear the overtaking is about to take place.. although say a 911 Carera S sits lower and lighter than an IS-F, the 911 will not accelerate any faster in an overtaking manoeuvre if it happens between 50 to 75mph as they both achive it in 2.4 - 2.8 seconds in fact the IS-F has been tested to achieve 4.5 seconds from 50-70mph in 5th gear compared to the Carrera S's 5.9 secs in 5th when trying an overtake manoeuvre. even a 335d BMW is quicker(4.7 secs) in 5th gear between 50-70mph compared to say a Carrera S overtaking at the same speeds in 5th. so will all depend on the car in front one is trying to overtake.. but the Porshe looks to fit the bill perfectly in terms of what you kinda looking for ..Lol u certainly do your research mate ,some say train spotter or plane spotter ,hmm your defo car spotter lol

All the best man...as others have said, of this car is more than transport, if you have a bond with it, keep it....could,prove very therapeutic...of not, sell, sell, sell....as others have said it will heavily depreciate and of you have no bond with it, you can buy a virtually identical one when you recover for 2-5 k less than you sell it for....either way, you win..

Good luck graham, hope all goes well for you. Regarding the 600 dont sell ill look after it for 1year for you and ill even put petrol in it. Big smiles keep your chin up...... phil

Dude, thank you so much! Solved it :D!! Wow, i was thinking about all kind of problems and even about changing the gearbox and stuff! Thanks again bless!

Sad news Graham, I wish you all the very best. As to the car, if it were me then I would hold onto it but get someone to give it a run out every now and then.

I don't think any of the guys on here gave bad advice, although in these situations I'd be inclined to sell, hold on to the cash and get a nice shiny car when your better, and the car will always be associated with the time you got better...

Really sorry to hear this news and good luck with the treatment. You've got a range of advice here re the car. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you all the best.

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Best wishes and I hope your treatment goes well. My mum has the same condition and although the treatment is harsh on the body she had many times where she was well. If you have found your dream car and can afford to keep it then that's what I would personally do. You then have somthing to look forward too and can have a tinker inbetween your treatments even if you don't drive it you can still admire it.

I had cancer 3 years ago, I'm fine now. I bought a Toyota Hilux mk3 around the same time and spent many a happy hour tinkering, during my treatment and recovery. Best wishes mate

Personally I'd be loathe to let any car stand for a year or so, let alone one with the complexity of a LS hybrid. More importantly, good luck for a full recovery.

Graham, I'm inclined to say 'sell it' because cars like this need to be used. Plus, you're far more likely to be able to get a replacement 600 than we are a replacement 400. But whatever you decide to do, I hope you'll stay in contact with us on here. All the best.

Sorry to hear about your medical news and like everyone else here, we all wish you a speedy recovery As for the car, the heart might say keep it but I would go with the head and sell it - cars like this need to be used and driven. They don't like being sat around for long periods of time and even siting around doing nothing, the car will still depreciate. Good luck and all the best to you

Wishing you all the best. I'd have to say that if you love the car, keep it. By that, I mean that if you have a proper emotional attachment to this specific car. I already feel that my 400 has looked after me, and it's my turn to look after it. So I understand this completely irrational PoV. And I can imagine you feeling great when you're ready to drive the 600 again. But if it's just a luxury car that's been nice to drive around in so far - then it could be any 600 - so I'd sell it and buy again later.

Hi Graham, I`m with Bluesman on this. If you can afford to keep it, then keep it and look at it/sit in it whenever you feel you can. Talk to it and tell it that one day you will drive it again. It will be as obedient as a watchful pet and greet your return. Buy a Solar Charger and connect it to the OBD Port to keep the battery trickle charged. Or alternatively if it`s garaged then buy a CETEK Charger to do the same. If you sell it then, you just might miss it dearly. All the best with your recovery and remember that half full is better than half empty. Regards and best wishes, John

Sorry to hear of you big C, spent many years working at a hospital in Notts so i fully understand what you are about to start, and i do hope as all our forum members will also hope you get healed up as the result. For me personally, i would sell the car, would be sad as you will be, and store the money for any possible eventuality that may arise from the treatment process. WHEN you recover then with the money saved and any added to it you can treat yourself to the nice new and better motor as a special gift for the hard work you have just gone through. PS, when you do recover, take a small gift to the staff on the treatment ward, card and choccies, it will really make them feel better, for each that gets better, a few don't and sadly pass on, it does hurt them to lose one, but anyone that makes it and thanks them does give them strength to fight for the next one that comes through.

Really sorry to hear your news and best wishes for the treatment. Emotionally and perhaps surprisingly I'd say sell it. Cancer treatment is about maintaining as much normality as possible and having your beloved car around but not driving it is an unhappy and constant reminder that things are not normal. It is also dare I say it just a "thing". Also rationally and financially a year is a long time. If you sell you have lost little value and can enjoy searching for a new one come the all clear. Spend the money saves on fuel and depreciation on yourself between cycles. Best wishes Sent from my iPhone using Lexus OC

Not an easy decision, I must confess. I had a 400 parked up for a year, but then it only depreciated by peanuts over that time, but being a LS if fired up no problems every few months. If I had garaged it, would have given it a good wash underneath and wax all over to make sure reduced issues with dirt/moisture issues in confined space. However with your potential depreciation it has to be balanced against the time it took you to find the 600 you now have and the possible challenge of finding one once your health is back up to scratch. And then will the missus not be to happy about a depreciating asset sitting around in the meanwhile. In my case this would be my driving force to sell it, knowing that someone would snap it up pretty darned quick and then the excitement (and possible frustration) of finding a replacement Best of luck with the recovery

For what it's worth, my wife went through chemo and radiotherapy last year. The one and only priority was getting better, which she has. Any material possessions seemed worthless after her diagnosis. If it was me, knowing the long recovery process, I'd be looking to sell, and then look forward to the pleasure of buying another one when you've recovered, benefiting from someone else's depreciation. All the best. Phil

All the best healthwise .................... SELL IT if the price is right; depreciation might knock £5k or more off the value in that time ......... the excitement of finding another one when the time is right will be GREAT ............ good luck Malc

Sell for the right price. Your car will depreciate in 12 months, possibly by £2k. If you bank the £20k 'ish' in one of the 4% to 5% accounts on offer (you, your wife, and a joint account) you'll have about £21k to spend when you're fit and well again. Good Luck Graham, all the best.

Hang on to it, if it is there when you recover it will be a target for your positive manner , all the best.

I wish you all the luck in the world in getting better. I would keep the car you may find you need a nice pickmeup one day and slipping into the Lexus just to listen to that fabulous stereo in the sumptious leather seat just the trick. Best wishes Mike.