TunedRX300

I have an Lexus OEM tail light from my 00 RX300, excellent condition no scratch or scrape. Can't send a private message to you. Please send me an email to z h i 1 1 2 @ h o t m a i l . c o m (with spaces removed).

Install a high flow air filter and cold air intake. Remove the intake resonator. Reduce back pressure by getting a high flow exhaust system. Take out your spare tire, trunk cover, and rear head rests to save weight. Remove roof rack, mud guards to make RX more aerodynamic. Hyper voltage and hyper ground system to increase torque/hp from electrical stability. Last find someone to customize SC or TC the 1MZFE engine in your RX if you have enough $ or time.

I used both hands (actually thumbs and index fingers) to grab a knob firmly and just turn counter clock wise. For hwy driving, better aerodynamic definitely helps to increase mpg and reduce wind noise. If anyone does not believe aero-dynamic plays a part, just take off RX's mud guards. Mine has paint cuts because head wind turned plastic edges of mud guards as sharp edges. I will put 3M clear spa for better paint protection if I decide to install them back for winter.

Rubbing compound is abrasive, basically the dealer is scraping a layer of clear coat off. Clay bar is non-abrasive and just shear the stain away and does not thin out the paint.

Try clay bar, it is as simple as 1)clean wax w/ Dawn dishwasher solution & water mixure 2)spray lubrication for clay bar 3) use clay bar and shear stain away 4)wash and wax. It is as easy as washing your car, you can buy clay bar at any local auto store.

I bought chrome rims from Tirerack.com for another car, good service. But for RX300, there is not a lot of selection. discouttiredirect.com has more choices but I never shop there.

Size depends on what you want to improve. For handling you want to go big, 19-20" w/ 235 or 245 tires. For look and softer ride, go for 17-18" rims.

TC grill has horizontal chrome ridges. I prefer neither TC or stock since I can got a chrome grill by using paint remover to remove gray paint on stock grill and reveal the beautiful chrome underneath.

Turning radius on RX is too big, not too little.

RX's AC cabin filter is one of the easiest filter to replace. The user's manual has instructions. Instead of relying on Toyota's marketing web site, why not pull one out and see if it is a HEPA like filter or porous like a screen. Here is a link AC Cabin Not HEPA

Please post those pictures

As Tylermnq indicated, RX's cabin AC filter is washable. It is not the multi-layered thick paper filter found on other cars. Those filters you can not wash and expect to have filters still intact for reuse. Don't just rely on Toyota web's general statement, pull one out of RX to confirm.

It is more like a screen than a filter. I also washed mine since it is good only to catch bugs and leaves. If anyone expect AC cabin filter to catch finer particles, that is not what it is designed for.

Select a set of light weight wheels will reduce rotational inertia will be helpful to improve city driving mpg. Improved aero-dynamic will help reduce air drag, which is helpful to improve freeway performance. From tire rack's helpful link Rolling Resistance During stop-and-go city driving, it's estimated that overcoming inertia is responsible for about 35% of the vehicle's resistance. Driveline friction is about 45%; air drag is about 5% and tire rolling resistance is about 15%. Overcoming inertia no longer plays an appreciable role in the vehicle's resistance during steady speed highway driving. For those conditions it is estimated that driveline friction is about 15%; air drag is about 60% and tire rolling resistance represent about 25%.

You are correct that more cars are w/o spare tire and rim. For example, BMW M3 only supply a can and pump to save weight. Weight itself may not be a big factor in improving mpg, but if you are sensitive to performance shaving off close to 50lb of spare tire + rim does matter. There are people who pay premium $ to have carbon fiber hood to replace a better looking but heavier OEM one. Another argument is that a 2000 RX300 AWD is 626 lbs heavier than a 2000 ES 300 and less aero dynamic. They are powered by the same 1MZFE engine. If you believe ES is properly powered, then RX is relatively underpowered - any way to improve aero-dynamic (removing roof racks or mud flaps) and reduce unneccessary weight will make RX closer to ES. Remember we are trying to squeeze more out of RX w/o affecting essential functionalities.

Don't want to spark a debate on octane, but octane 87 gas is recommendation by Lexus for 00 RX. "Premium" fuel is higher octane but does not mean 1MZFE is designed to take advantage of the higher octane so it could be inferior gas for RX. Here is a good link Octane FAQ

mh6, Good to see you have a similiar result on higher octane gas. Yes higher flow filters let in more dirt than paper to exchange for better flow. It makes sense if you think about it. This is a tradeoff decision I made - during winter, I use K&N since dusts are minimal during wet season; during summer, I switch back to OEM paper. Here is a good site that has some interesting results. With stock intake the test showed that K&N does not get so much air flow than paper (NAPA Gold) but also filter better than we were led to believe. You can make your own conclusion and decide what is good for your RX. Air Filtration Comparasion I also have a custom made cold intake airhorn instead of Lexus OEM intake, which magnified the K&N's higher flow property since more air is stuffed into the engine. The parts are only $10-15, I found city mpg is about 1 mpg less but highway mpg increased about 1 mpg, but I do get higher horsepower. I have the DIY link if you are interested.

My RX gets 24mpg on freeway, 20 mpg mixed with K&N filter, 87 octane gas, and spare tire and roof rack removed. Tried with 89 octane but got lower mpg, octane 87 is recommened by Lexus and I doubt 1MZFE is tuned for 91/93 octane gas.

Oil change at Lexus dealer uses recycled oil and replacement oil filter made in Thailand. I would use syn oil and change oil with an oil filter with synthetic filter material.

If your eagle emblem is chrome, I would like to exchange it with you with "L" for the grill. Send me a private messenger.

I took it off my RX300 to shave off almost 50 lbs of dead weight. Instead I have a fix-a-flat can for slow leaks. Drawback is you lose the option of jacking up a flat and replace with spare w/o calling the tow truck.

For RX300, I removed the resonator, custom made a cold air collection horn, and replace OEM paper filter with K&N. I would avoid Weapon R short ram since it is sucking hot air within the engine bay.

So you are assuming there is no pollution to make plastic?

Syn oil has higher flash point, which is the temperature when oil is burned. I would take it to the dealer since sludge is covered under warranty and start using syn oil afterward.

← Thanks for posting the Lexus part #, but I am more interested the generic bulb type that any reputable bulb manufacturer can make (e.g. headlight bulb would be 9005). I would like to replace the incadesant bulb with a small LED, which has average life of 100,000 hours.