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Mrshim78

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Everything posted by Mrshim78

  1. good info, esp on the filters. i shall avoid the cheap fram ones!
  2. Any feedback on high mileage oils? I bought my es300 (1997, 188,000 KM, ie 116,000 miles) and did an oil change right away (Regular 5w30 oil). its due for its change in March or so. I am not going to change to synthetic because all the service records show the previous owner has used regular oil (and always changed the oil at regular intervals of 5-8,000km but no more than 8,000 km). However, it is an old car, and the valve cover gaskets do "sweat" a bit,but no biggie. not really losing any oil . (i guess whenever it goes for its timing belt late next year or so I'll get the valve cover gaskets replaced with the newer toyota oem ones) i am thinking of switching to quaker state high mileage oil - now a 'high mileage oil' just 'hype' ? it does say it swells the seals , which sounds like a good thing, though i hope it doesnt mess with anything else? I am wondering if anyone here has tried it, or would suggest using it? here is an example from my local store (i am in canada) http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/3/AutoFluidsChemicals/EngineOils/PRD~0289017P/Quaker+State+High+Mileage+Motor+Oil.jsp?locale=en
  3. oil changes! lol!

  4. Darth Read, how is your car doing since the tune up? i recently bought a lexus es300 too! so far so good , great drive! MrLexLuther, 40% difference in what? mileage or performance? i havent reset mine (kinda scared too actually...)
  5. Thanks Sump...found it today (hidden on the passenger side, right above the rear three spark plugs) and i changed it out. pried it out gently with a flatbed screwdriver and it was a simple pop out/pop new one in. didnt have a grommet so used the one on there, cleaned it up a bit...hopefully will hold. easiest maintenance item after an air filter :)
  6. hi guys i am trying to replace the pcv valve on my 97 es300 as well, i think its about time it gets anew one..but..first time ia m doing this, where is it?!!! does anyone have a pic or maybe can help direct me to where it is..
  7. Hi ml30306, I might be having a similar issue, i was wondering how far you got and if you did replace the strut mounts did that solve your problem..? i will go to my mechanic soon (And replace the sway bar bushings anyway and check the strength of the brake calipers,etc) ...not sure yet what it is on my 97 es300
  8. I am happy i just found the full service manual for my lexus es300 1997!

  9. Hi Guys, i just bought a 1997 lexus es300 (sw03es contributed to my questions there..thanku again) so I am really enjoying the 'lexus' feel, this car drives better than my 2005 civic that i used to have...! the one thing that is freaking me out though is the mileage. I am in canada, and so far i seem to be surely getting below 20 MPG.. at 20MPG a full tank should basically do 440KM/250miles. i think i am getting lower than that though i've done only 110 km its already at a the 60% mark (maybe the needle is not 'linear', not sure, maybe i am freaking out prematurely). at the current rate i am estimating it will only do 320ish km to a tank...most of my driving is 90% city 10% highway. I am thinking it could be: 1. maf sensor 2. air filter (it does need a service, taking it in for oil/ filter/tune up/etc this weekend) 3. spark plugs any ideas? help? :( is there a way to read codes? i did have it professionally checked out and their computer did not pickup any codes. its cold up here, so the a/c has been off (i have turned it off manually).
  10. so as an update to everyone here, i bought the es300! while i did try to be as logical as a Vulcan, there is that emotional element that sets in the minute you sit in a lexus's drivers seat :) . I got it professionally inspected and also got a second opinion from another mechanic, both said it looked ok. so , i jumped in! here is hoping it works out for me (and the car lol)
  11. Thanks Paul A. appreciate the advice. I will try my best to be objective when i see it again next week! will post back here once i know what the mechanical check says...though ofcourse i am hoping there is no sludge/other issue..
  12. thanks SW03ES... i will let you guys know how it goes, next week sometime i should be able to send it in for a mechanical check + check for the sludge issue. lets see, if the owner agrees i'll get its valve cover opened up to take a look too...
  13. thanks guys, esp SW0ES. makes sense, i will ask him to look under the oil cap. now, if there is sludge, that brings us to a decision point: 1. if there is sludge, do i just walk away? 2. if there is sludge (but the car drives ok now) , and i from now on, ONLY put in synthetic oil every 5000KM, will the sludge build up/become an issue.. i dont know what the composition of this stuff is, does it harden over time,etc. i have found a second es300 99 (205,000km) that i am also exploring, but this is my first choice pending a mechanical check... i do now have that 'desire' to own one since i drove it but i will try to keep it in check :)
  14. thanks guys for your advice and feedback...super helpful!
  15. Hi again guys. So i did some research and SWo3ES (Steve) is right, there is a documented, major issue with sludge buildup in the es300 97 - 02... the owner did say that he did not use synthetic oil. but he did use some ATF and regular motor oil. I intend to only use synthetic oil and have an oil change done as soon as i (IF I..) buy the car... i wonder if there is some kind of scientific/semi scientific test one could do without opening everything up to see if there is sludge.
  16. thanks guys for your replies! helps alot! so there is no way to see if there is sludging? can i open up the oil pan and look at that? any ideas on transmission issues on these?
  17. 1997 lexus es 300... thats on my mind!

  18. Hi Everyone, I was hoping I could ask for some advice on buying a used lexus es 300 1997.. I'm a newbie to lexus but I am seriously considering, as a first family car, buying a used 1997 lexus es 300. nothing else seems to top the drive in this in the price range i have... here are the specifics 1. 188,000 KM driven, 2nd owner who bought this car in 2005 2. timing belt/water pump changed at 120,000 KM 3. brake pads changed last year 4. new tires (michelins installed last year), new winters 5. rust proofed, regular oil changes done (has records) the price is $3,800 CAD. i drove it on the highway, and I have to say , for a 14 year old car i was very impressed. no issues sounds/anything. drove like a dream. the owner is buying a lexus suv as a replacement. any idea what i should look out for on a 1997 es300? any transmission issues, struts? I did read that leaky gaskets are a common problem. I really want to buy the car but the age is daunting. I am OK with cars, I did my own basic maintenance on my previous 2002 civic, but hey this is a lexus...i dont want to touch this outside of a shop..do I?! :) thank you very much for reading..would appreciate any advice..
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