VGR
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Posts posted by VGR
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The Lexus engineers say "Even if synthetic oil is used, we do not recommend longer oil change intervals. Once synthetic oil is used, it is best not to switch back to petroleum-based oil."
So what do the 18-30 year olds here do? They extend oil changes when using synthetic and then if money becomes tight they switch back to dino oil. Kids will be kids.
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I'd get the base model '05 LS430 because I am mainly interested in the unique driving refinement of the car rather than all the luxury do dads.
I would never look at any luxury American or European car due to the atrocious reliablity and planned obsolesence engineering of those cars. At one time Volvo was a good choice for reliability, but not since about the late 1980's.
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Unlike American cars, the fan clutch assembly of a Toyota / Lexus is designed to be troublefree for decades and hundreds of thousands of miles in a dry climate like California where you live. In the rust belt states, external corrosion may shorten the life.
The fan clutch is working well if the temperature gauge stays steady even when creeping along slowly in rush hour traffic. However, if the temp gauge rises noticably - like beyond half way up the dial - then something is likely amiss with the cooling system.
The amount of spinning resistance of the fan is not a reliable indicator of fan clutch condition (unless the fan spins with no resistance at all which is not good)
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What is more valuable - your time or the money you will save by selling your Mercedes on your own? If the latter, sell the car on your own. Don't be misled by Hollywood movie producers and the News media into thinking the chances of being scammed by a con artist are high.
When I bought my LS400 I bought it from a weathly couple living in a private gated California community. I test drove the car with the wife and told her I would go to the local bank and pay her with a cashiers check drawn on a major bank. She agreed and all went well.
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Do you plan to keep the car beyond 100,000 miles? If so, change fluid every 15,000 miles (but just drain and refill the transmission oil pan which is much less expensive than total fluid replacement).
Do you prefer to minimize the risk of unexpected future financial shocks (like a $9,000 bill for transmission replacement). If so, change the fluid every 15,000 miles.
One side note: The 2004 LS400 comes factory equipped with a more durable "World Standard" type of fluid. So 30,000 mile change intervals may be adequate. But, on the other hand the 6-speed automatic in the 2004 LS400 is a totally new design with an unproven track record. BE ABSOLUTELY SURE the dealer uses the new WS = World Standard Fluid. The dealers tend to be sloppy (afterall they are run by Americans and there is nothing corporate Lexus can do to change our culture) so don't let them harm the long term durability of your transmission by installing Type T-IV or Dexron III fluid.
So everything comes down to a matter of risk. Many guys on this forum consider it "macho" to take risks, so consider that bias factor as well. Read the RX 300/330 forum if you want to know what has happened to owners who extended transmission fluid change intervals.
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Only a little tighter than finger tight. Get a new gasket and try again.
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Change your fluids: coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid with genuine Toyota fluids which are the same as the factory fill fluids. Also consider changing your spark plugs, spark plug wires and engine cooling system thermostat and scrub the throttle plate clean of deposits with a toothbrush, some old rags and carburetor cleaner - if you want optimum power and fuel economy.
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I agree with you here, so now it all boils down to which oil is the best for the money spent. Which is precisely what so many of the test on bobistheoilguy.com seem to be doing. I don't agree on spending $7 a quart for oil or adding mystery garbage like slick 50 or lucas. So why should I spend more for an oil by TOYOTA, when mobil 1 is better and cheaper?
It all boils down to a bunch of drug dealer like lubeshark salesmen getting you and thousands of others to be compulsively obsessed with their choice of automotive lubes, filters, fluids and additives. About getting you to develope a "miracle in a can" approach to preventing and curing car trouble. About getting you steered away from using OEM lubes, filters, fluids and parts. About getting you to be convinced that "oil analysis" "four ball wear test" etc. can be substituted for real world direct measurements of wear. About getting you to believe in THEM instead of a car maker's engineers.
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Ya wanna know what UPS, Coca cola, and Fedex use for their oill? Well, here ya go, lets see you put that in your car <_< http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-e...pp-rerefoil.pdf
That link didn't open for me, but it sounds like UPS, Coca cola, and Fedex use re-refined oil which just proves my point they don't use any specialty lubeshark products because their fleet mechanics know engine wear is almost undetectable if any ordinary API SL motor oil is used and filters, engine tune ups and cooling system service is performed on time And re-refined oil meets API SL specs.
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Do you think big companies with monumental sized fleets of vehicles like FedEx, UPS, etc. rely on amateurish "oil test" websites to make their oil and filter decisions? Do you think they use the specialty products they hustle over at that LubeGuy website like "Lube Control" "Fuel Power" "Auto-Rx" "RedLine Water Wetter" etc? Do you think they install "oil filter bypass systems"? Do you think they use synethic DOT 5.1 brake fluid? Do you ever wonder to yourself: "If all these special lube /filter / additive type products are so good, then why are the lube salesmen who peddle them tarketing individual car owners like me? Why don't they try and sell huge industrial accounts like FedEx where they could make alot more money by teaching these companies how to reduce their fleet operating expenses with specialty lube / filters / additive type products?
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You've seen cosmetic benefits from using synthetic - less varnish deposits inside the engine - but these deposits aren't harmful, just cosmetic.
You've also seen some oil analysis test score benefits.
But you've never seen any real world proof that synthetics extend engine life significantly in Asian car engines. That's because synthetics don't. And one reason tha Asian car makers don't recommend synthetic. To keep you from ever figuring this out, synthetic oil salesmen will always dodge this "real world proof" issue and divert the conversation over to the cosmetic benefits, oil test benefits, etc.
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Autozone has an in line PS fluid filter intended for the LS400 power steering system. It the screen inside the pump fluid reservoir is torn then one of these in line filters should be used
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Independent site? Not hardly. It's owned, administered and moderated buy a bunch of specialty lube and additive salesmen who don't have to make sales calls to industrial businesses anymore because nowadays they can all just sit at home at their computers and run the forum to generate consumer sales of $25 a bottle additives, $7 a quart motor oils and $200 oil filter bypass systems. They also kiss up to Walmart's Supertech labeled products because they hope to convince Walmart to someday start buying and stocking their specialty products.
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Independent service centers don't use Toyota / Lexus parts, gaskets or sealers and many do not even have a Lexus service manual to guide them through the proper servicing procedures. End result: sometimes a butchered up engine.
Whatever the noise is (loose spark plug, missing valve cover half moon plug, faulty installation of the intake manifold gasket or wrong gasket) it IS likely serious. Continued driving with an upset mechanical condition like this is risky.
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Wait a few years and you'll see tirerack's ratings of the Comfortreds / Tripletreds will fall substantially and some brand new tire designs will get the top ratings. Tirerack executives are fully aware of this inherent bias in their rating system and they love it boosts sales of their newest tires and these newest tires always have the highest profit margins.
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Synthetics are so new and DOT 3 has really been the only thing available in america. Dot 5 the first synthetic, which is garbage was available and the standard for awhile in england and overseas. However with the new advances like DOT 5.1 which is standard on the new mercedes or BMW's. You can't deny the new synthetics as you have no proof to make statements from nor do the auto manufactures. <_<
DOT 5 synthetic brake fluid has been available in the USA for more than 10 years. In the official Toyota Technician Brake Systems Training manual, Toyota acknowledges the existence of DOT 5 and DOT 4 Brake fluids, but recommends only the use DOT 3 fluid. And the brake master cylinder reservoir cap of all Lexus brake systems says "Use ONLY DOT 3 fluid"
Although the boiling point of DOT 3 fluid is lower than DOT 4 fluid, DOT 3 fluid preserves the life of the hydraulic seals in the brake system better than DOT 4 fluid and that's why the makers of the most durable cars in the world (Toyota/Honda/Nissan) all recommend only DOT 3 fluid.
Durability is not a priority with the European and American car makers so it's no surprize some of them recommend DOT 4 or 5.x fluids.
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I've used Valvoline synpower dot 3 & 4 brake fluid in the past for other vehicles & it's good stuff.
If you end up with a brake fluid leak in one of the expensive hydraulic components of your Lexus brake system sometime during the next 10-15 years then you may understand why, for more than 30 years, Toyota / Lexus / Honda / Acura / Nissan /Infiniti all have recommend ONLY DOT 3 brake fluid and preferably their own brands of proprietary brake fluid.
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Lexusfreak, for many decades "most" of the people who have fallen for specialty aftermarket lubes, fluids and filters have been young people like yourself (and myself when I was in my 20's)
Example: Here is an ad from a June 1973 car magazine:
"Experience the Wonder of Wynn's [engine /transmission/ radiator additives] and the unique Wynn's Guarantee of 10% fuel savings, 10% more power and 44% less wear on moving parts - or your money back."
An inexhaustable supply of new teens and 20-something year olds guarantees an inexhaustable income for the old men who have traditionally been the ones who have invented, marketed and sold these specialty aftermarket lubes, fluids and filters.
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I did the same with the Triple Treads as well......posted ALL reviews available from Lexus drivers....you should have done the same to be fair & un-biased!
But as SWO3ES pointed out, the Tirerack reviews are inherently biased in favor of brand new tire designs like the Comfortred / Tripletred to begin with . So tire shoppers need to focus their attention on the negative comments of new tire designs. Otherwise they could end up finding out the hard way that while the Comfortred may smooth and quiet the ride of an econobox car like a Cavalier or Saturn, they may deliver a irritable, constantly busy ride in a LS400 or other luxury car and also degrade the superb, relaxing directional stability of a LS400.
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I was changing my engine oil today and decided to do the trans pan oil change also. The oil was dark but no burnt smell, 21,700 miles 2000 RX300. T-IV at the Toyota dealer cost me $6.89 per Qt. !!! I put in 4qts, just a little over 4 came out. I did this since Carfax told me that my car was from an area that is hilly and hot and I wanted to see just how the fluid looked for my peace of mind.Jeff
At Florin Road Toyota in Sacramento the Type T-IV fluid is only $3.80 a quart in 1 quart bottles. That's the normal, proper, Parts Dept retail price. For peace of mind, continue changing the fluid whenever it starts to become somewhat darkish which might be every 10,000-20,000 miles. This is an extremely simple, low cost method to preserve the life of the AWD RX300 transmission. The owners here are grossly overreacting to a minor design flaw - inadequate fluid cooling - while overlooking the fact that the transmission will be durable if continuously supplied with clean fluid.
The V6 owners with the engine sludge issue have overreacted the same way. They fail to understand their engines will live for over 300,000 miles if they simply change their oil at least every 6 months or 5000 miles. But instead of simply changing their oil more often to compensate for a minor design flaw, these owners are fixated on "trying to get even" with Lexus or for designing an engine that cannot withstand the 7,500 mile oil change interval listed in their owners manual.
Why doesn't Lexus "face up to these design flaws" ?? I believe its because these "flaws" are just minor and unintentional engineering accidents that really don't affect the legendary 300,000 + mile reputation of Toyota / Lexus engines / transmissions IF the owner will simply adjust their preventive maintenance habits. Lexus may also figure it would be a tremendous waste of time, money and the earth's natural resources to replace millions of engine and transmissions that are capable of lasting 300,000 + miles if owners will simply adjust their preventive maintenance habits.
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as for removal you just use a air nozzle to blow out the shim and slide in the new one.
Have you actually tried this and had it work for you or are you just guessing that it will work? The intended purpose of the special Toyota valve shim removal tools are to make it possible to remove the shim without having to remove the camshaft.
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On the Toyota Motorhome forum some owners have found it useful to install a transmission fluid temperature gauge. That way owners begin to recognize driving situations and habits that tend to cause the transmission fluid temperatures to soar and change habits as necessary.
The shifting behavior of the transmission when cold is controlled by the coolant temperature, not the transmission fluid temperature.
A simple way to avoid future transmission trouble is just change the fluid every 10,000 miles. It's as easy as changing the engine oil. Also, avoid driving situations that can cause the transmission fluid temperature to soar like getting stuck for along time in city traffic.
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Beautiful pictures, but your tutorial is much too geekish for anyone except seasoned mechanic types like yourself - you take too many things for granted - like in step 1 you say "take off the 17mm pulley nut and the pulley." For crying out loud the pulley doesn't just fall off into ones hands, a puller is needed and just learning how to use a puller requires a tutorial in itself since pullers don't come with illustrated instructions.
Non mechanics like lexls do a much better job at making understandable tutorials for beginners. Sorry for the downer, but how else would you ever know your tutorial is not well suited for beginners? And probably 90% of the people on this forum are beginners.
Ya wanna know what UPS, Coca cola, and Fedex use for their oill? Well, here ya go, lets see you put that in your car <_< 
Question Can You Go Back To Regular Oil After Syn
in 96 - 97 Lexus LX450
Posted
On Lexus's website there is a huge 318 question Owner FAQ which reflects the car care advice of the Lexus engineers. Here is one FAQ question and answer about synthetic oil:
""Use of Synthetic Engine Oil
Question: Can I use synthetic engine oil in my Lexus vehicle during its break-in period?
Lexus's Official Answer: Synthetic oil can be used at the first scheduled oil change. Please note that the use of synthetic oil does not extend the recommended oil change intervals. Please refer to the Lexus Owner's Manual Supplement for further information regarding the proper maintenance schedule for your specific vehicle.
If synthetic oil is used after that time, it should be the same SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) weight specification and meet or exceed the API (American Petroleum Institute) grade specifications listed in the Owner's Manual. Even if synthetic oil is used, we do not recommend longer oil change intervals. Once synthetic oil is used, it is best not to switch back to petroleum-based oil."