octane LEXUS RX330 2006 Owners Manual

Page 491 of 651

DRIVING TIPS
470
OPERATION IN FOREIGNCOUNTRIES
If you plan to drive your Lexus in another country...
First, comply with the vehicle registration laws.
Second, confirm the availability of the correct fuel (unleaded
and minimum octane rating).
TIPS FOR DRIVING IN VARIOUS CONDITIONS
Always slow down in gusty crosswinds. This will allow you
much better control.
 Drive slowly onto curbs and, if possible, at a right angle.
Avoid driving onto high, sharp −edged objects and other
road hazards. Failure to do so can lead to severe tire
damage such as a tire burst.
Drive slowly when passing over bumps or travelling on a
bumpy road. Otherwise, the impact could cause severe
damage to the tires and/or wheels.
 When parking on a hill, turn the front wheels until they touch
the curb so that the vehicle will not roll. Apply the parking
brake, and place the trans mission in “P”. If necessary, block
the wheels.
 Washing your vehicle or driving through deep water may get
the brakes wet. To see whether they are wet, check that
there is no traffic near you and then press the pedal lightly.
If you do not feel a normal braking force, the brakes are
probably wet. To dry them, drive the vehicle cautiously while
lightly pressing the brake pedal with the parking brake
applied. If they still do not work safely, pull to the side of the
road and call a Lexus dealer for assistance.

Page 569 of 651

ENGINE
548
SPECIFICATIONS
— GENERALModel
3.3 L V6 (3MZ− FE)
Type6 cylinder V type, 4 cycle, gasoline
Bore and stroke92  83 mm (3.62  3.27 in.)
Displacement3311 cm3 (202.1 cu. in.)
Valve clearance (engine cold)
Intake
Exhaust0.15 — 0.25 mm (0.006 — 0.010 in.)
0.25 — 0.35 mm (0.010 — 0.014 in.)
Drive belt tension (with Borroughs drive belt
tension gauge No. BT− 33−73F)125  10 lb.
— FUEL
Fuel type
Unleaded gasoline only
Octane Rating91 (Research Octane Number 96) or higher

Page 572 of 651

ENGINE
551
FUEL
Fuel type
Your vehicle must use only unleaded gasoline.
To help prevent gas station mixups, your Lexus has a smaller
fuel tank opening. The special nozzle on pumps with unleaded
fuel will fit it, but the larger standard nozzle on pumps with
leaded gas will not.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use should meet the
specifications of ASTM D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB
3.5−M93 in Canada.
NOTICE
Do not use leaded gasoline. Use of leaded gasoline will
cause the threeway catalytic converter to lose its
effectiveness and the emission control system to
function improperly. Also, this can increase
maintenance costs.
Octane rating
Premium unleaded gasoline with an Octane Rating of 91
(Research Octane Number 96) or higher required for
optimum e ngine performance. However, if such premium
type cannot be obtained, you may use unleaded gasoline
with an Octane Rating as low as 87 (Research Octane
Number 91).
Use of unleaded fuel with an Octane Rating or Research
Octane Number lower than stated above will cause persistent
heavy knocking. If it is severe, this will lead to engine damage.
If your engine knocks...
If you detect heavy knocking even when using the
recommended fuel, or if you hear steady knocking while
holding a steady speed on level roads, consult your Lexus
dealer.
However, occasionally, you may notice light knocking for a
short time while accelerating or driving up hills. This is normal
and there is no need for concern.
Gasoline containing detergent additives
Lexus recommends the use of gasoline that contains
detergent additives to avoid buildup of engine deposits.
However, all gasoline sold in the U.S. contains detergent
additives to keep clean and/or clean intake systems.

Page 573 of 651

ENGINE
552
Quality gasoline
Automotive manufacturers in the U.S., Europe and Japan
have developed a specification for quality fuel named
WorldWide Fuel Charter (WWFC) that is expected to be
applied world wide. The WWFC consists of four
categories that depend on requi red emission levels. In the
U.S., category 4 has been adopted. The WWFC improves
air quality by providing for better emissions in vehicle
fleets, and customer satisfaction through better vehicle
performance.
Cleaner burning gasoline
Cleaner burning gasoline, including reformulated
gasoline that contains oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE is available in many areas.
Lexus recommends the use of cleaner burning gasoline and
appropriately blended reformulated gasoline. These types of
gasoline provide excellent vehicle performance, reduce
vehicle emissions, and improve air quality.
Oxygenates in gasoline
Lexus allows the use of oxygenate blended gasoline
where the oxygenate content is up to 10% ethanol or 15%
MTBE. If you use gasohol in your Lexus, be sure that it has
an octane rating no lower than 91.
Lexus does not recommend the use of gasoline containing
methanol.
Gasoline containing MMT
Some gasoline contain an octane enhancing additive
called MMT (Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese
Tricarbonyl).
Lexus does not recommend the use of gasoline that contains
MMT. If fuel containing MMT is used, your emission control
system may be adversely affected. The Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on the instrument cluster may come on. If this happens,
contact your Lexus dealer for service.

Page 648 of 651

GAS STATION INFORMATION
Fuel selection:
Premium unleaded gasoline with an Octane Rating of 91
(Research Octane Number 96) or higher required for
optimum engine performance. However, if such premium
type cannot be obtained, you may use unleaded gasoline
with an Octane Rating as low as 87 (Research Octane
Number 91).
 Fuel tank capacity:
72.5 L (19.2 gal., 15.9 Imp. gal.)
 Engine oil:
“Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivqlent
Oil grade: ILSAC multigrade engine oil
Recommended oil viscosity: SAE 5W −30
Oil capacity: L (qt., Imp. qt.)
Drain and refill With filter 4.7 (5.0, 4.1)
Without filter 4.5 (4.8, 4.0)
See page 556 for detailed information.
 Engine coolant:
Capacity: 9.5 L (10.0 qt., 8.4 Imp. qt.)
Coolant type — “T oyota Super Long Life Coolant” or similar
high quality ethylene glycol based non −silicate, non −amine,
non−nitrite, and non −borate coolant with long −life hybrid
organic acid technology (Coolant with long −life hybrid
organic acid technology is a combination of low phosphates
and organic acids.) Do not use plain water alone.
For checking the engine coolant, see page 559.
 Automatic transaxle:
Fluid type — Toyota Genuine ATF Type TIV
See page 564 for detailed information.
 Tire information:
See pages 570 through 591 for detailed information.
 Tire inflation pressure:
Tire size: 225/65R17 101S or P235/55R18 99V
Tire inflation pressure: cold tires
kPa (kgf/cm
2 or bar, psi)
225/65R17 101S* P235/55R18 99V
Front tires 210 (2.1, 30) 210 (2.1, 30) . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear tires 210 (2.1, 30) 210 (2.1, 30) . . . . . . . . . . .
Spare tire 210 (2.1, 30) 210 (2.1, 30) . . . . . . . . . . . .
*: For sustained high speeds above 160 km/h (100 mph),
in countries where such speeds are permitted by law, add
10 kPa (0.1 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 1.5 psi) to the front tires and
rear tires, but never exceed the maximum cold tire
pressure molded on the tire sidewall.