octane Lexus ES300 1997 Service Procedures And Specifications: Engine

ENGINE
197 ±COOLING SYSTEM
Capacity 9.2 L (9.7 qt., 8.2 Imp.qt.)
Coolant type Ethylene ± glycol coolant (Do not use alcohol type.)
±FUEL
Fuel type Only UNLEADED
Research octane number 91 (Octane Rating 87) or higher
±IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plug ±Make NIPPONDENSO PK20TR11
NGK BKR6EKPB11
±Gap 1.1 mm (0.043 in.)
±ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Battery ± Maintenance type battery
Specific gravity reading at 205C (685F): 1.260 Fully charged
1.160 Half charged
1.060 Discharged
Charging rates Quick charge 15A max.
Slow charge 5A max.
± Non±maintenance battery
Open voltage at 205C (685F): 12.7V Fully charged
12.3V Half charged
11.9V Discharged
[Voltage that is checked 20 minutes after the key is
removed with all the lights turned off]
Charging rates 5A max.

ENGINE
198
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 nozzle on pumps with
leaded gas will not.
NOTICE
Do not use leaded gasoline. Use of leaded gasoline
will cause the three±way catalytic converter to lose
its effectiveness and the emission control system to
function improperly. Also, this can increase
maintenance costs.
Octane number
Select Research Octane Number 91 (Octane Rating 87)
or higher. For improved vehicle performance, the use of
premium unleaded gasoline with a Research Octane
Number of 96 (Octane Rating 91) or higher is
recommended.
Use of unleaded fuel with an octane number or rating lower
than stated above will cause persistent heavy knocking. If
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, now and then, you may notice light knocking for a
short time while accelerating or driving up hills. This is no
cause for concern.
Gasolines containing detergent additives
Lexus recommends use of gasolines that contain
detergent additives to avoid build±up of engine
deposits.
For further details, ask your Lexus dealer or a local gasoline
retailer.
Gasolines containing MTBE
Gasolines that contain MTBE (Methyl Tertiary±Butyl
Ether) are available on the market. If you use a gasoline
mixed with MTBE, make certain that it does not contain
more than 15% of MTBE.
If the use of gasolines containing MTBE causes poor
drivability and/or poor fuel economy, you should stop using
them.

ENGINE
199
Gasolines containing alcohol
Gasohol is a mixture of gasoline and ethanol. If you use
gasohol in your Lexus, be sure that it is unleaded, has
an octane rating no lower than 87 and does not contain
more than 10% ethanol. Lexus does not recommend the
use of gasolines containing methanol.
If you use gasoline containing methanol, use only gasoline
meeting the requirements above and also containing less
than 5% methanol with cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors
for methanol.
NOTICE
Do not use gasohol other than stated above. It
will cause fuel system damage or vehicle
performance problems.
If drivability problems are encountered (poor hot
starting, vaporizing, engine knock, etc.),
discontinue its use.
Take care not to spill gasohol during refueling.
Gasohol may cause paint damage.
Fuel tank capacity
70 L (18.5 gal., 15.4 Imp.gal.)
FACTS ABOUT ENGINE OIL
CONSUMPTION
Functions of engine oil
Engine oil has the primary function of lubricating and cooling
the inside of the engine, and plays a major role in maintaining
the engine in proper working order.
Engine oil consumption
It is normal that an engine should consume some
engine oil during normal engine operation. The causes
of oil consumption in a normal engine are as follows:
Oil is used to lubricate pistons, piston rings and cylinders.
A thin film of oil is left on the cylinder wall when a piston
moves downwards in the cylinder. High negative pressure
generated when the vehicle is decelerating sucks some of
the oil into the combustion chamber. This oil as well as
some part of the oil film left on the cylinder wall is burned
by the high temperature combustion gases during the
combustion process.
Oil is also used to lubricate the stems of the intake valves.
Some of this oil is sucked into the combustion chamber
together with the intake air and is burned along with the
fuel. High temperature exhaust gases also burn the oil
used to lubricate the exhaust valve stems.