oil viscosity Lexus ES300 1998 Owner's Manuals (in English)

DRIVING TIPS153
CAUTION
Before driving off, make sure the parking brake is fully
released and that the parking brake reminder light is off.
 Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while driving. It
can cause dangerous overheating, needless wear, and poor
fuel economy.
 To drive down a long or steep hill, reduce your speed and
downshift. Remember, if you ride the brakes excessively,
they may overheat and not work properly. See page 140.
 Be careful when accelerating, upshifting, downshifting or
braking on a slippery surface. The abrupt change in engine
speed, such as sudden acceleration or engine braking, could
cause the vehicle to spin or skid.
 Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal
speed limit permits it, do not drive over 140 km/h (85 mph)
unless your vehicle has high±speed capability tires.
Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph) may result in tire failure,
loss of control and possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire
dealer to determine whether the tires on your vehicle are
high±speed capability tires or not before driving at such
speeds.
 Do not continue normal driving when the brakes are wet. If they are
wet, your vehicle will r equire a longer stopping distance, and it may
pull to one side when the brakes are applied. Also, the parking brake
will not hold the vehicle securely.
WINTER DRIVING TIPS
Make sure you have ethylene±glycol antifreeze in the radiator.
NOTICE
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze.
Check the condition of the battery and cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of any battery, so it must be in top shape
to provide enough power for winter starting. Page 219 tells you how to
visually inspect the battery. Your Lexus dealer and most service stations will
be pleased to check the battery charge level.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for the cold weather.
See page 200 for recommended viscosity. Leaving a heavy summer oil in your
vehicle during winter months may cause harder starting. If you are not sure
about which oil to use, call your Lexus dealer ± they will be pleased to h\
elp.
Check the electronic ignition system for loose connections or obvious
damage.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock de±icer or glycerine into the locks to keep them from fre\
ezing.

INTRODUCTION189
NOTICE

Remember that battery and ignition cables carry high currents or
voltages. Be careful of accidentally causing a short circuit.

Before closing the engine hood, check to see that you have not
forgotten any tools, rags, etc.

Do not drive with the air cleaner removed, or excessive engine wear
could result. Also backfiring could cause a fire in the engine
compartment.

Do not overfill automatic transmission fluid, or the transmission could
be damaged.

Be careful not to scratch the glass surface with the wiper frame.
PARTS AND TOOLS
Here is a list of parts and tools you will need to perform do±it±y\
ourself
maintenance. Remember all Lexus parts are designed in metric sizes, so your
tools must be metric.
Checking the engine oil level
Parts (if level is low):

Use API grade SH, ºEnergy±Conserving IIº or SJ, ºEnergy±Conservingº
multigrade engine oil or ILSAC multigrade engine oil. For recommended
oil viscosity, see page 200.
Tools:

Rag or paper towel

Funnel (only for adding oil)
Checking the engine coolant level
Parts (if level is low):

Ethylene±glycol coolant

Demineralized or distilled water
Tools:

Funnel (only for adding coolant)

62L005±1
Temperature range anticipated before next oil change
ENGINE193
SPECIFICATIONS
± GENERALModel
Type
Bore and stroke
Displacement
Valve clearance (engine cold) Intake
Exhaust
Drive belt tension (with Borroughs drive belt tension gauge No.
BT±33±73F)
1MZ ± FE
6 cylinder V type, 4 cycle, gasoline
87.5 X 83 mm (3.44 X 3.27 in.)
2995 cm
3 (182.7 cu.in.)
0.15 ± 0.25 mm (0.006 ± 0.010 in.)
0.25 ± 0.35 mm (0.010 ± 0.014 in.)
115
20 lb.
± LUBRICATION SYSTEM
Oil capacity Drain and refillwith filter
without filter
Oil grade
Recommended oil viscosity (SAE):
4.7 L (5.0 qt., 4.1 lmp.qt.)
4.5 L (4.8 qt., 4.0 lmp.qt.)
API SH, ºEnergy±Conserving IIº or SJ, ºEnergy±Conservingº multigrade
engine oil or ILSAC multigrade engine oil
± COOLING SYSTEM

ENGINE197
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 this oil into the combustion chamber. This oil
as well as some part of the oil film left on the cylinder wall is burned b\
y 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 i\
s
burned along with the fuel. High temperature exhaust gases also burn the
oil used to lubricate the exhaust valve stems. The amount of engine oil consumed depends on the viscosity of the oil, the
quality of the oil and the way the vehicle is driven.
More oil is consumed under driving conditions such as high speeds and
frequent acceleration and deceleration.
A new engine consumes more oil, since its pistons, piston rings and cyli\
nder
walls have not become conditioned.
When judging the amount of oil consumption, keep in mind that the oil
may have become diluted, making it difficult to judge the true level
accurately.
For example, if a vehicle is used for repeated short trips and consumes \
a
normal amount of oil, the dipstick may not show any drop in the oil level at
all, even after 1000 km (600 miles) or more. This is because the oil \
is
gradually becoming diluted with fuel or moisture, making it appear that the
oil level has not changed.
The diluting ingredients evaporate out when the vehicle is then driven at high
speeds, as on an expressway, making it appear that oil is excessively
consumed after driving at high speeds.
Importance of engine oil level check
One of the most important points in proper vehicle maintenance is to keep t\
he
engine oil at the optimum level so that oil function will not be impaired.
Therefore, it is essential that the oil level be checked regularly. Lexus
recommends that the oil level be checked every time you refuel the vehicle.
NOTICE
Failure to check the oil level regularly could lead to serious engine
trouble due to insufficient oil.
For detailed information on oil level check, see ºChecking the engine\
oil
levelº on page 198.

ENGINE
200
Engine oil selection
Use API SH, ºEnergy±Conserving IIº or SJ, ºEnergy±Conservingº
multigrade engine oil or ILSAC multigrade engine oil.
Recommended viscosity (SAE):
62L005±1
Temperature range anticipated before next oil change
SAE 5W±30 is the best choice for your vehicle, for good fuel economy, and
good starting in cold weather.
If you use SAE 10W±30 engine oil in extremely low temperatures, the
engine may become difficult to start, so SAE 5W±30 engine oil is
recommended.
Oil identification marks
62L006±1

API Service Symbol
ILSAC Certification Mark
Either or both API registered marks are added to some oil containers to help
you select the oil you should use.
 The API Service Symbol is located anywhere on the outside of the
container.
The top portion of the label shows the oil quality by API (American
Petroleum Institute) designation such as SJ. The center portion of the label
shows the SAE viscosity grade such as SAE 5W±30.
ºEnergy±Conservingº, shown in the lower portion, indicates that the oil
has fuel±saving capabilities.
 The ILSAC (International Lubricant Standardization and Approval
Committee) Certification Mark is displayed on the front of the container.