engine Lexus GS350 2013 Owner's Manual

609
GS350_U (OM30C34U)6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Do-it-yourself service precautions
If you perform maintenance by yourself, be sure to follow the correct
procedure as given in these sections.
ItemsPa r t s a n d t o o l s
Battery condition ( →P. 6 2 4 )
•Warm water
•Baking soda
•Grease
• Conventional wrench
(for terminal clamp bolts)
• Distilled water
Brake fluid level ( →P. 6 2 3 )
•FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703
brake fluid
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding brake fluid)
Engine coolant level ( →P. 6 2 0 )
•“To y o t a Super Long Life Coolant” or
a similar high quality ethylene glycol-
based non-silicate, non-amine, non-
nitrite and non-borate coolant with
long-life hybrid organic acid technol-
ogy
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is
pre-mixed with 50% coolant and
50% deionized water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is
pre-mixed with 55% coolant and
45% deionized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding coolant)
Engine oil level (→ P. 6 1 7 )
• “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or
equivalent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding engine oil)
Fuses (→ P. 6 4 8 )• Fuse with same amperage rating as
original

GS350_U (OM30C34U)
6116-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
CAUTION
The engine compartment contains many mechanisms and fluids that may move sud-
denly, become hot, or become electrically energized. To avoid death or serious
injury, observe the following precautions.
■When working on the engine compartment
●Keep hands, clothing and tools away from the moving fan and engine drive belt.
●Be careful not to touch the engine, radiator, exhaust manifold, etc. right after driv-
ing as they may be hot. Oil and other fluids may also be hot.
●Do not leave anything that may burn easily, such as paper and rags, in the engine
compartment.
●Do not smoke, cause sparks or expose an open flame to fuel or the battery. Fuel
and battery fumes are flammable.
●Be extremely cautious when working on the battery. It contains poisonous and
corrosive sulfuric acid.
■When working near the electric cooling fans or radiator grille
Be sure the engine switch is off.
With the engine switch in IGNITION ON mode, the electric cooling fans may
automatically start to run if the air conditioning is on and/or the coolant tempera-
ture is high. (→P. 622)
■Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or falling material, fluid spray, etc. from get-
ting in your eyes.
NOTICE
■If you remove the air cleaner filter
Driving with the air cleaner filter removed may cause excessive engine wear due to
dirt in the air. Also, a backfire could cause a fire in the engine compartment.

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GS350_U (OM30C34U)
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAUTION
■When raising your vehicle
Make sure to observe the following precautions to reduce the possibility of death
or serious injury:
●When using a floor jack, follow the instructions of the manual provided with the
jack.
●Do not use the jack that was supplied with your vehicle.
●Do not put any part of your body underneath the vehicle when it is supported
only by the floor jack.
●Always use floor jack and/or automotive jack stands on a solid, flat, level surface.
●Do not start the engine while the vehicle is supported by the floor jack.
●Stop the vehicle on level, firm ground, firmly set the parking brake and shift the
shift lever to P.
●Make sure to set the floor jack properly at the jack point.
Raising the vehicle with an improperly positioned floor jack will damage the vehi-
cle and may cause the vehicle to fall off the floor jack.
●Do not raise the vehicle while someone is in the vehicle.
●When raising the vehicle, do not place any object on top of or underneath the
floor jack.
●Lift up the vehicle using a floor jack such as
the one shown in the illustration.

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GS350_U (OM30C34U)6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Engine compartment
Fuse boxes ( →P. 6 4 8 )
Battery ( →P. 6 2 4 )
Engine oil level dipstick (→P. 6 1 7 )
Engine coolant reservoir (→P. 6 2 0 )
Engine oil filler cap (→P. 6 1 8 ) Brake fluid reservoir
(→P. 623)
Washer fluid tank ( →P. 6 2 8 )
Electric cooling fans
Condenser ( →P. 622)
Radiator ( →P. 622)1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

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GS350_U (OM30C34U)
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Removing the engine compartment cover
XRight-hand side
XCenter
■Installing the clipsPush up center portion
Insert
Press
Engine compartment cover
1
2
3
NOTICE
■Checking the engine compartment cover after installation
Make sure that the cover is securely installed in its original position.

GS350_U (OM30C34U)
6176-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
With the engine at operating temperature and turned off, check the oil
level on the dipstick.
■Checking the engine oilPark the vehicle on level ground. After warming up the engine and
turning it off, wait more than 5 minutes for the oil to drain back into
the bottom of the engine.
Holding a rag under the end,
pull the dipstick out.
Wipe the dipstick clean.
Reinsert the dipstick fully.
Holding a rag under the end, pull the dipstick out and check the oil
level. Low
Full
Wipe the dipstick and reinsert it fully.
Engine oil
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
XTy p e AXType B
6

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GS350_U (OM30C34U)
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Adding engine oil
If the oil level is below or near the
low level mark, add engine oil of
the same type as that already in
the engine.
Make sure to check the oil type and prepare the items needed before
adding oil.Remove the oil filler cap by turning it counterclockwise.
Add engine oil slowly, checking the dipstick.
Install the oil filler cap by turning it clockwise.
■Engine oil consumption
A considerable amount of engine oil will be consumed while driving. In the following
situations, oil consumption may increase, and engine oil may need to be refilled in
between oil maintenance intervals.
●When the engine is new, for example directly after purchasing the vehicle or after
replacing the engine
●If low quality oil or oil of an inappropriate viscosity is used
●When driving at high engine speeds or with a heavy load, when driving while accel-
erating or decelerating frequently
●When leaving the engine idling for a long time, or when driving frequently through
heavy traffic
●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.
Engine oil selection →P. 7 5 5
Oil quantity
(Low → Full) 1.6 qt. (1.5 L, 1.3 Imp.qt.)
Items
Clean funnel
1
2
3

GS350_U (OM30C34U)
6196-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■Used engine oil
●Used engine oil contains potentially harmful contaminants which may cause skin
disorders such as inflammation and skin cancer, so care should be taken to avoid
prolonged and repeated contact. To remove used engine oil from your skin, wash
thoroughly with soap and water.
●Dispose of used oil and filters only in a safe and acceptable manner. Do not dis-
pose of used oil and filters in household trash, in sewers or onto the ground.
Call your Lexus dealer, service station or auto parts store for information con-
cerning recycling or disposal.
●Do not leave used engine oil within the reach of children.
NOTICE
■To prevent serious engine damage
Check the oil level on a regular basis.
■When replacing the engine oil
●Be careful not to spill engine oil on the vehicle components.
●Avoid overfilling, or the engine could be damaged.
●Check the oil level on the dipstick every time you refill the vehicle.
●Be sure the engine oil filler cap is properly tightened.

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6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
The coolant level is satisfactory if it is between the “FULL” and “LOW”
lines on the reservoir when the engine is cold.Reservoir cap
“FULL” line
“LOW” line
If the level is on or below the “LOW”
line, add coolant up to the “FULL” line.
(→ P. 74 7 )
■Coolant selection
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” or a similar high quality ethylene glycol
based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-borate coolant with long-life
hybrid organic acid technology.
U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mixture of 50% coolant and 50% deionized
water. (Minimum temperature: -31 °F [-35 °C])
Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mixture of 55% coolant and 45% deionized
water. (Minimum temperature: -44 °F [-42 °C])
For more details about engine coolant, contact your Lexus dealer.
■If the coolant level drops within a short time of replenishing
Visually check the radiator, hoses, engine coolant reservoir caps, drain cock and
water pump.
If you cannot find a leak, have your Lexus dealer test the cap and check for leaks in
the cooling system.
Engine coolant
1
2
3

GS350_U (OM30C34U)
6216-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■When the engine is hot
Do not remove the engine coolant reservoir cap or the radiator cap.(→P. 74 8 )
The cooling system may be under pressure and may spray hot coolant if the cap is
removed, causing serious injuries, such as burns.
NOTICE
■When adding coolant
Coolant is neither plain water nor straight antifreeze. The correct mixture of water
and antifreeze must be used to provide proper lubrication, corrosion protection
and cooling. Be sure to read the antifreeze or coolant label.
■If you spill coolant
Be sure to wash it off with water to prevent it from damaging parts or paint.