1998 Lexus LS400 oil temperature

AIR CONDITIONING AND AUDIO
148(g) Other compact disc player functions
20L055-2
”RPT” button: Use it for automatic repeat of the track you are
currently listening to.
Push the button while the track is playing. When the track is
finished, the player will automatically go back to the beginning of
the track and play the track again. To cancel it, push the button once
again.
”RAND” button: Use it for automatic track selection and play by
the system.
When the button is pushed, the system selects a track in the discs
which are set and plays it. To cancel it, push the button once again.
When a track is skipped or the system is inoperative, push the button
to reset.(h) If the player malfunctions
If ”WAIT” appears on the display, audio signals of the disc cannot
be read or the system has trouble. Push the ”CD” button once again.
If the player does not operate, check that the disc surface is not soiled
or damaged. If the disc is O.K., the following two causes are
possible.
Condensation may have occurred on the internal mechanism of
the automatic changer. Open the cover to let the air circulate.
The temperature of the player’s internal mechanism is raised
because of high external temperature. Remove the magazine
from the player to cool it.
If the player still does not operate, take it to your Lexus dealer.
Car audio system operating hints
NOTICE
To ensure the correct audio system operation:
Be careful not to spill beverages over the audio system.
Do not put anything other than a cassette tape or CD
magazine into the cassette tape slot or CD changer.

DRIVING TIPS
182Do 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 163.
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 highspeed 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
highspeed 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 require 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 ethyleneglycol 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 253
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 232 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 help.
Check the electronic ignition system for loose connections or
obvious damage.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock deicer or glycerine into the locks to keep them from
freezing.

MAINTENANCE
216Parking brake
Check that the pedal has the proper travel and that, on a safe incline,
your vehicle is held securely with only the parking brake applied.
Automatic transmission ”Park” mechanism
On a safe incline, check that your vehicle is held securely with the
selector lever in ”P” position and all brakes released.
Engine compartment
Items listed below should be checked from time to time, e.g. each
time when refueling.
Washer fluid
Make sure there is sufficient fluid in the tank. See page 261 for
additional information.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between the Upper and Lower lines
on the seethrough reservoir when the engine is cold. See page 233
for additional information.
Battery
Your Lexus has a maintenance free battery. You do not have to add
distilled water. For longer life of the battery, however, see page 253
for additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct. See page 239 for
additional information.Engine oil level
Check the level on the dipstick with the engine turned off and the
vehicle parked on a level spot. See page 230 for additional
information.
Power steering fluid level
Check the level on the dipstick. The level should be in the ”HOT”
or ”COLD” range depending on the fluid temperature. See page 240
for additional information.
Exhaust system
Look for cracks, holes and loose supports. If you notice any change
in the sound of the exhaust or smell exhaust fumes, have the cause
located and corrected immediately. (See engine exhaust cautions in
Section 31.)

INTRODUCTION
221
DOITYOURSELF SERVICE
PRECAUTIONS
If you perform maintenance yourself, be sure to follow the
correct procedure given in this Section.
You should be aware that improper or incomplete servicing may
result in operating problems.
Performing doityourself maintenance during the warranty period
may affect your warranty coverage. Read the separate Lexus
Warranty statement for details and suggestions.
This Section gives instructions only for those items that are
relatively easy for an owner to perform. As explained in Section 5,
there are still a number of items that must be performed by a qualified
technician with special tools.
For information on tools and parts for doityourself maintenance,
see ”Parts and tools”.
Utmost care should be taken when working on your vehicle to
prevent accidental injury. Here are a few precautions that you should
be especially careful to observe:
CAUTION
When the engine is running, keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from the moving fan and engine drive belt.
(Removing rings, watches, and ties is advisable.)
Right after driving, the engine compartment the engine,
radiator, exhaust manifold and power steering fluid
reservoir, etc. will be hot. So be careful not to touch them.
Oil and other fluids may also be hot.
Do not smoke, cause sparks or allow open flames around
fuel or the battery. Their fumes are flammable.
Be extremely cautious when working on the battery. It
contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid.
Do not get under your vehicle with just the body jack
supporting it. Always use automotive jack stands or other
solid supports.
Be sure the ignition is off if you work near the electric
cooling fan or radiator grille. With the ignition on, the
electric cooling fan may automatically start to run if the air
conditioning is on and/or if the coolant temperature is high.
Use eye protection whenever you work on or under your
vehicle where you may be exposed to flying or falling
material, fluid spray, etc.
NOTICE

62L0051
Temperature range anticipated before next oil change
ENGINE
225
SPECIFICATIONS
GENERAL
Model
Type
Bore and stroke
Displacement
Valve clearance (engine cold)
Intake
Exhaust
Drive belt tension
1UZFE
8 cylinder V type, 4 cycle, gasoline
87.5 X 82.5 mm (3.44 X 3.25 in.)
3969 cm
3 (242.1 cu.in.)
0.15 0.25 mm (0.006 0.010 in.)
0.25 0.35 mm (0.010 0.014 in.)
Automatic adjustment
LUBRICATION SYSTEM
Oil capacity
Drain and refill
with filter
without filter
Oil grade

Recommended oil viscosity (SAE):
5.6 L (5.9 qt., 4.9 lmp.qt.)
5.3 L (5.6 qt., 4.7 lmp.qt.)
API SH, ”EnergyConserving II” or SJ, ”EnergyConserving”
multigrade engine oil or ILSAC multigrade engine oil

ENGINE
229
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 this 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.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 by highspeed driving and frequent
acceleration and deceleration.
A new engine consumes more oil, since its pistons, piston rings and
cylinder 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 the 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

ENGINE
230Failure to check the oil level regularly could lead to serious
engine trouble due to insufficient oil.
For detailed information on oil level check, see ”Checking the
engine oil level” on page 230.
USED ENGINE OIL
CAUTION
Used engine oil contains potentially harmful contaminants
which may cause skin disorders such as inflammation or
skin cancer, so care should be taken to avoid prolonged and
repeated contact with it. To remove used engine oil from
your skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water.
Do not leave used oil within the reach of children.
Dispose of used oil and used oil filters only in a safe and
acceptable manner. Do not dispose of used oil and used oil
filters in household trash, in sewers or onto the ground.
Call your Lexus dealer or a service station for information
concerning recycling or disposal.
CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL
LEVEL
62L004-4
With the engine at operating temperature and turned off, check
the oil level on the dipstick.
1. To get a true reading, the vehicle should be on a level spot. After
turning off the engine, wait a few minutes for the oil to drain back
into the bottom of the engine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, and wipe it clean with a rag.
3. Reinsert the dipstick and push it in as far as it will go, or the
reading will not be correct.

ENGINE
232
Engine oil selection
Use API SH, ”EnergyConserving II” or SJ, ”EnergyConserving”
multigrade engine oil or ILSAC multigrade engine oil.
Recommended viscosity (SAE):
62L0051
Temperature range anticipated before next oil change
SAE 5W30 is the best choice for your vehicle, for good fuel
economy, and good starting in cold weather.
If you use SAE 10W30 engine oil in extremely low
temperatures, the engine may become difficult to start, so SAE
5W30 engine oil is recommended.
Oil identification marks
62L0061
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 5W30. ”EnergyConserving”, shown in the lower portion,
indicates that the oil has fuelsaving capabilities.
The ILSAC (International Lubricant Standardization and
Approval Committee) Certification Mark is displayed on the
front of the container.