1999 LEXUS SC300 engine oil

MAINTENANCE
314
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 396
for additional information.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between the Upper and Lower
lines on the see±through reservoir when the engine is cold.
See page 347 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 380 for additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct. See page 359 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 342 for additional
information.Power steering fluid level
Check the level on the dipstick. The level should be in the
ºHOTº or ºCOLDº range depending on the fluid
temperature. See page 361 for additional information.
Engine fan fluid level
Check the level through the reservoir. The level should be in
ºHOTº or ºCOLDº range depending on the fluid
temperature. See page 349 for additional information.
Exhaust system
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 3±1.)

INTRODUCTION
325

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
near fuel or the battery. Their fumes are fl ammable.

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. Al ways use automotive jack stands or
other solid supports.

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

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±yourself 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 SJ, ºEnergy±Conservingº multigrade
engine oil or ILSAC multigrade engine oil. For
recommended oil viscosity, see page 346.
Tools:

INTRODUCTION
326

Rag or paper towel

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

ºToyota Long Life Coolantº or equivalent
See ºChecking the engine coolant levelº on page 342 for
instructions.

Demineralized or distilled water
Tools:

Funnel (only for adding coolant)
Checking the engine fan fluid
Part (if level is low)

Automatic transmission fluid DEXRON
II or III
Tools:

Funnel (only for adding fluid)
Checking brake fluid
Parts (if level is low):

FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703 brake fluid
Tools:

Funnel (only for adding fluid)
Checking power steering fluid
Parts (if level is low):

Automatic transmission fluid DEXRON
II or III
Tools:

Rag or paper towel

Funnel (only for adding fluid)

SECTION 6 ± 2
329
SERVICE PROCEDURES AND
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine
Specifications (SC400) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
330
Specifications (SC300) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
334
Fuel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . .
337
Facts about engine oil consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
339
Used engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
341
Checking the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
342
Checking the engine coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
347
Checking the engine fan fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
349
Spark plugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . .
350

ENGINE
331
Oil capacity
Drain and refillwith filter
without filter
Oil grade
Recommended oil viscosity (SAE):
4.7 L (5.0 qt., 4.2 lmp.qt.)
4.8 L (5.1 qt., 4.2 lmp.qt.)
API SJ, ºEnergy±Conservingº multigrade engine oil or
ILSAC multigrade engine oil
± COOLING SYSTEM
Capacity
Coolant type
11.6 L (12.3 qt., 10.2 lmp.qt.)
ºToyota Long Life Coolantº or equivalent
With ethylene±glycol type coolant for a proper corrosion
protection of aluminum components
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or plain water alone.
± FUEL
Fuel type
Octane rating
Only UNLEADED
91 (Research octane number 96) or higher

ENGINE
335
Oil capacity
Drain and refillwith filter
without filter
Oil grade
Recommended oil viscosity (SAE):
5.2 L (5.5 qt., 4.5 lmp.qt.)
4.9 L (5.2 qt., 4.4 lmp.qt.)
API SJ, ºEnergy±Conservingº multigrade engine oil or
ILSAC multigrade engine oil
± COOLING SYSTEM
Capacity
Coolant type
8.4 L (8.9 qt., 7.4 lmp.qt.)
ºToyota Long Life Coolantº or equivalent
With ethylene±glycol type coolant for a proper corrosion
protection of aluminum components
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or plain water alone.
± FUEL
Fuel type
Octane rating
Only UNLEADED
91 (Research octane number 96) or higher

ENGINE
339
Gasolines quality
In a very few cases, you may experience driveability
problems caused by the particular gasoline that you are using.
If you continue to have unacceptable driveability, try
changing gasoline brands. If that does not rectify your
problem, then consult your Lexus dealer.
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
78 L (20.6 gal., 17.2 lmp.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
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.

ENGINE
340The 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 high±speed 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
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 342.