1999 LEXUS SC300 Owners Manual

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
336± IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plug ± Make DENSO NGK
± Gap
PK16TR11
BKR5EKPB11
1.1 mm (0.043 in.)
± ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Battery ± Maintenance type battery Specific gravity reading at 20 C (68F):
Charging rates Quick charge Slow charge
± Non±maintenance battery Open voltage at 20C (68F):
Charging rates
1.260 Fully charged
1.160 Half charged
1.060 Discharged
15A max.
5A max.
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]
5A max.

ENGINE
337
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.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use should meet the
specifications of ASTM D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB
3.5±M93 in Canada.
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 rating
Select premium unleaded gasoline with an Octane Rating
of 91 (Research Octane Number 96) or higher for
optimum engine performance. However, if such premium
type cannot be obtained, you may temporarily use
unleaded gasoline with an Octane Rating as low as 87
(Research Octane Number 91). 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 r
ecommends 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.
Improved gasolines
The American Automobile Manufacturers Association
(AAMA) has developed a specification of improved
gasolines. The AAMA specification offers optimal fuel
information for better vehicle performance and better
protection of your engine.
Lexus recommends the use of gasolines that meet the AAMA
specification, if available, for improved drivability and
emission control system.

ENGINE
338
Gasolines containing MTBE
Gasolines that contain MTBE (Methyl Tertiary±Butyl
Ether) are available in the market. If you use a gasoline
mixed with MTBE, make certain that it does not contain
more than 15% of MTBE.
Gasolines containing MMT
Some gasolines contain an octane±enhancing additive
called MMT (methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl).
Lexus does not recommend the use of gasolines that contain
MMT. If fuels containing MMT are used, your emission
control system may be adversely affected. The Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on the instrument cluster may come on. If this
happens, contact your Lexus dealer for service.
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.

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.

ENGINE
341
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 pr olonged 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.

ENGINE
342
CHECKING THE ENGINE OILLEVEL
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.