2001 Lexus ES300 Gas type

ENGINE
401
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
83 mm (3.44
3.27 in.)
2995 cm
3 (182.8 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

ENGINE
404
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 standard 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 catalyticconverter to lose its effectiveness and theemission control system to function improperly.Also, this can increase maintenance costs.
Octane rating
Select Octane Rating 87 (Research Octane Number
91) or higher. For improved vehicle performance,
the use of premium unleaded gasoline with an
Octane Rating of 91 (Research Octane Number 96)
or higher is recommended.
Use of unleaded fuel with an Octane Rating or Research Octane Number lower than stated above will cause
persistent heavy knocking. If it is 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 recommends the use of gasoline that contain
detergent additives to avoid build±up of engine
deposits.
For further details, ask your Lexus dealer or a local
gasoline retailer.
Quality gasoline
Automobile manufacturers in U.S., Europe and
Japan have developed a specification for quality
fuel named W orld±Wide Fuel Charter (WWFC) that is
expected to be applied world wide. The WWFC
consists of three categories that depend on
required emission levels. In the U.S., category 3 has
been adopted. The WWFC improves air quality by
providing for better emissions in vehicle fleets, and

ENGINE
405
customer satisfaction through better vehicle
performance.
Cleaner burning gasoline
Cleaner burning gasoline, including reformulated
gasoline that contains oxygenates such as ethanol
or MTBE is available in many areas.
Lexus recommends the use of cleaner burning gasoline
and appropriately blended reformulated gasoline.
These types of gasoline provide excellent vehicle
performance,
reduce vehicle emissions, and improve air
quality.
Oxygenates in gasoline
Lexus all ows the use of oxygenate blended gasoline
where the oxygenate content is up to 10% ethanol or
15% MTBE. If you use gasohol in your Lexus, be
sure that it has an octane rating no lower than 87.
Lexus does not recommend the use of gasoline
containing methanol.
Sulfur in gasoline
If your vehicle is certified to California Emission
Regulations, the vehicle is designed to operate on
California cleaner burning gasoline (CBG) that
contains lower sulfur. If you cannot use California
CBG, your emission control system may suffer
damage and turn on the Malfunction Indicator Lamp.
If the malfunction is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by your warranty.

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
455
BATTERY RECHARGINGPRECAUTIONS
During recharging, the battery is producing
hydrogen gas.
Therefore, before recharging:
1. If recharging with the battery installed on the vehicle,
be sure to disconnect the ground cable.
2. Make sure the power switch on the recharger is off
when connecting the charger cables to the battery and
when disconnecting them.
CAUTION
Always charge the battery in an unconfined area. Do
not charge the battery in a garage or closed room
where there is not sufficient ventilation.
 Only do a slow charge (5 A or less). Charging at a
quicker rate is dangerous. The battery may explode
causing personal injuries.
NOTICE
Never recharge the battery while the engine is
running. Also, be sure all accessories are turnedoff.
CHECKING AND REPLACING THE BLADE TYPE FUSES

BODY
481
Plastic wheel ornaments:
The plastic wheel
ornaments are damaged easily by organic substances.
If any organic substances splashes an ornament, be
sure to wash it off with water and check if the ornament
is damaged.
CAUTION
Do not attach the heavily damaged plastic wheel
ornament. It may fly off the wheel and cause accidents
while the vehicle is moving.
Aluminum wheels: Use only a mild soap or neutral
detergent.
Urethane bumpers and side moldings: Wash
carefully. Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners. The
bumper and side molding faces are soft.
Road tar: Remove with turpentine or cleaners that are
marked safe for painted surfaces.
NOTICE
Do not use organic substances (gasoline, kerosene, benzine or strong solvents), which may
be toxic or cause damage.
3. Rinse thoroughly ± dried soap can cause streaking.
In hot weather you may need to rinse each section right
after you wash it. 4. To prevent water spots, dry the vehicle using a clean
soft cotton towel. Do not rub or press hard ± you might
scratch the paint.
Automatic car wash
Your vehicle may be washed in an automatic car wash,
but remember that the paint can be scratched by some
type of brushes, unfiltered washing water, or the
washing process itself. Scratching reduces paint
durability and gloss, especially on darker colors. The
manager of the car wash should be able to advise you
whether
the process is safe for the paint on your vehicle.

BODY
484

Dirt or sand adhered to the leather may damage
the treated surface and cause it to wear earlier.Remove dirt or sand using a vacuum cleaner.

If a stain should fail to come out with a neutraldetergent, apply a cleaner that does notcontain an organic solvent.

Never use organic substances such asbenzine, alcohol or gasoline, or alkaline or acid
solutions for cleaning the leather as these could cause discoloring.

Use of a nylon brush or synthetic fiber cloth,etc. may scratch the fine grained surface of the
leather.

Mildew may develop on soiled leather upholstery. Be especially careful to avoid oil
spots. Try to keep your upholstery alwaysclean.

Long exposure to direct sunlight may causethe leather surface to harden and shrink. Keepyour vehicle in a shaded area, especially in thesummer.

The interior of your vehicle is apt to heat up onhot summer days, so avoid placing on theupholstery items made of vinyl or plastic orcontaining wax as these tend to stick to leather
when warm.

Improper cleaning of the leather upholstery could result in discoloration or staining.
Synthetic Leather Areas (Dash)
The synthetic leather areas may be easily cleaned
with a mild soap or detergent and water.
First vacuum over the upholstery to remove loose dirt.
Then, using a sponge or soft cloth, apply the soap
solution to the synthetic leather. After allowing it to soak
in for a few minutes to loosen the dirt, remove the dirt and
wipe off the soap with a clean damp cloth. If all the dirt
does not come off, repeat the procedure. Commercial
foaming±type cleaners are also available which work
well. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
NOTICE
Do not use solvent, thinner, gasoline or windowcleaner on the interior.
Carpets, Windows and Seat Belts
Begin by vacuuming thoroughly to remove as much dirt
as possible. Several types of foam cleaners are
available; some are in aerosol cans and others are
powders or liquids which you mix with water to produce
a foam. To shampoo the carpets, use a sponge or brush
to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping circles. Do not
apply water ± the best results are obtained by keeping
the carpet as dry as possible. Read the shampoo
instructions and follow them closely.
The seat belts may be cleaned with mild soap and

BODY
485
water or with lukewarm water.
Use a cloth or sponge. As you are cleaning, check the
belts for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.
NOTICE

Use a good foam±type shampoo to clean the
carpets.

Do not use dye or bleach on the belts ± it mayweaken them.

Do not use the belts until they become dry.

The windows may be cleaned with anyhousehold window cleaner.

When cleaning the inside of the rear window, be
careful not to scratch or damage the heater
wires or connectors.
Air Conditioning Control Panel, Car
Audio, Instrument Panel, Console Panel,
and Switches
Use a soft damp cloth for cleaning.
Soak a clean soft cloth in water or lukewarm water then
lightly wipe off any dirt.
NOTICE

Do not use organic substances (solvents,kerosene, alcohol, gasoline, etc.) or alkaline oracidic solutions. These chemicals can causediscoloring, staining or peeling of the surface.

If you use cleaners or polishing agents, makesure their ingredients do not include thesubstances mentioned above.

If you use a liquid car freshener, do not spill theliquid onto the vehicle's interior surfaces. Itmay contain the ingredients mentioned above.Immediately clean any spill using the method
mentioned above.
If you have any questions about the cleaning of your
Lexus, your local Lexus dealer will be pleased to
answer them.

GAS STATION INFORMATION

Fuel selection:
Select Octane Rating 87 (Research Octane Number 91) or
higher. For improved vehicle performance, the use of
premium unleaded gasoline with an Octane Rating 91
(Research Octane Number 96) or higher is recommended.

Fuel tank capacity:
70 L (18.5 gal., 15.4 lmp. gal.)

Engine oil:
API SJ, ªEnergy±Conservingº multigrade engine oil or
ILSAC multigrade engine oil.
Recommended oil viscosity ± SAE 5W±30 if normal
temperatures are below 38 C (100F)
Oil capacity: L (qt., lmp. qt.)
Drain and refill with filter 4.7 (5.0, 4.1)
without filter 4.5 (4.8, 4.0)
See page 410 for detailed information.

Engine coolant:
Capacity: 8.8 L (9.3 qt., 7.7 lmp. qt.)
Coolant type ± ªToyota 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.
For checking the engine coolant, see page 415 .

Automatic transaxle:
Fluid type ± Automatic transmission fluid Type T±IV
See page 421 for detailed information.

Tire information:
See pages 431 through 440 for detailed information.

Tire pressure:
Tire size: P205/65R15 92V or P205/60R16 91V
cold tires
kPa (kgf/cm
2 or bar, psi)
Vehicle loaded up
Vehicle load up to vehicle capacity
to 4 occupants weight
Front tires 180 (1.8, 26) 220 (2.2, 32) . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear tires 180 (1.8, 26) 220 (2.2, 32) . . . . . . . . . . .
When driving under the above vehicle load conditions at
sustained high speeds above 160 km/h (100 mph), in countries
where such speeds are permitted by law, inflate the front and
rear tires 220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 32 psi), but never exceed
the maximum cold tire pressure molded on the tire sidewall.