Page 237 of 307

MAINTENANCE
224Tire rotation
Rotate the tires according to the maintenance schedule. (For
scheduled maintenance information, please refer to the
ªOwner's Manual Supplementº or ªScheduled Maintenanceº.)
See page 255 for additional information.
Fluid leaks
Check under
neath for leaking fuel, oil, water or other fluid after
the vehicle has been parked for a while. If you smell fuel fumes
or notice any leak, have the cause found and corrected
immediately.
Doors and engine hood
Check that all doors, including trunk lid, operate smoothly and
all latches lock securely. Make sure the engine hood
secondary latch secures the hood when the primary latch is
released.
Vehicle interior
Items listed below should be checked regularly, e.g. while
performing periodic services, cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Lights
Make sure the headlight, stop lights, tail lights, turn signal
lights, and other lights are working. Check headlight aim.
Service reminder indicators and warning buzzers
Check that all service reminder indicators and warning
buzzers function properly. Steering wheel
Check that it has the specified free play. Be alert for changes
in steering condition, such as hard steering, excessive free
play or strange noise.
Seats
Check that all front seat controls such as seat adjusters,
seatback recliner, etc. operate smoothly. Ch
eck that the head
restraints move up and down smoothly and that the locks hold
securely in any latched position.
Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such as buckles, retractors
and anchors operate properly and smoothly. Make sure the
belt webbing is not cut, frayed, worn or damaged.
Accelerator pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and uneven pedal ef fort
or catching.
Brake pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and the proper
clearance and free play. Check the brake booster function.
Brakes
At a safe place, check that the brakes do not pull to one side
when applied.
Parking brake
Check that the lever has the proper travel and that, on a safe
incline, your vehicle is held securely with only the parking
brake applied.
Page 238 of 307

MAINTENANCE
225
Automatic transmission ºParkº mechanism
On a safe incline, check that your vehicle is held securely with
the selector lever in ºPº 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 274 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 245 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 268 for additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct. See page 252 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 242 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 253 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 ªEngine exhaust cautionsº on page 165 in
Section 3±1.)
Page 242 of 307
INTRODUCTION
229
ENGINE COMPARTMENT OVERVIEW
1Battery
2Fuse box
3Engine oil filler cap
4Engine oil leveldipstick
5Brake fluid reservoir
6Washer fluid tank
7Power steering fluidreservoir
8Engine coolantreservoir
SV61005
Page 243 of 307

INTRODUCTION
230
DO±IT±YOURSELF SERVICEPRECAUTIONS
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 do±it±yourself 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 do±it±yourself
maintenance, see ºParts and toolsº on page 231.
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.
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.
Be extremely cautious when working on the battery.
It contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid.
Warning: Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
Page 244 of 307

INTRODUCTION
231
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 backfiringcould cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Do not overfill automatic transmission fluid, or thetransmission could be damaged.
Be careful not to scratch the glass surface with thewiper 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 244.
Tools:
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 245 for
instructions.
Demineralized or distilled water
Tools:
Funnel (only for adding coolant)
Page 248 of 307
SECTION 6 ± 2
235
SERVICE PROCEDURES AND
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine
Specifications236
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . .
Fuel 238
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Facts about engine oil consumption 240
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Used engine oil 242
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . .
Checking the engine oil level 242
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the engine coolant level 245
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spark plugs 246
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . .
Page 249 of 307
62L005±1
Temperature range anticipated before next oil change
ENGINE
236
SPECIFICATIONS
± GENERALModel
Type
Bore and stroke
Displacement
Valve clearance (engine cold) Intake
Exhaust
Drive belt tension
2JZ±GE
6 cylinder in line, 4 cycle, gasoline
86.0 X 86.0 mm (3.39 X 3.39 in.)
2997 cm
3 (182.9 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 refillwith filter
without filter
Oil grade
Recommended oil viscosity (SAE):
5.4 L (5.7 qt., 4.8 lmp.qt.)
5.1 L (5.4 qt., 4.5 lmp.qt.)
API SJ, ºEnergy±Conservingº multigrade engine oil or ILSAC
multigrade engine oil
Page 253 of 307

ENGINE
240
NOTICE
Do not use gasohol other than stated above. It willcause fuel system damage or vehicle performanceproblems.
If driveability problems are encountered (poor hotstarting, vaporizing, engine knock, etc.), discontinueits use.
Take care not to spill gasohol during refueling.Gasohol may cause paint damage.
Fuel tank capacity
66 L (17.5 gal., 14.5 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.