2003 Lexus ES300 fuel consumption

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GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
59
MULTIINFORMATION DISPLAY
13E068
The following information is displayed in the instrument
cluster when you push the “MODE” button with the
ignition switch turned on.
Each time you push the “MODE” button, the display
toggles through this information.
(1) Instantaneous fuel consumption
(2) Average fuel consumption
(3) Driving range
(4) Average vehicle speed
(5) Driving time
The displayed values in the multi−information display indicate
general driving conditions. Accuracy varies with driving habits
and road conditions.
When the ignition switch is on, the last previously used mode
displayed just before the ignition switch is off will appear.
If the electrical power source has been disconnected from the
multi−information display, the display will automatically be set
to the initial mode.
When the instrument panel lights are turned on, the brightness
of the display will be reduced.
CAUTION
Do not adjust the display while the vehicle is moving.
Be sure to adjust the display only when the vehicle is
stopped.

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GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
60
(1) Instantaneous fuel consumption(“MPG” or “L/100km”)
The instantaneous fuel consumption is calculated and
displayed based on distance and fuel consumption for 2
seconds with the engine running.
The displayed value is updated every 2 seconds.
Note that an accurate figure may not be shown in the following
cases.
 When the vehicle is stopped with the engine running, the
display will indicate the extremely high fuel consumption.
 When the vehicle is driving down a long slope, applying the
engine brake, the display will indicate the extremely low fuel
consumption.
The calculation is reset when the ignition switch is turned off.
(2) Average fuel consumption (“AVG. MPG” or “AVG. L/100 km”)
Average fuel consumption is calculated and displayed
based on total driving distance and total fuel consumption
with the engine running.
The displayed value is updated every 10 seconds.
To reset the calculations, push the “RESET” button.
(3) Driving range(“RANGE MI” or “RANGE km”)
The distance the vehicle can travel with the remaining fuel
is calculated and displayed based on the quantity of
remaining fuel and past fuel consumption.
The driving range display indicates the approximate distance
that you can drive until the fuel gauge reaches “E”. It is dif ferent
from the actual distance traveled.
The displayed value is updated every time the fuel equivalent
for 1 mile or 1 km is consumed.
Every time you refuel the vehicle, the calculation is reset.
The actual driving range varies with driving habits and road
conditions. If fuel consumption is good, the driving range will
be longer. If fuel consumption is poor, the driving range will be
shorter.
If the low fuel level warning light comes on, refuel even if the
display indicates that the vehicle can be driven further.
(4) Average vehicle speed (“AVG. MPH” or “AVG. km/h”)
Average vehicle speed is calculated and displayed based
on total driving distance and total driving time with the
engine running.
The displayed value is updated every 10 seconds.
To reset the calculations, push the “RESET” button.

DRIVING TIPS
254
DINGHY TOWING
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with four
wheels on the ground) behind a motorhome.
NOTICE
Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground.
This may cause serious damage to your vehicle.
TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle is designed primarily as a passenger−carrying
vehicle. Towing a trailer w ill have an adverse effect on
handling, performance, braking, durability and driving
economy (fuel consumption etc.). Y our safety and satisfaction
depend on the proper use of correct equipment and cautious
driving habits. For your safety and the safety of others, you
must not overload your vehicle or trailer. Lexus warranties do
not apply to damage or malfunction caused by towing a trailer
for commercial purposes. Ask your local Lexus dealer for
further details before towing.
We recommend you to use a weight carrying hitch when towing
a trailer.
NOTICE
When towing a trailer, be sure to consult your Lexus
dealer for further information on additional
requirements such as a towing kit etc.

DRIVING TIPS
2603. Release the
parking brake and brake pedal and slowly pull
or back away from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply your
brakes.
4. Have someone retrieve the blocks.
CAUTION
 Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph) or the posted towing
speed limit, whichever is lower. Because instability
(swaying) of a towing vehicletrailer combination
usually increases as the speed increases, exceeding
72 km/h (45 mph) may cause loss of control.
 Slow down and downshift before descending steep
or long downhill grades. Do not make sudden
downshifts.
 Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or too
frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat
and result in reduced braking efficiency.
HOW TO SAVE FUEL AND MAKE
YOUR VEHICLE LAST LONGER
Improving fuel economy is easy − just take it easy. It will help
make your vehicle last longer, too. Here are some specific tips
on how to save money on both fuel and repairs:
 Keep your tires inflated at the correct pressure. Check
the pressure every two weeks, or at least once a month.
Underinflation causes tire wear and wastes fuel.
 Do not carry unneeded weight in your vehicle. Excess
weight puts a heavier load on the engine, causing greater
fuel consumption.
 Avoid lengthy warmup idling. Once the engine is
running smoothly, begin driving − but gently. Remember,
however, that on cold winter days this may take a little
longer.
 Always drive with the automatic transmission selector
lever in the “D” position when engine braking is not
required. Driving with the overdrive off will reduce the fuel
economy. (For details, see “Automatic transmission” on
page 227.)
 Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Avoid jackrabbit starts.
 Avoid long engine idling. If you have a long wait and you
are not in traffic, it is better to turn off the engine and start
again later.

DRIVING TIPS
261

Avoid engine overrevving. Use a gear position suitable
for the road on which you are traveling.
 Avoid continuous speeding up and slowing down.
Stop−and−go driving wastes fuel.
 Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking. Maintain a
steady pace. Try to time the traf fic signals so you only need
to stop as little as possible or take advantage of through
streets to avoid traffic lights. Keep a proper distance from
other vehicles to avoid sudden braking. This will also
reduce wear on your brakes.
 Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams whenever possible.
 Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal. This causes
premature wear, overheating and poor fuel economy.
 Maintain a moderate speed on highways. The faster you
drive, the greater the fuel consumption. By reducing your
speed, you will cut down on fuel consumption.
 Keep the front wheels in proper alignment. Avoid hitting
the curb and slow down on rough roads. Improper
alignment not only causes faster tire wear but also puts an
extra load on the engine, which, in turn, wastes fuel.
 Keep the bottom of your vehicle free from mud etc. This
not only lessens weight but also helps prevent corrosion. 
Keep your vehicle tunedup and in top shape. A dirty air
cleaner, improper valve clearance, dirty plugs, dirty oil and
grease, brakes not adjusted, etc. all lower engine
performance and contribute to poor fuel economy. For
longer life of all parts and lower operating costs, keep all
maintenance work on schedule, and if you often drive under
severe conditions, see that your vehicle receives more
frequent maintenance. (For scheduled maintenance
information, please refer to the “Owner’s Manual
Supplement/Scheduled Maintenance”.)
CAUTION
Never turn off the engine to coast down hills. Your
power steering and brake booster will not function
without the engine running. Also, the emission control
system operates properly only when the engine is
running.

SECTION 6 – 2
304
SERVICE PROCEDURES AND
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine
Specifications305
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Fuel 308
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Facts about engine oil consumption 310
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Used engine oil 311
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Checking the engine oil level 312
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Checking the engine coolant level 315
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Checking the radiator and condenser 317
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Spark plugs 317
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ENGINE
310
FACTS ABOUT ENGINE OILCONSUMPTION
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 under driving conditions such as high
speeds 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.