2012 Lexus ES350 Start

480
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U
If your vehicle overheats
If your engine overheats:
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and turn off the automatic air
conditioning system.
Check to see if steam is coming out from under the hood.
If you see steam: Stop the engine. Carefully lift the hood after the steam sub-
sides and then restart the engine.
If you do not see steam: Leave the engine running and carefully lift the hood.
Check to see if the cooling fan is operating.
If the fan is operating: Wait until the temperature of the engine (shown on the
instrument cluster) begins to fall and then stop the engine.
If the fan is not operating: Stop the engine immediately and call your local Lexus
dealer.
After the engine has cooled
down sufficiently, check the
engine coolant level and inspect
the radiator core (radiator) for
any leaks.
If the engine compartment
cover needs to be removed:
→P. 3 7 8
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4

5
When trouble arises
483
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U
If the vehicle becomes stuck
CAUTION
■When attempting to free a stuck vehicle
If you choose to rock the vehicle back and forth to free it, make sure the surround-
ing area is clear, to avoid striking other vehicles, objects or persons. The vehicle
may also lunge forward or lunge back suddenly as it becomes free. Use extreme
caution.
■When shifting the shift lever
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an
accident and result in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■To avoid damaging the transmission and other components
●Avoid spinning the wheels and do not rev the engine.
●If the vehicle remains stuck after trying these procedures, the vehicle may require
towing to be freed.
Carry out the following procedures if the tires spin or the vehicle becomes
stuck in mud, dirt, or snow.
●Stop the engine. Set the parking brake and put the shift lever in P.
● Remove the mud, snow, or sand from around the stuck tire.
● Place wood, stones or some other material to help provide trac-
tion under the tires.
● Restart the engine.
● Carefully apply the accelerator to free the vehicle.

484
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency
CAUTION
■If the engine has to be turned off while driving
Power assist for the brakes and steering wheel will be lost, making the brake pedal
harder to depress and the steering wheel heavier to turn. Decelerate as much as
possible before turning off the engine.
Only in an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the vehicle
in the normal way, stop the vehicle using the following procedure:
Steadily step on the brake pedal with both feet and firmly
depress it.
Do not pump the brake pedal repeatedly as this will increase the
effort required to slow the vehicle.
Shift the shift lever to N.
If the shift lever is shifted to N After slowing down, stop the vehicle in a safe place by the road.
Stop the engine.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted to N Keep depressing the brake pedal with both feet to reduce vehi-
cle speed as much as possible.
To stop the engine, press and
hold the “ENGINE START
STOP” switch for 3 consecutive
seconds or more, or press it
briefly 3 times or more in suc-
cession.
Stop the vehicle in a safe place by the road.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP3
STEP4
Press and hold for 3 seconds or more,
or press briefly 3 times or more
STEP5

489
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
ES350_U
Lubrication system
*: The engine oil capacity is a reference quantity to be used when exchang- ing. Warm up and turn off the engine, wait more than 5 minutes, and
check the oil level on the dipstick.
■ Engine oil selection
“Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” is used in your Lexus vehicle. Use Lexus
approved “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivalent to satisfy the follow-
ing grade and viscosity.
Oil grade: ILSAC multigrade engine oil
Recommended viscosity: SAE 5W-30
SAE 5W-30 is the best choice for
good fuel economy and good
starting in cold weather.
If SAE 5W-30 is not available,
SAE 10W-30 oil may be used.
However, it should be replaced
with SAE 5W-30 at the next oil
change.
Oil capacity
(Drain and refill 
reference*)
without filter 6.0 qt. (5.7 L, 5.0 Imp. qt.)
with filter6.4 qt. (6.1 L, 5.3 Imp. qt.)
Outside temperature

490
6-1. Specifications
ES350_U
Oil viscosity (5W-30 is explained here as an example):
• The 5W in 5W-30 indicates the characteristic of the oil which allows cold
startability. Oils with a lower value before the W allow for easier starting of
the engine in cold weather.
• The 30 in 5W-30 indicates the viscosity characteristic of the oil when the oil is at high temperature. An oil with a higher viscosity (one with a higher
value) may be better suited if the vehicle is operated at high speeds, or
under extreme load conditions.
How to read oil container label:
The ILSAC (International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Com-
mittee) Certification Mark is added to some oil containers to help you
select the oil you should use.
Cooling system
Capacity9. 5 q t .
(9.0 L, 7.9 Imp. qt.)
Coolant type
Use either of the following.
• “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”
• Similar high-quality ethylene glycol-based non-sili-cate, non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-borate cool-
ant with long-life organic acid technology
Do not use plain water alone.

498
6-1. Specifications
ES350_U
NOTICE
■Notice on fuel quality
●Do not use improper fuels. If improper fuels are used the engine will be damaged.
●Do not use leaded gasoline.
Leaded gasoline can cause damage to your vehicle’s three-way catalytic convert-
ers causing the emission control system to malfunction.
●Do not use gasohol other than that stated here.
Other gasohol may cause fuel system damage or vehicle performance problems.
●Use of unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 87 may result in
engine knocking. Persistent knocking can lead to engine damage and should be
corrected by refueling with higher octane unleaded gasoline.
■Fuel-related poor driveability
If after using a different type of fuel, poor driveability is encountered (poor hot start-
ing, vaporization, engine knocking, etc.), discontinue the use of that type of fuel.
■When refueling with gasohol
Take care not to spill gasohol. It can damage your vehicle's paint.

511
6
Vehicle specifications
ES350_U
6-2. Customization
Customizable features
Settings that can be customized at a dealerThe following table includes some settings that can be customized using
the navigation system display. ( →P. 5 1 6 )
ItemFunctionDefault settingCustomized
setting
Smart access
system with
push-button
start
(
→P. 2 8 )
Smart access system with
push-button startONOFF
Operation signal
(Emergency flashers)ONOFF
Operation signal
(Buzzer)ONOFF
Your vehicle includes a variety of electr onic features that can be personal-
ized to your preferences. Programming these preferences requires spe-
cialized equipment and may be performed by an authorized Lexus
dealership.
It is also possible to customize cert ain vehicle features yourself using the
navigation screen.
Some function settings are changed simultaneously with other functions
being customized. Contact your Lexus dealer for further details.

515
6-2. Customization
6
Vehicle specifications
ES350_U
Multi-information display (→P. 144)
Illumination
(
→P. 3 1 2 )
Time elapsed before lights
turn off15 seconds
OFF
7. 5 s e c o n d s
30 seconds
Operation when the
doors are unlockedONOFF
Operation after the
“ENGINE START STOP”
switch turned OFF
ONOFF
Front foot well lightingONOFF
Outer foot lightONOFF
Seat belt
reminder
(
→P. 4 4 1 )
Vehicle speed linked seat
belt reminder buzzerONOFF
CountryAv a i l a b l e l a n g u a g e s
CanadaEnglish and French
ItemFunctionDefault settingCustomized
setting