2012 Lexus GS350 Owner's Manual

6476-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
NOTICE
To prevent paint deterioration and corrosion on the body and components
(aluminum wheels etc.)
Wash the vehicle immediately in the following cases:
• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If coal tar or tree sap is present on the paint surface
• If dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings are present on the
paint surface
• After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine dust,
iron powder or chemical substances
• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled with dust or mud
• If liquids such as benzene and gasoline are spilled on the paint surface
If the paint is chipped or scratched, have it repaired immediately.
To prevent the wheels from corroding, remove any dirt and store in a
place with low humidity when storing the wheels.
Cleaning the exterior lights
Wash carefully. Do not use organic substances or scrub with a hard brush.
This may damage the surfaces of the lights.
Do not apply wax to the surfaces of the lights.
Wax may cause damage to the lenses.
When using an automatic car wash (with rain-sensing windshield wipers)
Set the wipers to the intermittent windshield wipers. (P. 245)
If AUTO mode is selected, the wipers may operate and the wiper blades
may be damaged.

6486-1. Maintenance and care
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior
Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty surfaces
with a cloth dampened with lukewarm water.
Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner.
Wipe off any excess dirt and dust with a soft cloth dampened
with diluted detergent.
Use a diluted water solution of approximately 5% neutral wool detergent.

Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly wipe
off all remaining traces of detergent.
Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to remove any remaining
moisture. Allow the leather to dry in a shaded and ventilated
area.
Remove loose dirt using a vacuum cleaner.
Apply a mild soap solution to the synthetic leather using a
sponge or soft cloth.
Allow the solution to soak in for a few minutes. Remove the dirt
and wipe off the solution with a clean, damp cloth.
The following procedures will help protect your vehicle’s interior
and keep it in top condition:
Protecting the vehicle interior
Cleaning the leather areas
Cleaning the synthetic leather areas

6496-1. Maintenance and care
6
Maintenance and care
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Caring for leather areas
Lexus recommends cleaning the interior of the vehicle at least twice a year to
maintain the quality of the vehicle’s interior.
Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-type cleaners available. Use a sponge
or brush to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping circles. Do not use water.
Wipe dirty surfaces and let them dry. Excellent results are obtained by keep-
ing the carpet as dry as possible.
Seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water using a cloth or sponge. Also
check the belts periodically for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.
When cleaning the carpeted portions of the glove box, console box, etc.
If a strong adhesive tape is used, there is a possibility that the surface of the
carpet could be damaged.
CAUTION
Water in the vehicle
Do not splash or spill liquid in the vehicle.
Doing so may cause electrical components etc. to malfunction or catch
fire.
Do not get any of the SRS components or wiring in the vehicle interior
wet.
(P. 46)
An electrical malfunction may cause the airbags to deploy or not function
properly, resulting in death or serious injury.
Cleaning the interior (especially instrument panel)
Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner. The instrument panel may reflect
off the windshield, obstructing the driver’s view and leading to an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.

6506-1. Maintenance and care
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
NOTICE
Cleaning detergents
Do not use the following types of detergent, as they may discolor the vehi-
cle interior or cause streaks or damage to painted surfaces:
• Non-seat portions: Organic substances such as benzene or gasoline,
alkaline or acidic solutions, dye, and bleach
• Seats: Alkaline or acidic solutions, such as thinner, benzene, and alco-
hol
Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner. The instrument panel’s or other
interior part’s painted surface may be damaged.
Preventing damage to leather surfaces
Observe the following precautions to avoid damage to and deterioration of
leather surfaces:
Remove any dust or dirt from leather surfaces immediately.
Do not expose the vehicle to direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
Park the vehicle in the shade, especially during summer.
Do not place items made of vinyl, plastic, or containing wax on the uphol-
stery, as they may stick to the leather surface if the vehicle interior heats
up significantly.
Water on the floor
Do not wash the vehicle floor with water.
Vehicle systems such as the audio system may be damaged if water comes
into contact with electrical components such as the audio system above or
under the floor of the vehicle. Water may also cause the body to rust.
When cleaning the inside of the windshield (vehicles with LKA [Lane-
Keeping Assist])
Be careful not to touch the camera sensor (P. 274).
If the camera is accidentally scratched or hit, LKA may not operate prop-
erly or may cause a malfunction.
Cleaning the inside of the rear window
Do not use glass cleaner to clean the rear window, as this may cause dam-
age to the rear window defogger heater wires or antenna. Use a cloth
dampened with lukewarm water to gently wipe the window clean. Wipe
the window in strokes running parallel to the heater wires or antenna.
Be careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires or antenna.

651
6 6-2. Maintenance
Maintenance and care
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Maintenance requirements
Scheduled maintenance should be performed at specified intervals
according to the maintenance schedule.
For details about maintenance items and schedules, refer to the “Lexus
Service Booklet” or “Lexus Warranty Booklet”.
What about do-it-yourself maintenance?
Many of the maintenance items are easy to do yourself if you have a little
mechanical ability and a few basic automotive tools.
Note, however, that some maintenance tasks require special tools and
skills. These are best performed by qualified technicians. Even if you’re
an experienced do-it-yourself mechanic, we recommend that repairs and
maintenance be conducted by any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified and equipped professional. Any authorized Lexus
dealer or repairer will keep a record of maintenance, which could be use-
ful should you ever require Warranty Service. Should you choose to select
a qualified and equipped professional other than an authorized Lexus
repairer to service or maintain your vehicle, we recommend that you
request that a record of maintenance be kept.
To ensure safe and economical driving, day-to-day care and regu-
lar maintenance are essential. Lexus recommends performing the
following maintenance:
Scheduled maintenance
Do-it-yourself maintenance

6526-2. Maintenance
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Where to go for service?
In order to maintain your vehicle in the best possible condition, Lexus rec-
ommends that all repairs and service operations be carried out by authorized
Lexus dealers or repairers or other duly qualified and equipped professionals.
For repairs and services covered by your warranty, please visit an authorized
Lexus dealer or repairer, who will use genuine Lexus parts in repairing any
difficulties you may encounter. There can also be advantages in utilizing
authorized Lexus dealers or repairers for non-warranty repairs and services,
as members of the Lexus network will be able to expertly assist you with any
difficulties you may encounter.
Your Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped profes-
sional will perform all of the scheduled maintenance on your vehicle reliably
and economically due to their experience with Lexus vehicles.
Does your vehicle need repairs?
Be on the alert for changes in performance and sounds, and visual tip-offs
that indicate service is needed. Some important clues are:
Engine missing, stumbling or pinging
Appreciable loss of power
Strange engine noises
A fluid leak under the vehicle (However, water dripping from the air condi-
tioning system after use is normal.)
Change in exhaust sound (This may indicate a dangerous carbon monoxide
leak. Drive with the windows open and have the exhaust system checked
immediately.)
Flat-looking tires, excessive tire squeal when cornering, uneven tire wear
Vehicle pulls to one side when driven straight on a level road
Strange noises related to suspension movement
Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling brake pedal, pedal almost
touches the floor, vehicle pulls to one side when braking
Engine coolant temperature continually higher than normal (P. 9 9 )
If you notice any of these clues, take your vehicle to any authorized Lexus
dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional as
soon as possible. Your vehicle may need adjustment or repair.

6536-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
CAUTION
If your vehicle is not properly maintained
Improper maintenance could result in serious damage to the vehicle and
possible death or serious injury.
Handling of the battery
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead com-
pounds which are known to cause brain damage. Wash your hands after
handling.
(P. 667)

6546-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
GS350/250_EE (OM30C36E)
Do-it-yourself service precautions
If you perform maintenance by yourself, be sure to follow the cor-
rect procedure as given in these sections.
ItemsParts and tools
Battery condition (P. 667)
•Warm water
• Baking soda
•Grease
• Conventional wrench
(for terminal clamp bolts)
• Distilled water
Engine coolant level (P. 665)
•“To y o t a Super Long Life Cool-
ant” or a similar high quality eth-
ylene glycol-based non-silicate,
non-amine, non-nitrite and non-
borate coolant with long-life
hybrid organic acid technology
“Toyota Super Long Life Cool-
ant” is pre-mixed with 50% cool-
ant and 50% deionized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding
coolant)
Engine oil level (P. 662)
• “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or
equivalent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding
engine oil)
Fuses (P. 700)• Fuse with same amperage rating
as original