2018 LEXUS RX450h check engine

390 4-6. Driving tips
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U●
Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside temperatures.
•Engine oil
• Engine/power cont rol unit coolant
• Washer fluid ●
Have a service technician inspect the condition of the 12-volt battery. ●
Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of tire chains for
the front tires. Ensure that all tires are of the specified size and the same brand, and that chains
match the size of the tires.
Perform the following according to the driving conditions: ●
Do not try to forcibly open a window or move a wiper that is frozen. Pour
warm water over the frozen area to me lt the ice. Wipe away the water imme-
diately to prevent it from freezing. ●
To ensure proper operation of the c limate control system fan, remove any
snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents in front of the windshield. ●
Check for and remove any excess ice or snow that may have accumulated on
the exterior lights, vehicle’s roof, chassi s, around the tires or on the brakes.●
Remove any snow or mud from the bottom of your shoes before getting in the
vehicle.Winter driving tips Carry out the necessary preparations an d inspections before driving the vehi-
cle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropriate to the prevail-
ing weather conditions.
Pre-winter preparations
Before driving the vehicle

396 4-6. Driving tips
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U [
WARNING ■
Off-road driving precautions
Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of death, serious injury
or damage to your vehicle: ●
Drive carefully when off the road. Do not ta ke unnecessary risks by driving in danger-
ous places. ●
Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when driving off-road. A bad bump could jerk
the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both hands and especially your thumbs on the
outside of the rim. ●
Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in sand, mud,
water or snow. ●
After driving through tall grass, mud, rock , sand, rivers, etc., check that there is no
grass, bush, paper, rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped on the underbody.
Clear off any such matter from the underbody. If the vehicle is used with these materi-
als trapped or adhering to the underbody, a breakdown or fire could occur. ●
When driving off-road or in rugged terrain , do not drive at excessive speeds, jump,
make sharp turns, strike obje cts, etc. This may cause loss of control or vehicle rollover
causing death or serious injury. You are also risking expensive damage to your vehi-
cle’s suspension and chassis.
NOTICE ■
To prevent water damage
Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the hybrid battery
(traction battery), hybrid system or other components does not occur.●
Water entering the engine compartment may cause severe damage to the hybrid
system. Water entering the interior may cause the hybrid battery (traction battery)
stowed under the rear seats to short circuit.●
Water entering the hybrid transmission and rear electric motor (traction motor) will
cause deterioration in transmission qualit y. The malfunction indicator may come on,
and the vehicle may not be drivable. ●
Water can wash the grease from wheel be arings, causing rusting and premature fail-
ure, and may also enter the hybrid transmissi on case, reducing the gear oil’s lubricat-
ing qualities. ■
When you drive through water
If driving through water, such as when cro ssing shallow streams, first check the depth of
the water and the bottom of the riverbed for firmness. Drive slowly and avoid deep
water. ■
Inspection after off-road driving ●
Sand and mud that has accumulated around brake discs may affect braking efficiency
and may damage brake system components. ●
Always perform a maintenance inspection afte r each day of off-road driving that has
taken you through rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For scheduled maintenance
information, refer to the “Warranty and Services Guide/Owner’s Manual Supple-
ment/Scheduled Maintenance”.

579
7Maintenance and care
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U7-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle exterior................ 580
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle interior ................. 584
7-2. Maintenance
Maintenance
requirements.............................587
General maintenance ............. 589
Emission inspection and
maintenance (I/M)
programs ....................................592 7-3. Do-it-yourself
maintenance
Do-it-yourself service
precautions................................593
Hood ...............................................595
Positioning a floor jack ............ 596
Engine compartment ............... 597
12-volt battery .............................605
Tires .................................................... 611
Tire inflation pressure............... 620
Wheels ........................................... 623
Air conditioning filter ............... 625
Windshield wiper inserts ........ 628
Electronic key battery ..............630
Checking and replacing
fuses .............................................. 632
Headlight aim .............................. 635
Light bulbs..................................... 637

5897-2. Maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UGeneral maintenance Listed below are the general maintenanc e items that should be performed at
the intervals specified in the “Warranty and Service Guide” or “Owner’s
Manual Supplement”. It is recommende d that any problem you notice should
be brought to the attention of your Lexu s dealer or qualified service shop for
advice.
Engine compartment Items Check points
Brake fluid Is the brake fluid at the correct level? ( → P. 603)
Engine/power control unit
coolant Is the engine/power control unit coolant at the correct
level?( → P. 601)
Engine oil Is the engine oil at the correct level?( → P. 598)
Exhaust system There should not be any fumes or strange sounds.
Radiator/condenser The radiator and condenser should be free from
foreign objects. ( → P. 602)
Washer fluid Is there sufficient washer fluid?( → P. 604)
Luggage compartment Items Check points
12-volt battery Check the connections. ( → P. 605)

5917-2. Maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UVehicle exterior Items Check points
Doors • Do the doors operate smoothly?
Engine hood • Does the engine hood lock system work properly?
Fluid leaks • There should not be any si gns of fluid leakage after
the vehicle has been parked.
Tires • Is the tire inflation pressure correct?
• The tires should not be damaged or excessively
worn.
• Have the tires been rotated according to the mainte-
nance schedule?
• The wheel nuts should not be loose.
Windshield wipers/
rear window wiper •The wiper blades should no t show any signs of crack-
ing, splitting, wear, contamination or deformation.
• The wiper blades should clear the windshield/rear
window without streaking or skipping.
WARNING ■
If the hybrid system is operating
Turn the hybrid system off and ensure that there is adequate ventilation before per-
forming maintenance checks.

598 7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UWith the engine at operating temperatur e and turned off, check the oil level on
the dipstick. ■
Checking the engine oil
Park the vehicle on level ground. Afte r warming up the engine and turning
off the hybrid system, wait more than 5 minutes for the oil to drain back into
the bottom of the engine.
Holding a rag under the end, pull
the dipstick out.
Wipe the dipstick clean.
Reinsert the dipstick fully.
Holding a rag under the end, pull
the dipstick out and check the oil
level.
Low
Normal
Excessive
The shape of the dipstick may dif-
fer depending on the type of vehi-
cle or engine.
Wipe the dipstick and reinsert it fully.Engine oil 1
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5
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5997-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U■
Adding engine oil
If the oil level is below or near the
low level mark, add engine oil of the
same type as that already in the
engine.
Make sure to check the oil type and prepare the items needed before adding
oil.
Remove the oil filler cap by turning it counterclockwise.
Add engine oil slowly, checking the dipstick.
Install the oil filler cap by turning it clockwise.■
Engine oil consumption
A certain amount of engine oil will be consumed while driving. In th e following situations,
oil consumption may increase, and engine oil may need to be refilled in between oil
maintenance intervals. ●
When the engine is new, for example directly after purchasing the vehicle or after
replacing the engine ●
If low quality oil or oil of an inappropriate viscosity is used●
When driving at high engine speeds or with a heavy load, when towing, or when driving
while accelerating or decelerating frequently ●
When leaving the engine idling for a long time, or when drivin g frequently through
heavy trafficEngine oil selection → P. 714
Oil quantity (Low → Full) 1.9 qt. (1.8 L, 1.6 Imp. qt.)
Items Clean funnel1
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600 7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U■
After changing the engine oil
The engine oil maintenance data should be reset. Perform the following procedures:
Select on the multi-information display. ( → P. 108)
Press or of the meter control switch, select the “Vehicle Settings” then “Oil
Maintenance”. (To conf irm setting, press .)
Select the “Yes” and push .
A message is displayed on th e multi-information display.
WARNING ■
Used engine oil ●
Used engine oil contains potentially harm ful contaminants which may cause skin dis-
orders such as inflammation and skin cance r, so care should be taken to avoid pro-
longed and repeated contact. To remove used engine oil from your skin, wash
thoroughly with soap and water. ●
Dispose of used oil and filters only in a sa fe and acceptable manner. Do not dispose of
used oil and filters in household trash, in sewers or onto the ground. Call your Lexus
dealer, service station or auto parts store for information concerning recycling or dis-
posal. ●
Do not leave used engine oil within the reac h of children.
NOTICE ■
To prevent serious engine damage
Check the oil level on a regular basis. ■
When replacing the engine oil ●
Be careful not to spill engine oil on the vehicle components.●
Avoid overfilling, or the engine could be damaged. ●
Check the oil level on the dipstick every time you refill the vehicle.●
Be sure the engine oil fille r cap is properly tightened. 1
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