2018 LEXUS RX450h engine

232 4-1. Before driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U●
To maintain engine braking efficien cy and charging system performance
when using engine braking, do no t put the transmission in D. ( → P. 246)●
Instability happens more fr equently when descending steep or long downhill
grades. Before descending, slow down and downshift. Do not make sudden
downshifts while descending st eep or long downhill grades.●
Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the brakes too fre-
quently. This could cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced braking
efficiency. ●
Due to the added load of the trailer, yo ur vehicle’s engine may overheat on hot
days (at temperatures over 85 ° F [30 ° C]) when driving up a long or steep
grade. If the engine coolant temperat ure gauge indicates overheating, imme-
diately turn off the air conditioning (if in use), pull your vehicle off the road and
stop in a safe spot. ( → P. 702)●
Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and the trailer’s wheels
when parking. Put the transmission in P and apply the parking brake. Avoid
parking on a slope, but if unavoidable, do so only after performing the follow-
ing:
Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and trailer’s
wheels.
When the wheel blocks are in place, release the brakes slowly until the
blocks absorb the load.
Shift into P and apply the parking brake.
Turn off the hybrid system.●
When restarting afte r parking on a slope:
With the transmission in P, start the hybrid system. Be sure to keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Shift into a forward gear. If reversing, shift into R.
If the parking brake is in manual mode, release the parking brake.
( → P. 254)
Release the brake pedal, and slowly pull or back away from the wheel
blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks. 1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5

234 4-1. Before driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U■
Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any new power train components (such as an
engine, hybrid transmission, rear differenti al or wheel bearing), Lexus recommends that
you do not tow a trailer until the vehicle ha s been driven for over 500 miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for over 500 miles (800 km), you can start towing.
However, for the next 500 miles (800 km), drive the vehicle at a speed of less than
50 mph (80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and avoid full throttle acceleration.■
Maintenance ●
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will requir e more frequent maintenance due to the addi-
tional load. (See “Warranty and Services Guide”, “Owner’s Manual Supplement” or
“Scheduled Maintenance”.) ●
Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ba ll and bracket after approximately 600 miles
(1000 km) of trailer towing. ■
If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, passing ve hicles, rough roads, etc.) can adversely
affect handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing instability. ●
If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wh eel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer sway ing by turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing the accelerator pedal im mediately but very gradually to reduce
speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with the st eering or brakes, your vehicle and trailer
should stabilize. (if enabled, Trailer Sway Control can also he lp to stabilize the vehicle and
trailer.) ●
After the trailer sw aying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.
Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appropriate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle.
Make sure the vehicle is not ov erloaded after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the speed at which trailer swaying occurred is beyond
the limit of your particular vehicle-trailer combination.
Drive at a lower speed to prevent instability. Remember that swaying of the towing vehi-
cle-trailer increases as speed increases.

244 4-2. Driving procedures
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UTurns EV drive mode on/off When EV drive mode is turned on, the
EV drive mode indicator will come on.
Pressing the switch when in EV drive
mode will return the vehicle to normal
driving (using the gasoline engine and
electric motor [traction motor]). ■
Situations in which EV drive mode cannot be turned on
It may not be possible to turn EV drive mode on in the following situ ations. If it cannot be
turned on, a buzzer will sound and a message will be shown on the multi-information dis-
play. ●
The temperature of the hybrid system is high.
The vehicle has been left in the sun, driv en on a hill, driven at high speeds, etc.●
The temperature of the hybrid system is low.
The vehicle has been left in temperatures lower than about 32 ° F (0 ° C) for a long
period of time, etc. ●
The gasoline engine is warming up. ●
The hybrid battery (tra ction battery) is low.
The remaining battery level indicated in the “Energy Monitor” display is low. ( → P. 125)●
Vehicle speed is high. ●
The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill, etc. ●
The windshield defogger is in use.EV drive mode In EV drive mode, electric power is su pplied by the hybrid battery (traction
battery), and only the electric motor (traction motor) is used to drive the vehi-
cle.
This mode allows you to drive in reside ntial areas early in the morning and late
at night, or in indoor parking lots, etc., without concern for noises and gas
emissions.
However, when the vehicle proximity noti fication system is active, the vehicle
may produce sound.

2454-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U■
Switching to EV drive mode wh en the gasoline engine is cold
If the hybrid system is started while the gasoline engine is cold, the gasoline engine will
start automatically after a short period of time in order to warm up. In this case, you will
become unable to switch to EV drive mode.
After the hybrid system has started and the “READY” indicator has illuminated, press the
EV drive mode switch before the gasoline engine starts to switch to EV drive mode.■
Automatic cancelation of EV drive mode
When driving in EV drive mode, the gasoline engine may automatically restart in the fol-
lowing situations. When EV drive mode is canceled, a buzzer will sound, the EV drive
mode indicator will go off afte r flashing, and a message is di splayed on the multi-informa-
tion display. ●
The hybrid battery (traction battery) becomes low.
The remaining battery level indicated in the “Energy Monitor” display is low. ( → P. 125)●
Vehicle speed is high. ●
The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill, etc. ■
Possible driving distance when driving in EV drive mode
EV drive mode’s possible driving distance ranges from a few hundred meters to approxi-
mately 0.6 mile (1 km). However, dependin g on vehicle conditions, there are situations
when EV drive mode cannot be used. (The distance that is possible depends on the
hybrid battery [traction battery] level and driving conditions.)■
Fuel economy
The hybrid system is designed to achieve th e best possible fuel economy during normal
driving (using the gasoline engine and electr ic motor [traction motor]). Driving in EV
drive mode more than necess ary may lower fuel economy.
WARNING ■
Caution while driving
When driving in EV drive mode no engine noise is made. As such, pedestrians, people
riding bicycles or other people and vehicles in the surrounding area may not be aware
of the vehicle starting off or approaching th em. Therefore, take ex tra care while driving
even if the vehicle proximity notification system is active.

246 4-2. Driving procedures
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UWhile the power switch is in ON mode, move the shift lever with the brake
pedal depressed. When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
* 1
: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise, shift the shift lever to D for normal driv-
ing.
* 2
: By selecting shift ra nges using S mode, you can control accelerating force and engine
braking force.Hybrid transmission Shifting the shift lever
Shift position purpose Shift position Objective or function
P Parking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
R Reversing
N Neutral
D Normal driving
* 1
S S mode driving
* 2
( → P. 248)

2474-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U→ P. 379
To drive using temporary shift range select ion, operate the “-” paddle shift switch.
Changing the shift range enables the level of engine braking force to be
selected. The shift range can then be sele cted by operating the “-” and “+” paddle
shift switches.
Upshifting
Downshifting The selected shift range, from D1 to D6,
will be displayed on the meters.
The initial shift rang e when the “-” pad-
dle shift switch is operated is automati-
cally set to D4 or D5 according to the
vehicle speed.
To return to normal D position driving,
the “+” paddle shift switch must be held
down for a period of time.■
Shift ranges and their functions ●
You can choose from 6 levels of engine braking force. ●
A lower shift range will provide greate r engine braking force than a higher
shift range, and the engine revolutions will also increase.Selecting the driving mode
Selecting shift ranges in the D position
(vehicles with paddle shift switches) 1
2

248 4-2. Driving procedures
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UTo enter S mode, shift the shift lever to S. Shift ranges can be selected by operat-
ing the shift lever or paddle shift switches (if equipped), allowing you to drive in
the shift range of your choice. The shift range can be selected by operating the
shift lever or the “-” and “+” padd le shift switches (if equipped).
Upshifting
Downshifting The selected shift range, from S1 to S6,
will be displayed on the meters.
The initial shift range in S mode is auto-
matically set to S4 or S5 according to
the vehicle speed.
■
Shift ranges and their functions ●
You can choose from 6 levels of acce lerating force and engine braking
force. ●
A lower shift range will provide gr eater accelerating force and engine
braking force than a higher shift rang e, and the engine revolutions will also
increase. ●
If you accelerate while in ranges 1 to 4, the shift range may automatically
increase in accordance with the vehicle speed.Selecting shift ranges in the S position 1
2

2494-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U■
When the “-” paddle shift switch is operated with the shift lever in the D position (vehi-
cles with paddle shift switches)
The shift range is downshifted to a range that enables engine braking force that is suit-
able to driving conditions. ■
Automatic deactivation of shif t range selection in the D position (vehicles with paddle
shift switches)
Shift range selection in the D position will be deactivated in the following situations:●
When the vehicle comes to a stop ●
If the accelerator pedal is depressed fo r more than a certain period of time●
When the shift lever is shifted to a position other than D ■
S mode ●
When the shift range is S4 or lower, holding the shift leve r toward “+” sets the shift
range to S6. ●
Automatically selects a higher shift range before the engine speed becomes too high.■
Downshifting restriction warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifti ng operation may sometimes
be restricted. In some circum stances, downshifting may not be possible even when the
shift lever or paddle shift sw itch (if equipped) is operated . (A buzzer will sound twice.)■
When driving with dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine braking,
engine braking will not occur because dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed
range will not be canceled. ●
Vehicles without paddle shift switches: While driving in S mode, downshifting to 5 or 4.
( → P. 306) ●
Vehicles with paddle shift sw itches: While driving in D or S mode, downshifting to 5 or
4. ( → P. 306)●
When switching the driving mode to spor t mode while driving in the D position
( → P. 379)■
Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start Control)
When the following unusual operation is performed, the hybrid system output may be
restrained. ●
When the shift lever is shifted from R to D, D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to R (D includes S)
with the accelerator pedal depressed, a wa rning message appears on the multi-infor-
mation display. If a warning message is shown on the multi- information display, read the
message and follow the instructions. ●
When the accelerator pedal is depressed too while the vehicle is in reverse. ■
Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to prevent ac cidental operation of the shift lever in start-
ing.
The shift lever can be shifted from P only wh en the power switch is in ON mode and the
brake pedal is being depressed.