Page 243 of 390
2436-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Seats• Do the seat controls operate properly?
Steering wheel
• Does the steering wheel rotate 
smoothly?
• Does the steering  wheel have the cor-
rect amount of free 
play?
•There should not be  any strange sounds 
coming from the 
steering wheel.
Vehicle exterior
ItemsCheck points
Doors/trunk• Do the doors/trunk operate smoothly?
Engine hood
•Does the engine hood lock system 
work properly?
Fluid leaks
•There should not be any signs of fluid 
leakage after the 
vehicle has been 
parked.
ItemsCheck points
Tires
• Is the tire inflation pressure correct?
• The tires should not  be damaged or 
excessively worn.
• Have the tires been  rotated according to 
the maintenance 
schedule?
•The wheel nuts  should not be loose.
Windshield wip-
ers
• The wiper blades should not show any 
signs of cracking, 
splitting, wear, con-
tamination or defor-
mation.
• The wiper blades  should clear the 
windshield without 
streaking or skip-
ping.
ItemsCheck points 
         
        
        
     
        
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2456-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
6-3.Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service pre-
cautions
If you perform maintenance by 
yourself, be sure to follow the cor-
rect procedure as given in these 
sections.
Maintenance
ItemsParts and tools
Battery condition 
( P.255)
•Warm water
• Baking soda
•Grease
• Conventional 
wrench (for terminal 
clamp bolts)
Brake fluid level 
( P.254)
• SAE J1703 or 
FMVSS No.116 DOT 
3 brake fluid
• SAE J1704 or  FMVSS No.116 DOT 
4 brake fluid
•Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for  adding brake fluid)
Engine/inter-
cooler coolant 
level( P.252)
•“Toyota Super Long 
Life Coolant” or a 
similar high quality 
ethylene gly-
col-based non-sili-
cate, non-amine, 
non-nitrite and 
non-borate coolant 
with long-life hybrid 
organic acid tech-
nology
• For the U.S.A.:“Toy- ota Super Long Life 
Coolant” is 
pre-mixed with 50% 
coolant and 50% 
deionized water.
•For Canada:“Toyota  Super Long Life 
Coolant” is 
pre-mixed with 55% 
coolant and 45% 
deionized water.
•Funnel (used only for  adding coolant)
Engine oil level 
( P.250)
•“Toyota Genuine 
Motor Oil” or equiv-
alent
• Rag or paper towel
•Funnel (used only for  adding engine oil)
Fuses ( P.269)
•Fuse with same 
amperage rating as 
original
ItemsParts and tools 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 246 of 390

2466-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Light bulbs 
( P.272)
• Bulb with same num-
ber and wattage rat-
ing as original
• Phillips-head screw- driver
• Flathead screw- driver
• Wrench
Radiator, con-
denser and inter-
cooler radiator 
(  P.254)
Tire inflation pres-
sure ( P.263)• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air 
source
Washer fluid 
( P.256)
• Water or washer 
fluid containing anti-
freeze (for winter 
use)
• Funnel (used only for  adding water or 
washer fluid)
WARNING
The engine compartment contains many 
mechanisms and fluids that may move 
suddenly, become hot, or become elec-
trically energized. To avoid death or seri-
ous injury, observe the following 
precautions.
■When working on the engine com-
partment
●Keep hands, clothi ng and tools away 
from the moving fans  and engine drive 
belt.
●Be careful not to touch the engine, 
radiator, exhaust manifold, etc. right 
after driving as they may be hot. Oil 
and other fluids may also be hot.
ItemsParts and tools●Do not leave anything that may burn 
easily, such as paper and rags, in the 
engine compartment.
●Do not smoke, cause sparks or expose 
an open flame to fuel or the battery. 
Fuel and battery fumes are flammable.
●Be extremely cautious when working 
on the battery. It contains poisonous 
and corrosive sulfuric acid.
■When working near the electric cool-
ing fans or radiator grille
Be sure the engine switch is off.
With the engine switch in IGNITION 
ON mode, the electric cooling fans may 
automatically start to run if the air condi-
tioning is on and/or the coolant tempera-
ture is high. ( P.254)
■Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or 
falling material, fluid spray, etc. from get-
ting in your eyes.
NOTICE
■If you remove the air cleaner filter
Driving with the air cleaner filter 
removed may cause excessive engine 
wear due to dirt in the air. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 249 of 390
2496-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
RC350/RC300 AWDFuse boxes ( P.269)
Battery ( P.255)
Engine oil level dipstick ( P.250)
Engine coolant reservoir ( P.252)
Engine oil filler cap ( P.250)
Brake fluid reservoir ( P.254)
Washer fluid tank ( P.256)
Electric cooling fans
Condenser ( P.254)
Radiator ( P.254)
Engine compartment
Components
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D
E
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        Page 250 of 390
2506-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
RC300Fuse boxes ( P.269)
Battery ( P.255)
Engine oil level dipstick ( P.250)
Engine oil filler cap ( P.250)
Engine coolant reservoir ( P.252)
Brake fluid reservoir ( P.254)
Washer fluid tank ( P.256)
Electric cooling fans
Condenser ( P.254)
Intercooler radiator ( P.254)
Radiator ( P.254)
Intercooler coolant reservoir ( P.252)
With the engine at operating tempera-
ture and turned off, check the oil level 
on the dipstick.
■Checking the engine oil
1 Park the vehicle on level ground. 
After warming up the engine and 
turning it off, wait more than 5 min-
utes for the oil to drain back into the 
bottom of the engine.
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B
C
D
E
F
G
H
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J
K
L
Checking and adding the engine 
oil 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 251 of 390
2516-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
2Holding a rag under the end, pull 
the dipstick out.
RC350/RC300 AWD
RC300
3 Wipe the dipstick clean.
4 Reinsert the dipstick fully.
5 Holding a rag under the end, pull 
the dipstick out and check the oil 
level.
Low
Normal
Excessive
The shape of the dipstick may differ 
depending on the type of vehicle or 
engine.
6Wipe the dipstick and reinsert it 
fully.
■Checking the oil type and prepar-
ing the item needed
Make sure to check the oil type and 
prepare the items needed before add-
ing oil.
 Engine oil selection
P.320
 Oil quantity (Low   Full)
1.6 qt. (1.5 L, 1.3 Imp. qt.)
 Item
Clean funnel
■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.
RC350/RC300 AWD
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        Page 252 of 390

2526-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
RC300
1
Remove the oil filler cap by turning 
it counterclockwise.
2
Add engine oil slowly, checking the 
dipstick.
3
Install the oil filler cap by turning it 
clockwise.
■Engine oil consumption
A certain amount of engine oil will be con-
sumed while driving. In the following situa-
tions, 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, or when driving while 
accelerating or decelerating frequently
●When leaving the engine idling for a long 
time, or when driving frequently through 
heavy traffic
■After changing the engine oil
The engine oil maintenance data should be 
reset. Perform the following procedures:
1
Select   on the multi-information dis-
play. ( P.74)
2
Press the   or   meter control 
switch on the steering wheel to select 
“Vehicle Settings” then “Oil Mainte-
nance”. (To confirm setting, press  .) 3
Select “Yes” and then press  .
4
A message is displayed on the 
multi-information display.
The coolant level is satisfactory if it is 
between the “FULL” and “LOW” lines 
WARNING
■Used engine oil
●Used engine oil contains potentially 
harmful contaminants which may 
cause skin disorders such as inflamma-
tion and skin cancer, so care should be 
taken to avoid prolonged and 
repeated contact. To remove used 
engine oil from your skin, wash thor-
oughly with soap and water.
●Dispose of used oil and filters only in a 
safe and acceptable manner. Do not 
dispose of used oil and filters in house-
hold trash, in sewers or onto the 
ground. Call your Lexus dealer, ser-
vice station or auto parts store for 
information concerning recycling or 
disposal.
●Do not leave used engine oil within the 
reach 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 o il filler cap is prop-
erly tightened.
Checking the coolant 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 253 of 390

2536-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
on the reservoir when the engine is 
cold.
■Engine coolant reservoir
RC350/RC300 AWD
RC300Reservoir cap
“FULL” line
“LOW” line
If the level is on or below the “LOW” line, 
add coolant up to the “FULL” line. ( P.311)
■Intercooler coolant reservoir 
(RC300)
The coolant level is satisfactory if it is 
between the “F” and “L” lines on the 
reservoir when the engine is cold. Reservoir cap
“F” line
“L” line
If the level is on or 
below the “L” line, add 
coolant up to the “F” line. ( P.311)
■Coolant selection
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” 
or a similar high qua lity ethylene glycol 
based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite, 
and non-borate coolant with long-life 
hybrid organic acid technology.
U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mix-
ture of 50% coolant and 50% deionized 
water. (Minimum temperature: -31°F 
[-35°C])
Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mix-
ture of 55% coolant and 45% deionized 
water. (Minimum temperature: -44°F 
[-42°C])
For more details about coolant, contact 
your Lexus dealer.
■If the coolant level drops within a short 
time of replenishing
Visually check the radi ator, hoses, engine 
and intercooler coolant reservoir caps, 
drain cock and water pump.
If you cannot find a leak, have your Lexus 
dealer test the cap and check for leaks in 
the cooling system.
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B
C
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B
C