2021 LEXUS LS500 service

3796-3. 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.391)
•Grease
• Conventional
wrench (for terminal
clamp bolts)
Brake fluid level
( P.389)
• FMVSS No.116 DOT
3 or SAE J1703
brake fluid
FMVSS No.116 DOT
4 or SAE J1704
brake fluid
•Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding brake fluid)
Engine/inter-
cooler coolant
level ( P.388)
•“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.:
“Toyota 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.386)
•“Toyota Genuine
Motor Oil” or equiv-
alent
• Rag or paper towel
•Funnel (used only for adding engine oil)
Fuses ( P.412)
•Fuse with same
amperage rating as
original
Headlight aim
( P.415)• Phillips-head screw-
driver
ItemsParts and tools

3856-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
■Installing the engine cover
Engage the claws of the engine cover
to install it.
■Removing the service cover
1 Pull up the passenger side end of
the rubber strip to disengage it
from the vehicle body.
2 Remove the service cover.
Push the tabs and lift away the service
cover.
■Installing the service cover
1 Install the service cover.
Make sure to engage the claws on the
windshield side of th e service cover when
installing the service cover.
NOTICE
■Checking the engine cover after
installation
Make sure that the cover is securely
installed in its original position.
Service cover

3866-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
2Engage the rubber strip to the vehi-
cle body.
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.
2 Holding a rag under the end, pull
the dipstick out.
2WD models
AWD models
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
NOTICE
■Checking the service cover after
installation
Make sure that the cover is securely
installed in its original position.
Checking and adding the engine
oil
A
B
C

3886-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Engine coolant reservoir
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.449)
■Intercooler coolant reservoir
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.449)
■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
WARNING
●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, service 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 oi l filler cap is prop-
erly tightened.
Checking the coolant
A
B
C
A
B
C

4086-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Use only Lexus wheel nuts and
wheel nut wrenches designed for
use with your aluminum wheels.
 When rotating, repairing or chang-
ing your tires, check that the wheel
nuts are still tight after driving 1000
miles (1600 km).
 Be careful not to damage the alumi-
num wheels when using tire chains.
 Use only Lexus genuine balance
weights or equivalent and a plastic or rubber hammer when balancing
your wheels.
WARNING
●Never use an inner tube in a leaking
wheel which is designed for a tubeless
tire.
Doing so may result in an accident,
causing death or serious injury.
■Use of defective wheels prohibited
Do not use cracked or deformed wheels.
Doing so could cause the tire to leak air
during driving, possibly causing an acci-
dent.
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters
●Because tire repair or replacement
may affect the tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters, make sure to
have tires serviced by your Lexus
dealer or other qualified service shop.
In addition, make sure to purchase
your tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters at your Lexus dealer.
●Ensure that only ge nuine Lexus wheels
are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves and trans-
mitters may not work properly with
non-genuine wheels.
Aluminum wheel precautions

4126-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
1Turn the engine switch off.
2 Open the fuse box cover.
Engine compartment: type A fuse
box
Remove the service cover ( P.385) and
push the tabs in an d lift the lid off.
Engine compartment: type B fuse
box
Remove the engine compartment cover
( P.384) and push the ta bs in and lift the
lid off.
NOTICE
●Always work with dry hands.
Moisture may cause the battery to
rust.
●Do not touch or move any other com-
ponent inside the remote control.
●Do not bend either of the battery ter-
minals.
Checking and replacing
fuses
If any of the electrical components
do not operate, a fuse may have
blown. If this happens, check and
replace the fuses as necessary.
Checking and replacing fuses

4217-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
7-2.Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be
towed
If towing is necessary, we recom-
mend having your vehicle towed by
your Lexus dealer or commercial
towing service, using a wheel-lift
type truck or flatbed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all
towing, and abide by all state/pro-
vincial and local laws.
If towing your vehicle with a
wheel-lift type truck from the front,
the vehicle’s rear wheels and axles
must be in good conditions.
(  P.423, 421) If they are dam-
aged, use a towing dolly or flatbed
truck.
For AWD models: If towing your
vehicle with a wheel-lift type truck,
use a towing dolly. ( P.423, 421)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
2WD models
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the drivetrain and related
parts may be damaged or an accident
may occur due to a change in direction
of the vehicle.
AWD models
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the driv etrain or related
parts may be damaged, the vehicle may
fly off the truck.

4227-2. Steps to take in an emergency
In the following situations, it is not pos-
sible to be towed by another vehicle
using cables or chains, as the rear
wheels may be locked due to the park-
ing lock. Contact your Lexus dealer or
commercial towing service.
There is a malfunction in the P posi-
tion control system. ( P.177, 436)
 There is a malfunction in the engine
immobilizer system. ( P.64)
 There is a malfunction in the smart
access system with push-button
start. ( P.442)
 The battery is discharged.
( P.444)
WARNING
■While towing
●When towing using cables or chains,
avoid sudden starts, etc. which place
excessive stress on the towing eyelets,
cables or chains. The towing eyelets,
cables or chains may become dam-
aged, broken debris may hit people,
and cause serious damage.
●Make sure to disable all functions of
the vehicle height control of the elec-
tronically modulate d air suspension.
Otherwise, the vehicle height may
change and part of your body may be
caught under the vehicle, possibly
causing injury. (
P.303)
●Do not turn the engine switch off.
This may lead to an accident as the
rear wheels will be locked by the park-
ing lock.
■Installing towing eyelets to the vehi-
cle
Make sure that towing eyelets are
installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelets
may come loose during towing.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the vehicle
when towing using a wheel-lift type
truck
●Do not tow the vehicle from the rear
when the engine switch is off. The
steering lock mechanism is not strong
enough to hold the front wheels
straight.
●When raising the vehicle, ensure ade-
quate ground clearance for towing at
the opposite end of the raised vehicle.
Without adequate clearance, the vehi-
cle could be damaged while being
towed.
■To prevent damage to the vehicle
when towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either
from the front or rear.
■To prevent damage to the vehicle
during emergency towing
Do not secure cables or chains to the
suspension components.
■Recreational towing (behind motor
home, etc.) (AWD models)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to pre-
vent causing serious damage to the
AWD system and transmission. ( P.173)
Situations when it is not possible
to be towed by another vehicle