400to300H

I plan on doing most of my own basic maintenance, as I have for all of my previous vehicles, but I have a few questions. My research has left me scratching my head so let me start with the recommended oil change intervals... I've seen 30,000 miles, this seems absurd. I've seen 15,000 miles, this seems unwise. I've been told by a Toyota mechanic "6000 miles", that seems close to reasonable. Admittedly this is my first hybrid so maybe my expectations are based on traditional technology. What is the Lexus published recommended oil change interval for a 2013 Lexus ES300H?

​​​​​​Is the recommended Lexus maintenance schedule published? Are there published guides for the maintenance schedule? In other words looking for things like what is the torque specs for the spark plugs? How is the battery filter replaced? Stuff like that...

How would my dealership take me asking these questions of them?

Freds430

Based on what Lexus says is needed here is my schedule. Every 10,000 miles needs an oil change and tire rotation at the Lexus dealership if so inclined. This should be less than $100. Every 30,000 miles the brake fluid needs to be changed and again about $100. Every 20,000 miles change the air and cabin filters. This combined takes five minutes and the air filter can be bought on line at Lexus Parts World for $18. The cabin air filter can be bought at Walmart for $18, It is the Fram Fresh Breeze #10285 with carbon and baking soda to filter the air. Wiper blade inserts again can be bought at Lexus Parts World for $20 for both refills and takes five minutes to replace. You are done until 100,000 miles. At Lexus Parts World use cl5 in the promo code for 10% discount. If you go in and ask for the 10,000, 20,000 30,000 maintenance you will be paying big bucks for a lot more items you do not need checked and inspected. Once a year replace the key fob battery cr2032. Keep receipts for everything. I take my oil filter bought at Lexus Parts World and 5 quart jug of Mobil 1 purchased at Walmart for $24 to my local Toyota dealer and they charge me $20 labor.

gmanusmc

Congrats on your new vehicle and welcome to the forum!

Just curious - where did you get that 15-30k mile oil change interval info? I've never heard that at all.

Great idea to do your own basic maintenance - not difficult and you'll save quite a bit.

400to300H

Thanks, Loving it.

"Lexus experts recommend maintenance of filter and oil change in spans of 15,000, 45,000 and 75,000 miles."

https://www.clublexus.com/how-tos/a/...chedule-365735

400to300H

Thanks Freds430, helps a lot

gmanusmc

Does not look like info that is trustworthy - shows pics of 5w20 and 3.3 engine. Most Lexus vehicles since 2011 specify 0w20 full synthetic with a 10k mile OCI. Prior to that I believe OCI was 5k miles with conventional oil.

azipod

Oil changes are at 10k mileage intervals -- normal conditions.

gmanusmc

Agree - severe conditions like lots of stop and go driving would dictate a much shorter OCI.

Maljunulo

I seem to remember synthetic oil being touted as "the 50,000 mile motor oil" some time back.

Weren't they selling enough of it, so it magically became the 10,000 mile motor oil?

Maikerusan

Just because something is touted does not make it factual. Whoever promoted 50,000 mile motor oil was likely selling it at exorbitant prices to rubes under the guise of super long life.

Let's face it..if you can afford a Lexus, I am pretty sure you can afford an oil change every 10,000 miles or less. It's not like it breaks the bank.

Maljunulo

I didn't think that was the question.

LS430inDE.

Agree the quoted "information" (misinformation) is not accurate/trustworthy. Why aren't we quoting what the owners/service manual dictates? FWIW, the author of that article appears to be a 'freelance journalist with interests in climate change." He's not a Lexus expert, not an oil expert, not even a CAR expert nor mechanic! I think CL was looking to fill in some space on the website and posted that BOGUS article.

lesz

I enjoyed reading his recommendations about changing the timing belt. I'll bet that the Lexus dealers charge a high price for doing that since the ES doesn't have a timing belt.

400to300H

Ironically enough fluid changes are not something I will be doing myself. Just too much of a hassle when Jiffy Lube is $50 for full synthetic and a vacuum of the brake system is $90. Fluid services are just not expensive if brought to the right location.

Things like spark plugs, air filters, tire rotation, brake pads, fob battery... sure I can do that. My dealer 120k service checklist ($750 parts and labor) does include a few car specific things like "perform battery service" (hybrid battery???) and "inspect inverter coolant" that I will need to research further and perhaps have the dealer do, certainly not Jiffy Lube. But a fine example of my upcoming checklist is Kuni Lexus of Portland wants $90 for four Iridium spark plugs, O'Reilly's is $24 for the same plugs and will probably take me 20 minutes to install myself...

gmanusmc

Yikes! Please do some research before you entrust any maintenance tasks for your car to a quickie lube shop. Find a dependable independent mechanic in your area to do stuff you don't want the dealer or yourself to do. Way too many horror stories out there for the Jiffy Lube type shops - not saying they are all bad, just that it's a crap shoot.