tolian21

Dear XXX:::

Thank you for contacting Lexus Customer Satisfaction. We are dedicated to providing superior service. In circumstances that require our attention, we will assist in the resolution process.

If you are using synthetic oil in your ES 350, the interval is 10,000 miles for a oil change. we still recommend a 5,000 mile maintenance check for brake check and tire rotation. If you have further questions about the services, your dealership will be happy to answer any questions.

If you require further assistance, please respond to this e-mail, or contact Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-255-3987, Monday through Friday, 5:00 am to 6:00 pm, or Saturday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, Pacific Time.

Sincerely,

Art Rodriguez

Lexus Customer Satisfaction

dreyfus

So that makes it official then.

tolian21

Not really, when I asked them for official document stating it, they sent me this baloney.
------

Dear Mr. XXX:

Thank you for contacting Lexus Customer Satisfaction. Your concern is important to Lexus, and we appreciate the time you have taken to share your thoughts.

Model Year 2012 Lexus continues to use genuine Toyota Motor Oil. Oil grade is ILSAC multigrade engine oil viscosity SAE 5W-30, which is a petroleum based oil and is required to be changed at 5K miles. Toyota chooses to use synthetic motor oil SAE 0W-20 in their engines, which are similar in design. Lexus will move to 0W-20 synthetic for model year 2013. If the customer wants to use synthetic, he/she can but once using 0W-20 synthetic oil can never go back to 5W-30 unless in an emergency situation and then must be drained out of the engine ASAP. There is nothing in writing because a customer can choose to use either motor oil.

If you require further assistance, please respond to this e-mail, or contact Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-255-3987, Monday through Friday, 5:00 am to 6:00 pm, or Saturday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, Pacific Time.

Sincerely,

Art Rodriguez

Lexus Customer Satisfaction
Customer By Email

dreyfus

Yeah, that is a bunch of doublespeak.

Synthetic is a better product and it will allow a user to safely extend their oil-change intervals w/o fear of engine damage. But is doubling them reasonable?

tolian21

For Camry 2012 they have a document that says if you use synthetic you can go 10K miles, I dont understand how come ES350 is not the same way, it has very similar engine, if not same.
http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pag...etic-motor-oil

I might call corporate, I want official answer. I got frustrated when my dealer told me that oil needs to change every 5K and they highly recommend synthetic only.
5K synthetic is a waste of money. 7K should be minimum for synthetic.
The car takes 6.5 quarts, thats a lot of quarts....

LexBob2

Lexus likes to push for more frequent Service Department visits from their owners vs. Toyota. More profitable for them.

Yes the V6 in the ES350 is the same engine used across the Toyota line (Camry, Avalon, Venza, Rav4, Highlander, Sienna). You'd think the service recommendations would be the same.

Kind of like the regular vs. premium fuel doublespeak (good word dreyfus) on the issue.

tolian21

I also dont understand why you can't go back once you switch, this is ridiculous, all synthetic oils are fully compatible with regular and can be mixed.
Something is really screwed up with toyota, my 10 year old acura owner manual said you can use synthetic or regular, it did not matter if you mixed the two

tolian21

called corporate, after a lot of going back and forth, first told me 0W-20 can be used for 10K, then put me on hold, and finally came back and told me its 5K and you can only use 5W-30, if you use synthetic still 5K. asked about Camry 2012, they told me they can't discuss technical reasons, and that I need to speak with a dealer.
this sucks. I put 2K miles per month on highway, now I need to change oil every 2-3 month and use synthetic/

oldgrump

Talk about "Lexus Customer Satisfaction" causing mass confusion! tolian21........the Owner's Manual does NOT differentiate between the use of non-synthetic and synthetic oils. You can use either as long as it meets the listed oil spec requirement and has a viscosity rating of 5W-30 (or heavier under certain severe operating conditions). The use of 0W-20 oil (synthetic or otherwise) has not yet been approved for any ES350 presently on the road. The 5000 mile oil change interval is still a requirement as well. This is right out of Lexus USA Tech Tip L-TT-0001-10 (dated Sept. 2011) which I believe to be current and still valid. There may be an update when the 2013 model year ES 350 comes out later this year, which will be using the mandatory 0W-20synthetic oil.

tolian21

You mean they might update older cars? What is this crap, "once you switch to synthetic, you can never go back". All synthetics are fully compatible with conventional oils, whats up with Toyota outdated advices. These are advices that were given 20 years ago when synthetics were not fully compatible with regular oils, total BS....

Once warranty is over, I will go on 7.5K miles synthetic, with highway miles, it will be no problem.

oldgrump

It appears that if the recommended oil originally was 0W-20 (synthetic) then the 10,000 mile oil change interval can be used. So with the ES 350 that is not the case. Here's the Tech Tip L-TT-0001-10. It's the top hit on the list. http://www.google.ca/#sclient=psy-ab...&pf=p&pdl=3000 I would stick with 5W-30 and I agree that with synthetic going to 7500 will not be an issue.

garsarno

My '11 ES350 will be going for it's complimentary 5,000 miles service next month and after that, Mobil 1. My problem is time versus mileage. Don't put enough miles on the car quickly enough to change on mileage.

jainell

I have a 2011 ES350 my dealer suggested in one visit I convert to synthetic oil which I did. Now every time I go to the dealership for an oil change or even a service which involves an oil change they give me a hard time when I remind them to use synthetic oil.

I am confused and frustrated!

ESh

Put Amsoil 5-30 and you are good for 15-20000 miles or one year.

They recomend you changing oil every 5000 miles because they put the cheapest bulk oil they can find. It's very sick to put cheap oil or non fully synthetic oil in this kind of engine.


Anybody here with 0W30? I think I'm switching to Amsoil 0W30 Signature from Amsoil 5W30 Signature.

mikectm2

I have a 2011 ES350 (wish i had a pic to post i hand wash/detail with Zaino ) have been going to a Valvoline Instant Oil change location and get their top/best oil. a full synthetic.

Now i know to let 7,500miles acrue before going back.

They also change the cabin filter and engine air filter.

I'm at 37,000miles on the odo. Besides a brake fluid exchange/replacement... there's nothing else to do at/around 35k miles right ? They say (crown lexus, ontario, california ) that there's no grease points to grease, the power steering is electronic, and the radiator fluid is good until 100k miles.
when is ( the mileage ) the first trans service ? spark plugs ?

guess i kinda veered off the main topic. i just consider this all ' basic essential ES350 ' service.