Oil change advice needed please
10-19-14, 05:43 PM
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Oil change advice needed please
I have a '99 GS 400 with almost 180,000 on the clock. The last owners took very good care of it. I am the 3rd or 4th owner, not really sure. I know the 1st two owners took really good care of it because it was bought new in either '98 or '99 (production date is 11/98). The 1st owner had the car until 2002 when the 2nd owners bought it as a Certified Pre-Owned Lexus from Lexus of Tulsa and they took it in every 5,000 miles as recommended by Lexus and wrote in the maintenance book what they did and when. It's due for an oil change at 181,621 but I figured changing it at a nice even 180,000 wouldn't hurt so my question is, what oil should I use? I live in Arkansas and its about to start getting "cold". It'll get in the 20's-30's in the mornings and warm up to the high 40's-50's during the day but its still in the 60's-80's right now so should I just go ahead and use the recommended 5W-30? I'm going full synthetic definitely and I'm thinking either Castrol Edge or Royal Purple. What do you guys think about either/both? I was seafoaming it since its at 180,000 and then changing the oil in 1,000 miles or whenever it gets dirty. Would that be a good idea or worth it? I was also playing around with changing spark plugs, spark plug wires, and just doing a basic tune up anything I specifically need to do for that or need to look out for while I'm doing it? Thanks guys!
10-19-14, 06:18 PM
#2
You will get as many opinions as there are varieties of oil. I use Mobile 1 5W-30 with a Toyota filter. I think any good quality synthetic will do. At 180k my GS300 needed valve cover gaskets and since I was in there I changed the plugs and wires. It also needed a VVT-i pulley, they tend to leak at that age. I rebuilt it while changing the timing belt, water pump, cam seals, crank seal, tensioner and anti-freeze (90k service). If you have all the records you should be able to tell if these things have been done. If not, I would do them ASAP. Also, I would check for the lower ball joints. They can be an issue on these cars. If you are going to change the plugs and wires, be careful, the plastic wiring harness will likely crumble. At that age it is likely very brittle. Clean out any oil and broken pieces of plastic out of the plug valley before you remove the plugs to keep pieces from falling into the cylinders.
10-19-14, 06:42 PM
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Alright, I'll probably just go with the Castrol then. My mom had a '97 Camry I4 and we always ran it on Castrol GTX and it had 250,000 on it when she sold it and never had any problems out of it other than a bad alternator and the plastic on top of the radiator cracking which caused a leak that made the engine overheat. That Camry was a trooper! The timing belt and water pump were changed at 100,000 so I should be good until 190,000. The lower ball joints were replaced at 120,000 in 2009 so they should be good. Also, the transmission fluid, diff. fluid, engine coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid were all changed at 100,00 in 2008. Should I take a look at those to make sure they're all still good? It definitely looks like they really babied this car which makes me really happy!
10-20-14, 11:12 AM
#4
I run Amsoil only, (Signature Series), they do the most amount of work on making sure it is the best oil out there. And with the cost of oils now, it is now probably one of the best deals too. Based on actual testing, Mobil 1 is just average synthetic oil. Read the oil analysis on BobisTheOilGuy forum. Try to keep it with the same type engine you have.
But aside that, NEVER go over 5W30 in a GS, at least the GS400 (and LS400) has signifitantly tighter tolerances on the crank and rotating assy than the 2007 GS460/LS460. And those engines spec 5W20 or 0W20 oils. I run only 0W20 in mine, With 226k and still getting 22 city/highway and 27-28 highway, I cannot complain. These older engines are tight, super tight tolerances. Thinner is really better.
PLEASE read Dr. Haas oil articles.
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/faq.php?faq=haas_articles
Take the time to seriously educate yourself on engine oils. No one oil is best, but in most cases, if you aren't racing, 0W20 is your best best. But read it all. Take the time.
But aside that, NEVER go over 5W30 in a GS, at least the GS400 (and LS400) has signifitantly tighter tolerances on the crank and rotating assy than the 2007 GS460/LS460. And those engines spec 5W20 or 0W20 oils. I run only 0W20 in mine, With 226k and still getting 22 city/highway and 27-28 highway, I cannot complain. These older engines are tight, super tight tolerances. Thinner is really better.
PLEASE read Dr. Haas oil articles.
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/faq.php?faq=haas_articles
Take the time to seriously educate yourself on engine oils. No one oil is best, but in most cases, if you aren't racing, 0W20 is your best best. But read it all. Take the time.
10-20-14, 04:44 PM
#6
Alright, I'll probably just go with the Castrol then. My mom had a '97 Camry I4 and we always ran it on Castrol GTX and it had 250,000 on it when she sold it and never had any problems out of it other than a bad alternator and the plastic on top of the radiator cracking which caused a leak that made the engine overheat. That Camry was a trooper! The timing belt and water pump were changed at 100,000 so I should be good until 190,000. The lower ball joints were replaced at 120,000 in 2009 so they should be good. Also, the transmission fluid, diff. fluid, engine coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid were all changed at 100,00 in 2008. Should I take a look at those to make sure they're all still good? It definitely looks like they really babied this car which makes me really happy!
10-20-14, 08:19 PM
#7
I run Amsoil only, (Signature Series), they do the most amount of work on making sure it is the best oil out there. And with the cost of oils now, it is now probably one of the best deals too. Based on actual testing, Mobil 1 is just average synthetic oil. Read the oil analysis on BobisTheOilGuy forum. Try to keep it with the same type engine you have.
But aside that, NEVER go over 5W30 in a GS, at least the GS400 (and LS400) has signifitantly tighter tolerances on the crank and rotating assy than the 2007 GS460/LS460. And those engines spec 5W20 or 0W20 oils. I run only 0W20 in mine, With 226k and still getting 22 city/highway and 27-28 highway, I cannot complain. These older engines are tight, super tight tolerances. Thinner is really better.
PLEASE read Dr. Haas oil articles.
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/faq.php?faq=haas_articles
Take the time to seriously educate yourself on engine oils. No one oil is best, but in most cases, if you aren't racing, 0W20 is your best best. But read it all. Take the time.
But aside that, NEVER go over 5W30 in a GS, at least the GS400 (and LS400) has signifitantly tighter tolerances on the crank and rotating assy than the 2007 GS460/LS460. And those engines spec 5W20 or 0W20 oils. I run only 0W20 in mine, With 226k and still getting 22 city/highway and 27-28 highway, I cannot complain. These older engines are tight, super tight tolerances. Thinner is really better.
PLEASE read Dr. Haas oil articles.
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/faq.php?faq=haas_articles
Take the time to seriously educate yourself on engine oils. No one oil is best, but in most cases, if you aren't racing, 0W20 is your best best. But read it all. Take the time.
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