How well made and reliable is the 3rd Generation GS? (thinking of 2009)
11-13-14, 05:07 AM
#31
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I've had the Low Oil light come on twice in my GS 300 with only 88K on the clock. I'm preparing for the worst. I guess changing the oil religiously every 3K with Valvoline Hyper Synthetic at $10/quart wasn't good enough.
Eh, what could I expect from a $55,000 luxury car. I guess rich people trade in their cars before they hit 40,000 miles, so Lexus doesn't care if the thing throws a rod at 100K. Should have bought a Corolla.
Eh, what could I expect from a $55,000 luxury car. I guess rich people trade in their cars before they hit 40,000 miles, so Lexus doesn't care if the thing throws a rod at 100K. Should have bought a Corolla.
1. Why are you relying on the low oil level light? You obviously aren't checking your oil regularly. It strikes me that you don't know how to look after your car correctly.
2. What grade of this Valvolin Synthetic are you using? Is it the correct grade for where you live (due to ambient temps) and the car you drive?
3. Valvoline Hyper Synthetic doesn't exist, Pennzoil Hyper Synthetic does (or it used to until they discontinued it). Which one is it? Is it recommended for your car?
4. Do you drive your car with mechanical sympathy or thrash the **** off it from cold?
11-13-14, 06:54 AM
#32
A) You got me, I am the 2nd owner, bought it with 20K miles. I guess he destroyed the engine.
B) In 6 years I have owned it, yes, I changed it every 3K with Valvoline Synthetic.
C) I don't know yet about the oil consumption test, they are looking at it now.
My GS was built 8/2005, despite it being a 2006. So the service tech says, they won't honor it, as it is 3 months outside the 9 year window. So now I have to kick it up a level I guess. When I got the letter, it wasn't doing the rough idle thing. Naturally, 3 months outside the warranty, I get the condition when it sits for 2 weeks. Never happens when warm.
We'll see what happens, now I wish I had waited a year and bought a 350.
B) In 6 years I have owned it, yes, I changed it every 3K with Valvoline Synthetic.
C) I don't know yet about the oil consumption test, they are looking at it now.
My GS was built 8/2005, despite it being a 2006. So the service tech says, they won't honor it, as it is 3 months outside the 9 year window. So now I have to kick it up a level I guess. When I got the letter, it wasn't doing the rough idle thing. Naturally, 3 months outside the warranty, I get the condition when it sits for 2 weeks. Never happens when warm.
We'll see what happens, now I wish I had waited a year and bought a 350.
11-13-14, 10:59 AM
#33
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I'm not "relying" on the Low Engine Oil Level warning. I have performed weekly oil level checks and it was always perfect for the first 85K miles or so. Nor did I experience the rough idle at cold startup for the first 85K. Hence, I was confident that my particular 3.0 motor did not yet suffer from the inherently defective piston rings. And I never experienced the rough idle when warm.
Here's what the manual says regarding the Low Engine Oil Level light: "When the engine oil level is too low, the master warning light comes on, add oil as soon as possible." Also- "When driving on steep inclines or rough roads which causes the vehicle to substantially sway or on curves, this message may appear due to movement of the engine oil in the engine" Also - "In normal conditions, due to engine oil consumption, this message may appear earlier than the specified service interval of the scheduled maintenance. This is because the engine oil is consumed to the low level within the scheduled maintenance interval and does not indicate a problem.
When I saw the warning light, I was in fact on a curved, steep incline. I was also due for an oil change. But, I pulled over immediately and checked the dipstick. It was down to the bottom marker, but not in the 'danger zone'. I was shocked, as I'd never seen it like this. I added oil right then (I keep a couple quarts in my trunk). Note, I never got the warning light in 85K plus miles of driving and as I noted before, the oil level was always perfect in my weekly checks. This is because the inherent defect in the 3.0 motor does not show up until you have driven it for some time. In fact, in well-maintained cars such as mine, it probably doesn't show up until you reach 80K or so. Ironically, this means that drivers who maintained their vehicles properly, and don't drive very many miles, may be punished by not having the inherent defect appear until the car is out of warranty. Perhaps I should have gone 15,000 miles in between oil changes and then just taken it to QuikLube for the $19.95 drum oil special. After thrashing it from a dead cold start on a frigid winter morning. Then I could have received the full $6000 engine job from Lexus at 50,000 miles and 7 years.
http://www.pennzoil.com/motor-oil/pe...tic-motor-oil/
The piston ring design is known to be defective with the 3.0 V6 3GR-FSE. Lexus sent me the letter, with my vehicle VIN. Note that the letter says nothing about excessive oil consumption. I was only unlucky enough to not have experienced the rough idle soon enough, so the dealer couldn't diagnose the problem until I was out of the 9 year period. This issue has absolutely nothing to do with neglectful maintenance or abusive driving behavior.
Last edited by gs300awd18; 11-13-14 at 11:11 AM.
11-13-14, 11:09 AM
#34
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Well in case you don't know....most engine wear happens in the first in the break in period so it is possible that if the previous dogged it could have been a hard 20k. Like I said it is a known problem with the 300 but for all I know you could have bought it last month....you gave little information regarding the history of the car. Also, evidently you don't check the fluids often in the car for a low oil warning message to show. I have no issues but I still check all mine weekly....but to each their own...good luck.
As for thrashing in the first 20K, no. I have all the early maintenance records. People who buy $50,000, rather underpowered, AWD luxury cars don't thrash them like a Mitsubishi Evo. Also, do you really think I would have gotten 60K plus trouble free miles out of the engine if the original owner had thrashed it? This is an inherent design defect in the piston ring design. Lexus admits it. There's nothing I could have done to prevent it.
11-13-14, 01:52 PM
#35
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Now you're just trolling me. It's very irritating to have owned the car for nearly 7 years, from 20K, having lavished it with professional care, not just me poking under the hood and staring stupidly at the fluid levels every 5 days (which I did anyway,
only to have you say 'evidently you don't check the fluids often in the car for a low oil warning message to show.'
only to have you say 'evidently you don't check the fluids often in the car for a low oil warning message to show.'
The thing is, the OP wanted opinions on the GS350 of 2009 vintage. I'm not sure how helpful (or relevant) your rant about the terrible failings of the 2006 GS300 is.
There are a very large number of GS350/300s in this country (including the 450h). Many of which are running way over 100k miles. Some are still reliable at 200k miles.
To the OP. I'd say you wouldn't regret buying the GS350 of your choice, as long as you do your research and make sure you buy an honest one.
Last edited by MrAM; 11-13-14 at 01:58 PM.
11-13-14, 02:49 PM
#36
Now you're just trolling me. It's very irritating to have owned the car for nearly 7 years, from 20K, having lavished it with professional care, not just me poking under the hood and staring stupidly at the fluid levels every 5 days (which I did anyway, but then took it to a professional Lexus specialist, who assured me everything was perfect), only to have you say 'evidently you don't check the fluids often in the car for a low oil warning message to show.'
As for thrashing in the first 20K, no. I have all the early maintenance records. People who buy $50,000, rather underpowered, AWD luxury cars don't thrash them like a Mitsubishi Evo. Also, do you really think I would have gotten 60K plus trouble free miles out of the engine if the original owner had thrashed it? This is an inherent design defect in the piston ring design. Lexus admits it. There's nothing I could have done to prevent it.
As for thrashing in the first 20K, no. I have all the early maintenance records. People who buy $50,000, rather underpowered, AWD luxury cars don't thrash them like a Mitsubishi Evo. Also, do you really think I would have gotten 60K plus trouble free miles out of the engine if the original owner had thrashed it? This is an inherent design defect in the piston ring design. Lexus admits it. There's nothing I could have done to prevent it.
11-13-14, 03:43 PM
#37
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First of all, I'm not trolling you at all. You came in someone else's thread talking about your car problems which doesn't have the same engine as your car. Could Lexus have just rebuilt all of the 300s even though it doesn't show the signs? Yes, but would they? Not a chance in hell. We question you because you came in blasting that Lexus was horrible. I have a co worker who has a 06 GS 300 AWD with 174k on it and it's almost as smooth as my 350 and does not burn oil. They did a decent job with giving people 9 yrs, especially when many other luxury car manufactures would have just simply told you sorry after your powertrain warranty is up. Sorry you got stuck with the 300 and maybe as you said you should have waited another year to get a 350 but at this point it is was it is and I wish you the best of luck with getting your car repaired and that the dealership will go up to bat for you.
Also, the specific issue you were needling me about was oil consumption. That issue is not listed on the Customer Support Program Notice letter from Lexus. It was just "Intermittently runs rough with engine misfires present after a cold soak startup." Finally, after 8 years of fanatical maintenance and fewer than average miles per year, my 3.0 V6 3GR-FSE is exhibiting these symptoms, and I am going to fight to get my new piston rings under the warranty extension program. Seems to be the luck of the draw with the 3.0, probably if you got a really early one you are likely to experience the problem. Good for those people who are at 175K with no issues. That is who I hope to become, what with the car paid off, and otherwise looking nearly pristine.
11-13-14, 03:48 PM
#38
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The thing is, the OP wanted opinions on the GS350 of 2009 vintage. I'm not sure how helpful (or relevant) your rant about the terrible failings of the 2006 GS300 is.
There are a very large number of GS350/300s in this country (including the 450h). Many of which are running way over 100k miles. Some are still reliable at 200k miles.
To the OP. I'd say you wouldn't regret buying the GS350 of your choice, as long as you do your research and make sure you buy an honest one.
I doubt I'd buy another one, I pay for my cars in cash, and drive them for decades until there is a little pile of oxidized dust in the driveway. I'm not part of the instant gratification lease it for 2 years and then get another lease or crippling monthly payment culture. I want things that last, and won't give me undue trouble if I take care of them.
11-13-14, 11:47 PM
#43
Driver School Candidate
Look, Lexus themselves admits there is an issue with the GS 300. And the OP was looking for overall commentary on the 3rd Gen GS, and just thinking about the 2009. If he really still wants a GS, I guess the '09 is the best year to get.
I doubt I'd buy another one, I pay for my cars in cash, and drive them for decades until there is a little pile of oxidized dust in the driveway. I'm not part of the instant gratification lease it for 2 years and then get another lease or crippling monthly payment culture. I want things that last, and won't give me undue trouble if I take care of them.
I doubt I'd buy another one, I pay for my cars in cash, and drive them for decades until there is a little pile of oxidized dust in the driveway. I'm not part of the instant gratification lease it for 2 years and then get another lease or crippling monthly payment culture. I want things that last, and won't give me undue trouble if I take care of them.
"Would love some feedback from any folks who have owned the GS350 from 2009"
Anyway, clearly you have an axe to grind and you're not happy, which is fine, but that doesn't assist the OP. You have the rest of the ClubLexus forum to discuss your issue, so why not use that platform?
I'm conscious that I'm also contributing to the "off topic" nature of our discussion so I'm going to leave the matter there, and hopefully some people will come back to the OP with opinions on the GS350 2009, and that he chooses a good car.
Last edited by MrAM; 11-13-14 at 11:52 PM.
11-14-14, 06:48 AM
#44
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The 07-10 can burn oil too? Did you get a letter from Lexus about this?
11-14-14, 08:44 AM
#45
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It doesn't make any sense that an 07-10 would burn oil and a 2011 would not. Mechanics sometimes just like to talk so that they sound knowledgable.
As for a 2006 burning oil, how much oil are we talking here? The car is in fact going on 9 potentially even 10 years old if it was built in 2005.
As for a 2006 burning oil, how much oil are we talking here? The car is in fact going on 9 potentially even 10 years old if it was built in 2005.