kevin1533

I searched all over for pics on LS430 oil change before I did it on my dad's car. So I decided to take some pics and make a DIY article on ehow.

DYI: Oil change Lexus LS430

GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

thanks for sharing, i have added it to our FAQ on the top of the forum.

AlexusAnja

Nice writeup Kevin. Maybe 2003 is different, but on my 2004, there is a "flap" you could call it, where you loosen two bolts and the "door panel" under the filter and plug area folds towards the front and locks open. Did you have to remove the whole front panel to get to your filter?

Also, once you remove with a wrench, you should then install hand tight so that when it comes time to remove later, you can remove by hand too, without the wrench. I've found that wrenches cause people to overtighten and then warp the seal causing leaks. I've never had a leak in over 400K of total miles changing my own oil.

I6turbo

iTrader: (1)

My '03 has a flap too.

Re: tightening, if you tighten 3/4 of a turn after the gasket makes contact (common recommendation, and you can do it by hand), on many engines it will still be too tight to remove by hand (when the time comes to change the oil again) unless the oil filter is located in a place where you can really get a good grip on it.

AlexusAnja

I don't know how many "quarters" of a turn to do. All I know is that from my little Japanese 4 cyclinder where filter mounts on the side of the block, to 6-cylinders where the filter rests on the bottom, the only vehicle I have ever put a wrench to is my RX and that's only because the filter is down in the middle of nowhere where you can't get a good grip.

The LS is located so well, that any girly-man (no offense to girly men) with pencil arms can tighten and loosen it later. Wrenched filters, like pneumatically tightened lug nuts, are mechanics ways of overtightening so the average Joe with the wrong tools can't get those parts off.

SH212

ahh beat me to it i was going to do a DIY with pics also

Tom58

Does Lexus require Synthetic oil or will regular oil do fine? The maintenance manual states that a oil change is recommended every 5000 miles, so I'm assuming regular oil?

PoBob

I believe that regular will do fine but breaks down more rapidly and therefore requires more frequent changing. The guy I bought my '06 LS from switched to synthetic oil with his first oil change. He drained the oil, changed the filter, filled the crankcase, ran it for a few miles, enough to thoroughly heat the oil, drained it again, changed the filter again and refilled with fresh synthetic oil!

randal

Yes, "regular" dino oil is fine, Tom. Synthetic is nice (and expensive) and what I use, but is by no means required.

The only other thing I can add to this DIY oil change is that I pre-fill the new oil filter with oil before screwing it back onto the block. This soaks the filter material with oil and allows the system oil pressure to be reached more quickly when initially restarted. Probably ****, I know, but every millisecond w/o oil pressure is important to me.

khanhdom

iTrader: (2)

yea synthetic isn't necessary, but doesn't hurt either

AlexusAnja

Synthetic is insurance for a worthy investment...

MrXerox

Guess I cant follow that logic...

warminwisc

Looks like the biggest PITA is what o do with the used oil.

WB03LS430

I noticed in your write up you used 5w-40, any particular reason for changing viscosity?

PoBob

I believe his logic was to ensure that the synthetic oil wasn't in the least bit contaminated. I believe he was quite **** and had deep pockets!

As far as the used oil goes, he said he saved it to use in his lawn and garden equipment.