How often to tune up? 5000 or 7000?
04-13-13, 04:13 PM
#1
Rookie
Thread Starter
How often to tune up? 5000 or 7000?
Have a 2009 RX 350 I purchased last year. The manual says to tune up every 5000. I came from a Toyota 4Runner, and opted to tune up every 7000 miles as I live in SoCal with no extreme climate changes nor do I do heavy driving, maybe 7000 miles/year. Can this car get away with every 7000 instead of 5000 for a tuneup? Does it invalidate a warranty if you do it every 7000?
thank you.
thank you.
04-13-13, 08:56 PM
#2
Moderator
I am not sure what you mean by tuneup. The Lexus maintenance service manual requires an oil and filter change, air conditioning filter change, tire rotation and multi-point inspection every 5K. Fuel injectors, intake cleaning, engine air filter, brake fluid change is done every 30K. Coolant is changed at 100K. Spark plugs are changed at 120K. The transmission fluid (WS) is lifetime on the RX350.
04-14-13, 06:24 AM
#3
If you are referring to RX350 routine maintenance like an oil and filter change, the newer 350 engine requires service at 5,000 miles or 6 months whichever occurs first, if you wish to keep your warranty intact. Unlike the 330 engine that could go 7,500 miles or 6 months under normal driving conditions, the 350 needs more frequent service. Kind of surprising really, when several other luxury auto manufacturers are specifying much longer intervals. I'd expect Lexus to have an oil monitoring system like many others but they don't at this point.
04-14-13, 06:54 AM
#4
Pole Position
My 2006 RX330 says oil changes every 5000 mi. Where did you get 7500?
04-14-13, 07:18 AM
#5
My 2004 RX330 manual states:
SNIP
SNIP
Determining the Proper Maintenance Interval
Depending on your circumstances, you should obtain maintenance for your Lexus every 5,000 miles or every 7,500 miles. Follow these guidelines to determine which interval to use.
5,000-Mile Intervals
Use 5,000-mile intervals if you primarily operate your vehicle under any of the following conditions:
• Extensive driving on unpaved or dusty roads.
• Towing a trailer or using a camper or car-top carrier.
• Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below freezing.
7,500-Mile Intervals
Use 7,500-mile intervals if you primarily operate your vehicle under conditions other than those listed above.
Note: If you drive your vehicle under any of the special operating conditions noted on the next page, you may need to perform specific services at 5,000-mile intervals. See the 5,000-mile maintenance charts for details.
Depending on your circumstances, you should obtain maintenance for your Lexus every 5,000 miles or every 7,500 miles. Follow these guidelines to determine which interval to use.
5,000-Mile Intervals
Use 5,000-mile intervals if you primarily operate your vehicle under any of the following conditions:
• Extensive driving on unpaved or dusty roads.
• Towing a trailer or using a camper or car-top carrier.
• Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below freezing.
7,500-Mile Intervals
Use 7,500-mile intervals if you primarily operate your vehicle under conditions other than those listed above.
Note: If you drive your vehicle under any of the special operating conditions noted on the next page, you may need to perform specific services at 5,000-mile intervals. See the 5,000-mile maintenance charts for details.
Last edited by jfelbab; 04-14-13 at 07:33 AM.
04-14-13, 07:35 AM
#6
Pole Position
My 2006 USA car manual is different. There is no 7500 mile option. I think Toyota's sludge issues came to light between your 2004 and my 2006 cars. Perhaps they tightened it up during that time as a CYA measure
04-14-13, 07:55 AM
#7
IIRC the sludge issue was in earlier engines, both 4 and 6 cylinder, from 1996 to 2001.
In looking back I see that this spec was changed back to 5,000mi. / 6mo. in the 2005 manual so it was only one year that they specified 7,500 miles. I didn't research the Toyota manuals for the other vehicles that use this same engine.
In looking back I see that this spec was changed back to 5,000mi. / 6mo. in the 2005 manual so it was only one year that they specified 7,500 miles. I didn't research the Toyota manuals for the other vehicles that use this same engine.
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04-14-13, 07:59 AM
#8
Pole Position
Agreed but I think the earlier engine issue CAME TO LIGHT at this time and the new RX was, well, new. And it wasn't clear if 7500 would be ok. So they went CYA then
04-14-13, 08:26 AM
#9
Lexus Test Driver
No, Toyota made a modification to the engine design (i.e made larger oil return holes & PCV valve change), mid year 2002. All 2003 1MZ-FE's and newer had the changes done. So, they knew the 3MZ-FE was fine and would not exhibit the same issues if owner's neglected their car.
Last edited by hypervish; 04-14-13 at 08:29 AM.
04-14-13, 08:59 AM
#10
Pole Position
I still say it was some sort of CYA moment
04-14-13, 10:50 AM
#12
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IIRC the sludge issue was in earlier engines, both 4 and 6 cylinder, from 1996 to 2001.
In looking back I see that this spec was changed back to 5,000mi. / 6mo. in the 2005 manual so it was only one year that they specified 7,500 miles. I didn't research the Toyota manuals for the other vehicles that use this same engine.
In looking back I see that this spec was changed back to 5,000mi. / 6mo. in the 2005 manual so it was only one year that they specified 7,500 miles. I didn't research the Toyota manuals for the other vehicles that use this same engine.
04-14-13, 11:54 AM
#13
Moderator
My 1998 Toyota Avalon had one of the engines that was prone to the sludge issue. I received a letter from Toyota Extending the vehicle warranty to eight years with unlimited mileage. I sold the Avalon in 2006 and bought the new 2007 RX 350.
04-14-13, 05:12 PM
#15
I have a 09RX350. I use Mobil 1 5W30, a synthetic oil. Dealer tells me that, notwithstanding the various motor / oil charts or matrices that appeared on this forum, I MUST use 5W30 oil as specified in the manual, and I MUST change oil every 5,000 miles (if I want to be sure of not voiding the warranty). The only conclusion I can reach is that the quality of Lexus engineering and motor construction is such that it requires a lot more frequent oil changes than other brands, and that this has got to be because it is taxes the oil more. Thus, it is an inferior product compared to the motors of other manufacturers, who obtain similar performance without requiring so much coddling, or do not use up the oil's properties as quickly, or function equally well with oil that is less 'new'. [An SX4 Suzuki I bought for my daughter requires oil changes every 7,500 miles, without requiring synthetic oil. Engine is doing very well, thank you. My BMW requires synthetic LL01 oil, changes at 15,000 miles or one year. Engine also purring sweetly, smoother than that of the Lexus, as an i-6 is smoother than a V6.]