zaxmalloy

Noticing that my 99 RX300 is really driving some revs before shifting out of the lowest gears. I have to get the car up to 3.25-4K RPMs for it to shift from 1st to 2nd and again from 2nd to 3rd. Once in 3rd it seems fine.

It also just doesn't seem to shift smoothly until it's warmed up.

Is this just the extreme cold (I live in MN) or should I be more concerned?

ederny

Seems Lexus is helping the engine heat up (and catalytic converters) so pollution is decreased or at least decreased (a shorter period of time). The RX actually has special cold start converters on the engine close to the exhaust manifolds in addition to the usual one under the center of the vehicle.

I find the same thing, trany does not shift until the engine temp starts to come up a bit, especially when the temp drops into the 20s or below. So, I leave the house at 7 AM each morning when it is 7 deg (here in Boston) and drive for a mile at about 20 mph to keep the revs below 2000 rpm. I may be a bit conservative, but engine wear is a concern at high revs when the oil is not flowing very well and at high revs the engine oil pump is trying to suck in slow moving cold oil and the engine needs a lot at increased rpm. Wouldn’t you know, at higher rpm, there are greater forces on the surfaces of the bearings and rings, so adequate oil is important for long life (several hundred k mi).

Many don't care. I for one will let the traffic behind me contemplate why on earth is the RX going so slow for one mile and then speeds away (after it shifts of course)!

parula

Ed, at those extremely low temps. why not warm the engine at idle for a couple minutes first?

And heat up your seats?

Come down to Jersey, it's only about 20 here!