Hi everyone,

This is the 2nd time I have received a "Low Engine Oil" notification on the alert history (31000 km), the first was at approximately 5000 km.

I have noticed a fairly significant burning/sulfur smell when accelerating hard (either onto an on ramp or to pass traffic). I have not seen any oil on the ground underneath my car which just leads to me to believe that my engine is burning oil. I also had the burning smell at the beginning of new car ownership & at 5000 km mark but attributed that to just new vehicle chemicals burning off.

Since this is the second time, I will be escalating the issue further with Lexus Canada.

Has any one else had this issue?

Thanks!

 

I always have a sulfur smell when I accelerate hard on the freeway, but never low engine oil. If anything the dealership always overfills it and it never burns off, which is entirely separate issue.

Whats your dip stick read?

 

Below the lowest dot when I received the light both times. Barely any oil on the dip stick and also no oil indication on the dashboard (instrument cluster) but only on the infotainment.

 

Ok. When was your last oil change and did you check the dipstick after it was filled?

Personally I don't think the sulfur smell is related, as most of us have reported something similar. The RC F has the same issue.

 

Just under 8000 km ago (within the interval).

Did not check it after which I should have (done by the Dealer).

Very strong coincedence, also some rattling underneath my car when I punch the accelerator as well.

 

Had you ever gotten an oil change before it happened at 5000km? If so, I’m thinking is your dealership underfilled on both occasions. The IS350 takes 6 qts of oil instead of 9. Dealerships have been known to make that mistake. Do you have the invoices?

As for the rattling, I occasionally get rattling from what sounds like behind my dashboard when I punch it. I figure it’s just the giant V8 causing vibrations everywhere.

 

If they are using the IS350 specs they would also be putting in the wrong oil weight. This could cause issues as well. What does your last invoice state?

 

Doesn't our owners manual say the car might consume oil?

If you check for correct oil fill after service and its still running low it might be burning it slowly. No colored smoke from the exhaust, right?

 

From my own experience & using a good quality Full-Synthetic oil. I also drive hard in the summers & every 5k it will consume at least 1 quart.

 

6,400 miles, and I have driven it hard several times, but it still reads just above the top dot on the dipstick. The dealership might have overfilled it a little.

I am strongly suspecting the wrong oil was used. A car with such low miles shouldn't be burning oil unless it has been literally abused.

 

^^ This is the reason why on all of my vehicles even the Highlander I purchase my own oil for the tech to use.

 

I went to McGrath in Chicago and just asked for a simple oil change because it had been about 4k miles since. For the SA to just confirm what oil is being put in the car, it was like pulling teeth. He had no clue, I kept telling him 5w-30 conventional oil 9qts but he looked at me like I was speaking a new language.

SAs have no idea what’s going on and how to handle the v8s. Thankfully the tech did but I can totally see how wrong oil can be used in this car. Most of the Lexus techs who only do oil changes - they are like robots who have no clue what to do with any other cars besides the 350s who take the same oil and synthetic.

 

I never once had an issue with any detectable oil burning in the 146,000 miles of owning my IS F. I have had the dealership mess up the oil level before though.

 

There’s a reason I do my own oil changes. Take out any risk. Our cars are easy to do. It’s a 20 minute job.

 

Is that actually a thing, the wrong oil leads to oil consumption? I used to run 10w30 in my firebird and would sometimes use 10w40 or 20w50 and never burned oil.