LS500 turbo lag
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 21
Likes: 9
From: MI
LS500 turbo lag
Really hating the turbo lag in my 2020 LS500. Thinking of chipping it, but which vendor? I want minimum lag, not interested in headers, body mods, or tinted windows, etc. - Looking for least cost and best ROI. Did I mention really hating the turbo lag?
Anyone have similar experience as me? Recommendations greatly appreciated. I could probably do a $1,000 investment without incurring the wrath of She Who Rules.
Anyone have similar experience as me? Recommendations greatly appreciated. I could probably do a $1,000 investment without incurring the wrath of She Who Rules.
Pit Crew
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 232
Likes: 36
From: TX
Really hating the turbo lag in my 2020 LS500. Thinking of chipping it, but which vendor? I want minimum lag, not interested in headers, body mods, or tinted windows, etc. - Looking for least cost and best ROI. Did I mention really hating the turbo lag?
Anyone have similar experience as me? Recommendations greatly appreciated. I could probably do a $1,000 investment without incurring the wrath of She Who Rules.
Anyone have similar experience as me? Recommendations greatly appreciated. I could probably do a $1,000 investment without incurring the wrath of She Who Rules.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 860
Likes: 261
From: Arkansas
If you are going to drag race someone in your LS500, it’s best to do it from a rolling start.
Turbo lag off the line is embarrassing. Our cars could put down some very impressive 0-60 and quarter mile times if it weren’t for the turbo lag.
Yeah, I know this is a luxury car and we are supposed to drive around like old fogies.
Turbo lag off the line is embarrassing. Our cars could put down some very impressive 0-60 and quarter mile times if it weren’t for the turbo lag.
Yeah, I know this is a luxury car and we are supposed to drive around like old fogies.
Last edited by sajack; May 19, 2025 at 04:56 AM.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 21
Likes: 9
From: MI
The lag is about 3/4 of a second and it occurs when you put your foot down hard (i.e., when you "floor it") at any speed in any mode.
I don't mind the harsher S+ ride at all; I've driven sporty cars with rock-hard suspensions, much worse.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 21
Likes: 9
From: MI
I'd say that it's dangerous when pulling out to the passing lane and flooring it. You cover a lot of ground while waiting for the turbo to kick in at say 90 mph. And I actually did drag race a punk in a souped-up Ford. Man was he surprised!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 860
Likes: 261
From: Arkansas
I honestly don’t think there is much difference in performance from Normal, Sport, or Sport+ modes.
The 10 speed offers great performance, just stab it and steer it. Forget the paddle shifters too.
The 10 speed offers great performance, just stab it and steer it. Forget the paddle shifters too.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 311
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From: NJ
My experience with my LS500h, with the CVT, is much different when I use the sport+ mode, which I've programmed into the dash binnacle switch. As soon as I press that button, the transmission changes shift points, the synthetic engine noise kicks in, and the car turns into a rocket ship. If I don't push that button, I don't expect much unless I am already in sport or sport+ mode.
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 860
Likes: 261
From: Arkansas
I’m not in the mood for tinkering with a $100,000 luxury car.
I previously had a MAZDASPEED Miata turbo that I installed intake, exhaust, bigger intercooler, manual boost controller, O2 signal modifier, etc. on with great results. I would guess that a manual boost controller might help if it is even possible on an LS500 twin turbo. Such stuff is way over my head and pocketbook.
Blow up this Lexus motor and you might total the car out.
I previously had a MAZDASPEED Miata turbo that I installed intake, exhaust, bigger intercooler, manual boost controller, O2 signal modifier, etc. on with great results. I would guess that a manual boost controller might help if it is even possible on an LS500 twin turbo. Such stuff is way over my head and pocketbook.
Blow up this Lexus motor and you might total the car out.
Pit Crew
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 108
Likes: 25
From: SC
If you are going to drag race someone in your LS500, it’s best to do it from a rolling start.
Turbo lag off the line is embarrassing. Our cars could put down some very impressive 0-60 and quarter mile times if it weren’t for the turbo lag.
Yeah, I know this is a luxury car and we are supposed to drive around like old fogies.
Turbo lag off the line is embarrassing. Our cars could put down some very impressive 0-60 and quarter mile times if it weren’t for the turbo lag.
Yeah, I know this is a luxury car and we are supposed to drive around like old fogies.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 21
Likes: 9
From: MI
I got 4.9 0-60 from a dead stop. That's faster than most the cars I loved in the 90s. Twin Turbo Supra, RX7, and 3000gt vr4. And this weighs 5k. That is impressive. And it's not turbo lag. That's how Lexus has the car mapped to prevent drivetrain stress. The thing gets full torque around 1600 rpm. 442 ft lbs of it at that. I've lit the tires up before at full boost. JB4 seems to be the most reliable if you need more. I'm thinking of getting one.
Thx for a useful reply.
Pit Crew
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 108
Likes: 25
From: SC
DSMLS - Thank you for setting me straight on the mapping. I had just assumed that if one turbo = lag, then 2 would = major lag. Drivetrain stress is a major factor to put in the equation. On the other hand, I only need the "boost" (so to speak) when flooring it, which I don't do often. I'm going to get in touch with a race mechanic buddy and see what he thinks. And he actually is a drag racer - Pro Stock. And yes, the JB4 seems to be preferable, so far at least.
Thx for a useful reply.
Thx for a useful reply.
Last edited by DSMLS; May 19, 2025 at 01:36 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,422
Likes: 1,805
From: Ohio
Yeah, trade it in for a German flagship instead.
You seem to have different driving priorities than what the current LS is targeted towards so you may be better served with a TTV8 car instead or even just a more rapidly responding V6 since the Toyota engine has a unusually high boost threshold. Part of that is because the turbos are in the wrong place though, some remaps will reduce this but not by drastic amounts as the design is inherently using turbos that are mounted quite far away on a small engine with out any tricks to reduce spool time.
A tune only German with any of their 4.0 class V8s gets you under 4 seconds true 0-60, for only $499
You seem to have different driving priorities than what the current LS is targeted towards so you may be better served with a TTV8 car instead or even just a more rapidly responding V6 since the Toyota engine has a unusually high boost threshold. Part of that is because the turbos are in the wrong place though, some remaps will reduce this but not by drastic amounts as the design is inherently using turbos that are mounted quite far away on a small engine with out any tricks to reduce spool time.
A tune only German with any of their 4.0 class V8s gets you under 4 seconds true 0-60, for only $499
Last edited by Striker223; May 19, 2025 at 01:44 PM.