Where o where is the oil????
09-06-18, 06:13 PM
#1
10th Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Mn
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Where o where is the oil????
New to us a 2000 rx300. Purchased from in laws who had it for @5+ years. They had it in their fleet and it saw very few miles. It has 104k miles. It had a very slow oil leak likely rear seal. We checked oil level when we got it. Didn’t even register on dip stick. Added about 2 qts to get it to acceptable levels. 2 days later, took it and got oil changed. Added 2 bottles auto-rx to clean engine sludge and hope to remedy slow seal leak (as suggested from club Lexus). That was about 500 miles ago. I put fresh cardboard down in garage to monitor oil leak. Barely a drop even before added auto-rx. Hardly been any oil dripping. Went to check oil level tonight. Again doesn’t even register on the dip stick. Where could oil be going? Doesn’t seem to leak. Runs great. Zero oil burning smell. Zero blue smoke from exhaust. Nothing. Nada. Wife is afraid to drive it now. Any suggestions/advice? Thanks in advance.
09-06-18, 08:45 PM
#4
Lexus Test Driver
That could be explained by the frequently-reported problems with the original rear valve cover design. One of my RX300's sucked oil like crazy during highway driving, and I'm waiting for a highway trip to see if the new valve cover solved the problem. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!) There are a few threads on here about that very kind of oil consumption issue.
09-07-18, 03:26 AM
#5
10th Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Mn
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have read lots of threads. PVC valve and rear valve cover. Have not really read any success stories though. And rear valve cover has a new design to help remedy the issue?
Disconcerting to know I’ll have to use so much oil to keep it safely running.
How much will the replace rear cover cost?
thanks.
Disconcerting to know I’ll have to use so much oil to keep it safely running.
How much will the replace rear cover cost?
thanks.
09-07-18, 08:50 AM
#6
"Zero oil burning smell. Zero blue smoke from exhaust. Nothing. Nada."
Well, you can get quite a bit of oil burning without smell or blue smoke. That's a heck of a lot of oil to go AWOL, though. Another possibility is the oil is leaking on to an under engine plastic liner and sitting there until you are driving faster when it drains off the cover and onto the road. Can you see any oil under the engine or on the liners or any other evidence of this (oil streaks on the underside of car, transmission, subframes)?
Well, you can get quite a bit of oil burning without smell or blue smoke. That's a heck of a lot of oil to go AWOL, though. Another possibility is the oil is leaking on to an under engine plastic liner and sitting there until you are driving faster when it drains off the cover and onto the road. Can you see any oil under the engine or on the liners or any other evidence of this (oil streaks on the underside of car, transmission, subframes)?
09-07-18, 12:39 PM
#7
My 2000 RX300 would burn no oil whatsoever at 60mph but at 65+ I had to add every 100 miles. New rear valve cover fixed this problem completely. No I can’t prove it won’t come back after 80k miles.
I spent $214.50 on a brand new cover, total was $307.50 including misc parts & shipping. Had to buy some tools too.
I spent $214.50 on a brand new cover, total was $307.50 including misc parts & shipping. Had to buy some tools too.
Trending Topics
09-07-18, 09:34 PM
#9
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...lve-cover.html
09-15-18, 05:44 PM
#10
Lexus Test Driver
My dealer suggested the rear/main seal as well, estimating replacement cost at about $2500. Mostly labor, I'm sure. They also thought a piston ring could be broken, costing about $5000. (!!!) Yesterday I took my first highway trip (250 miles at 70-75 mph) since switching the rear valve cover and PCV valve to the Gen 3 version. Instead of using at least a quart of oil as it would have before the work, it didn't use any. Any! As Owen and Lexmus have pointed out, this frequently solves the oil consumption problem. I had my fingers crossed, and it indeed seems to have done the trick for me, as well!
The following users liked this post:
trhs75 (09-15-18)
09-15-18, 06:03 PM
#13
Lexus Test Driver
If I couldn't solve the problem, I was thinking of driving this car down to Galveston where my daughter lives, having her engine transplanted into my car (which is in very good shape), and junking hers. It probably wouldn't have been worth the investment, but I'm glad I'm not facing the decision!
