Hey everyone. Nice to be here. My wife just picked up a 2022 RX350 w/7000 miles. It's passed Lexus free service by a couple months. It doesn't appear the Leasor who turned it in ever did ANYTHING to it. I'm a DYI'er and the 350's dipstick shows the oil level low. OWNERS MANUAL states it needs 1.9qt. at that level, so I want to start fresh. I'd prefer to use Toyota branded oil but not readily available, so the go to appears to be Mobil 1 ( they make Toyota oil). I have 2 options. #1 is just use Mobil1. #2 is Mobil 1 ADVANCED FUEL ECONOMY.

I'm leaning towards the M1 AFE as the label on the back actually specifies for Toyota ,(and other imports). Being the engine is one of the newer 3.5L it seems this would be the most advanced choice. Feel free to chime in, I'm going to go crack the drain plug. Thanks and Happy Memorial Day.

 

I went with the Advanced Fuel Economy. The car hits 10K in 3000 miles so I can always change to something else. I'm actually more of a Castrol, Valvoline guy. I'll use what I learn to be best for the Lexus by educating myself. I used Castrol for years in my old Camry, and in my "high revving" Ford V10 RV. Castrol Edge in my JeepJL. Lastly Valvoline Blue Tech in my old Duramax.

I'm here to learn LEXUS stuff though. I got forums and service manuals for the other vehicles. Thanks and have a great day...

 

So I'm back again with another question(s). The oil filter (gotta TOYOTA branded at Walmart) comes with this plastic check valve release. So, I used it. Resulting in oil all over my hand anyhow, does it really matter? Does anyone just unscrew the main housing from the get-go and let it all pour out. I mean, I'm pushing this little plastic tube thingy in and the oil starts coming through the tube, then it starts oozing out around the tube and all over my hand. Just like an OLD SCHOOL oil filter.

 

​​​​​​I attach a thick tube to the drain of the check valve for a practically mess free oil change

 

I use the Motiv drain tool: Oil Drain tool For Toyota, Lexus and Scion - Motivx Tools. It screws into the bottom of the filter case, and has a nut that releases the check valve. It comes with a hose, but I just put a drain pan under it and forgo the hose. I got the drain tool in the kit that includes the Toyota-specific funnel and filter case wrench. It's a mess-free process with these tools.

 

Alright. Thanks for the tool info. I think when I was comparing some filters at Walmart the cheapest supertech brand had a threaded draintool. Might be worth buying the filter just for the tool. HaHa. Bamalam I see you have a 4th gen RX350. If you don't mind my asking what oil you use. If you read my previous posts, I'm trying to figure out which oil is best for my 2022 3.5 liter. I went with the Mobil1 Advanced fuel economy. Now diving deeper into the forum, I wonder if I should have just used the regular Mobil1 or extended life. Thanks

 

I use Pennzoil Ultra Platinum. The Project Farm YouTube channel did a comparison of several oils and found Ultra Platinum to be better than all but the very expensive stuff. He's done some other tests of regular vs extended life oils; you might want to check his content. Given the quality of modern synthetic oils, though, it's probably hard to go wrong.

The Ultra Platinum is not available in auto parts or big box stores, at least where I live. I order it from Amazon or Walmart.com

 

I use the same oil and the same kit from MotivX Tools and it works great....I also shortened the drain hose to make it easier to drain to collection pan.

Makes the job easy and mess free.

 

Dealers engine oil turned red for some reason after couple thousand miles. I been using Penzoil ultra platinum, engine is a lot qualiter, sometimes forget that engine is still running..

 

Turned red? That's weird. Hope it wasn't transmission fluid!
Reminds me of an old experience: had a 1999 Subaru, brought to the dealer for a transmission service. Got it back and as usual I checked the fluid level. Was fine but curiously it was clear, not red. I figured maybe they have a new type of fluid, after all, it was a Subaru dealer, right? Trans lasted about 4k miles when it died. Turns out they put some kind of gear oil in it!

 

I was worried about it as well. it started as regular engine oil color. I Always check after services. It slowly turned and started looking to have a red hue at round 3000 km of use, still clear tho, just has a red tint to it. I seen some people with similar issues on other toyota forums using dealers oil, and one sent the oil for analysis and came back normal. I changed the oil out at round 8000km and by then it was looking like some used engine oil which has turned brown, still a slight red tint, but just barely.

Sometimes I wonder if it's Shell premium gas, I have always thought that some just very minor amount of gas can get into the engine oil, maybe has to do with shells additives.

 

The oil can turn red because of certain oil additives and nothing to be concerned about. However, it could also be caused by a cracked intake manifold or a leaking head gasket. But since you said it occurred at a different mileage with 2 different brands of oil then it is most likely the additives.

 

it was actually just that one time, drianed that oil in May, and I asked dealer to use the self supplied penzoil ultra platinum, haven't notice any color change after 2000km.

But cars air intake hose does have accumulated orange/red powdery dust on top, smells like rotten egg, doesn't feel to be greasy at all. Dealer says it's normal as part of the pvc or evap system? Intake manifold looks clean.

 

I've had engine oil turn red, was awhile ago can't remember the brand unfortunately.

 

I have a coupon to get a "Castrol Edge Synthetic Oil Change" from Canadian Tire for about $60 taxes in.

Let's put the "quality of work" aside for the moment.

Is the Castrol Edge Synthetic Oil that they use actually a reasonable/decent enough oil? I don't need the best oil, just one that is reasonable quality.

I would buy my own filter from Toyota and bring that in. Even if I did this, it would still save me ~$60 or more from Toyota/Lexus prices.