I'm planning on changing the oil myself this weekend. I pulled up on my ramps to take a look on the underside and found a plastic plate that covers everything. There about 20 screws holding it in place.

I have all the tools to do the job but was wondering if anyone else has attempted a DYI. If so, is the filter easy to reach once the panel is removed ?

It's not a matter of spending the $$ to have Lexus do it, it's just that I like to "putter" around with all my cars.














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Speaking of oil changes -
A friend of mine who is the service manager at the local Honda dealer stresses the importance of using a torque wrench to tighten the oil pan bolt. He has seen some big problems if not done properly.

I've often changed the oil in several of my cars and did not worry a whit about that. Any comments?

Can't help ya on your question, Larry - I don't change oil myself any longer.

 

I remember my old SCs didn't have as many screws underneath. I also remember the oil filter was very hard to reach and extract. I haven't yet performed an oil change on my SC 430 by myself as of yet. I know it's a ripoff, but I like when Lexus checks everything on my car during an oil change.

 

I did an oil change with filter right before winter....


SO What I can tell you is that you don't need to take off the entire under carriage/shrowd cover...


....if you jack up the driver side of the car, and look underneith, you should see the shrowd/cover has what looks like a place to bend.. That is there for a reason (to easily access just the oil filter)...


...so you just need to unscrew those bolts and bend it down instead of removing the entire cover like we did the 1st time... live and learn... it could have gone much faster... oh well....


Also, if you are lucky enough to have a lift, it does go much faster

 

...the oil filter is pretty darn easy to access once you fold down that flap.... in plain sight....

 

Thanks CE ! I have low profile ramps and a low profile basin along with a low profile "creeper". It should be no problem now that I know where to locate the filter.

 

Just changed my oil and filter. Piece of cake !

Thanks CEBoyd for the tip on where to find the filter. You da man !!

(also changed the oil,filter and trannny fluid and spark plugs on my Hyundai,,,,,,,but hey, you folks don't care about that......)

 

How come Lexus doesn't provide free servicing like Benz? BMW? Also does anyone have a Lexus service area that is opened on saturdays?

 

I had a Z3 BMW with free service... You don't want it! Why?

1st off, the mechanics hate to work on the cars under free service 'cause the MFGR pays a very small (too small) amount and often pays less than actual time involved so usually the least skilled mechanic gets to work on it. Do you want this?

2nd, My 'free' maintenance meant I got 1 oil change every 12,000 miles or once a year until the 3 years were up and it included very little by way of 'maintenance'

VW Used to do 2 year free maintenance and all that meant was the 1st oil change at 5000 miles, another oil change at 10000 miles and the 20K service (another oil change and this time an air filter and pollen filter change) VW wouldn't even include the required 2 year brake fluid flush in their free maintenance.. BUT they don't do it any more any way! ...instead they increased their warranty period on bumper to bumper coverage


...just my .02