2007 ES350 - Oil Change Interval

[Charles Proctor]

Lexus specifies the first oil change at 5000 miles. Is there an advantage to
changing it at 3000 miles?

Charles

["" <Curtis Newton>]

On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 03:22:15 -0400, "Charles Proctor"

Post by Charles Proctor
Lexus specifies the first oil change at 5000 miles. Is there an advantage to
changing it at 3000 miles?
Charles

Yes, more money in the dealer's pocket.

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

Post by "" <Curtis Newton>

Post by Charles Proctor
Lexus specifies the first oil change at 5000 miles. Is there an advantage to
changing it at 3000 miles?
Charles

Yes, more money in the dealer's pocket.

Who in the hell goes to a Lexus dealer for an oil change?

It's just a car, for God's sake. The $30 oil change at your local
trusty neighborhood service station is just as good for your car as is
the $140 oil change at the Lexus dealer.

[j***@hotmail.com]

The ES350 gets the same oil and filter as the Toyota 3.5L V6. That's
why Toyota strictly prohibits their Toyota service manager from taking
in Lexus. $$$$ Cha-Cha-Cha-Ching $$$$$

That said, oil degrades according to your driving pattern. If you
frequently drive local/short trips in cold weather, 3000 miles should
help the engine live a longer life; longer distances, at least in GM
cars, oils can last up to 12,000 miles.

However, Toyota lowered the 7500 mile interval to 5000 miles in 2004
because of sludge concerns. So maybe 5000 is a good number or every 6
monhts.

----------------------
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20070326/ai_n18758842

"Toyota Motor Corp. reduced its change interval from 7,500 miles to
5,000 in 2004 in part because it found that more drivers ran their
vehicles under severe stop-and-start and short trip conditions that
cause oil to deteriorate more quickly, said company spokesman Bill
Kwong."

----------------------

http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/environment/news_issues/news/simplified_maintenance_qa_040104.html

* How many miles can I expect to go between oil changes when using
this system?
The beauty of the GMOLS is that it will automatically adjust the oil
change interval based engine characteristics, driving habits and the
climate in which the vehicle is operated. For instance, mild highway
driving in a warm climate will maximize the interval between oil
changes. Depending on the vehicle, this could be in excess of 7000
miles and as high as 12,000 miles. On the other hand, short trip
driving in cold a climate may limit the oil change to 3000 miles or
less. In general, most people that drive a combination of city and
highway find that the GMOLS will indicate an oil change every 5000 to
6000 miles. Additionally, most people maintain consistent driving
habits. Therefore, their mileage between oil changes will be
consistent. Changes in climate will affect this somewhat.

Post by Elmo P. Shagnasty
Who in the hell goes to a Lexus dealer for an oil change?
It's just a car, for God's sake. The $30 oil change at your local
trusty neighborhood service station is just as good for your car as is
the $140 oil change at the Lexus dealer.

[Ray O]

Post by j***@hotmail.com
The ES350 gets the same oil and filter as the Toyota 3.5L V6. That's
why Toyota strictly prohibits their Toyota service manager from taking
in Lexus. $$$$ Cha-Cha-Cha-Ching $$$$$

Toyota does not prohibit Toyota service managers from taking in Lexus.

[j***@hotmail.com]

Or at least you can't use coupons then with Lexus? Now there is a less
expensive way to get oil changes. But then you hear all the horror
stories about Toyota techs, not that there aren't good ones you
know ;)

Post by Ray O
Toyota does not prohibit Toyota service managers from taking in Lexus.
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

[Ray O]

Post by j***@hotmail.com
Or at least you can't use coupons then with Lexus? Now there is a less
expensive way to get oil changes. But then you hear all the horror
stories about Toyota techs, not that there aren't good ones you
know ;)

Post by Ray O
Toyota does not prohibit Toyota service managers from taking in Lexus.
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

I have taken my LS 400 to the local Toyota dealer for oil changes when I
don't feel like changing it myself without any problems and paid the same
price $24.95 as they charge for an oil change for our Sequoia.

Most of the time, I change the oil in our vehicles myself.

[j***@hotmail.com]

Ok, at least some dealer flyers would print "Toyota Vehicles Only." So
at least scheduled maintenance and other coupon discounts don't apply
to Lexus then.




On Aug 18, 11:23 pm, "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom>

Post by Ray O
I have taken my LS 400 to the local Toyota dealer for oil changes when I
don't feel like changing it myself without any problems and paid the same
price $24.95 as they charge for an oil change for our Sequoia.
Most of the time, I change the oil in our vehicles myself.
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

[Ray O]

Post by j***@hotmail.com
Ok, at least some dealer flyers would print "Toyota Vehicles Only." So
at least scheduled maintenance and other coupon discounts don't apply
to Lexus then.

Oil changes are pretty easy and I would bet that the dealer would change the
oil on a Lexus. Some other operations are more involved on a Lexus because
the engine covers require more labor to get at some of the components.

[j***@hotmail.com]

So why would Lexus charge people like Elmo here $140 when their Toyota
brothers can do the same oil change for $24.95? Would you get paid 5-6
times more working at a Lexus dealer?

I know Lexus needs to make some obscene profits, but this is a bit
much isn't it?



On Aug 18, 11:23 pm, "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom>

Post by Ray O
I have taken my LS 400 to the local Toyota dealer for oil changes when I
don't feel like changing it myself without any problems and paid the same
price $24.95 as they charge for an oil change for our Sequoia.
Most of the time, I change the oil in our vehicles myself.
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

[Ray O]

Post by j***@hotmail.com
So why would Lexus charge people like Elmo here $140 when their Toyota
brothers can do the same oil change for $24.95? Would you get paid 5-6
times more working at a Lexus dealer?
I know Lexus needs to make some obscene profits, but this is a bit
much isn't it?

The extra money goes to pay for the fancy settings, bagels, and fancy
gourmet coffee. I have no particular desire to pay for that stuff myself,
so I learned how to take car of my own car. Someone who does not wish to
pay a Lexus dealer's prices to take care of their car can take car of it
himself or herself, take it to a Toyota dealer, take it to an independent
shop, or buy something other than a Lexus.

[j***@hotmail.com]

That's my point. The extra money doesn't go into the technical stuff,
and 99% of the owners don't know they are getting a $24.95 oil change
for $140.

It's just a marketing move to give the appearance that Lexus is
somehow comparable to European nameplates.


On Aug 21, 11:51 pm, "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom>

Post by Ray O
The extra money goes to pay for the fancy settings, bagels, and fancy
gourmet coffee. I have no particular desire to pay for that stuff myself,
so I learned how to take car of my own car. Someone who does not wish to
pay a Lexus dealer's prices to take care of their car can take car of it
himself or herself, take it to a Toyota dealer, take it to an independent
shop, or buy something other than a Lexus.
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

[Ray O]

Post by j***@hotmail.com
That's my point. The extra money doesn't go into the technical stuff,
and 99% of the owners don't know they are getting a $24.95 oil change
for $140.
It's just a marketing move to give the appearance that Lexus is
somehow comparable to European nameplates.

It sounds like you should stick to European nameplates - perhaps the oil
changes on Mercedes are worth the $140 that their dealers charge, their
dealers freely make copies of very TSB that applies to your vehicle, and
their TSB's include information about warranty coverage for every operation
described in the TSB? ;-)

[mcbrue]

You are all missing the point. To keep the warranty in effect, you
have to change the oil every 5000 miles and do all those other things
that are done. If you loose the warranty, sell the car at once. So it
is worth the $140 oil change and the 700 and 1400 inspections at other
than the 5,000 mile change intervals. Of course, compared to Mercedes,
the Lexus costs a LOT more to oil, grease, and get inspected. The
repair costs seem to be higher also. But there are not as many repair
costs on a Lexus. I think overall the costs will total out to a higher
percent of the car's cost, however.

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

Post by mcbrue
You are all missing the point. To keep the warranty in effect, you
have to change the oil every 5000 miles and do all those other things
that are done. If you loose the warranty, sell the car at once. So it
is worth the $140 oil change and the 700 and 1400 inspections at other
than the 5,000 mile change intervals.

Are you saying that to keep the warranty in effect, you must have the
dealer perform the scheduled maintenance?

That's simply not true.

Where did you get that idea, anyway?

[mcbrue]

To keep the warranty in effect you have to have all these little
things done. The dealer does them. Earl the Oiler does not. Simple as
that. Earl the Oiler does not know anything about the car other than
where to put the oil. If something is going wrong, and with the Lexus
it is, you have to make a separate trip to the stealership. They take
enough of your time that it is cheaper to give them their $140 and get
the whole mess taken care of at one time. I realllllllllly don't like
it, especialy as they tell me the banging screeching brakes, rough
shifting, etc are all just normal for a Lexus. At least the dratted
thing won't break down and leave me stranded - of course if it does
there is no way to communicate with anybody unless my cell phone is
working. Hmmm ... gotta go by Sears and see if they have die hard cell
phone batteries ...

[Ray O]

Post by Charles Proctor
Lexus specifies the first oil change at 5000 miles. Is there an advantage
to changing it at 3000 miles?
Charles

No, there is no advantage to changing it at 3,000 miles. There are others
who may tell you otherwise, but the folks who built your car are pretty
knowledgeable about it so it is usually safe to follow factory
recommendations.

The one big exception is changing brake fluid every other brake pad change.
There is no factory recommendation for replacing brake fluid, but in my
experience, you will not experience internal caliper problems if you change
the fluid every so often.

[j***@hotmail.com]

Got a ES350? That car is being investigated by the Feds on sudden
acceleration:

"Federal regulators have stepped up an investigation into 98,454 Lexus
ES 350 sedans after amassing 40 reports of unintended acceleration,
including eight crashes and 12 injuries, along with cases in which
drivers said their cars stopped only after an accident."

Full article:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070815/BUSINESS01/708150373

Post by Charles Proctor
Lexus specifies the first oil change at 5000 miles. Is there an advantage to
changing it at 3000 miles?
Charles

[Larry Rogers]

".... One driver told the agency the vehicle had hit speeds of 100 m.p.h.
over a 6-mile stretch of freeway ..."

Switch it off !!!! These cars do come with an On/Off switch, don't they?

".... NHTSA found an all-season floor mat that Lexus sold as an option in a
majority of the cases it reviewed. The rubber mat was sold as a replacement
for the standard mats and should be secured by clips to the car's carpet. If
left unclipped and installed over the regular mats, it can slide under the
accelerator pedal...."

So now it's floor mats. Used to be this happened in a parking lot when the
car was started. The crash always had three conditions in common.... the car
was "new" to the driver, it was a woman driver, and she was wearing
high-healed shoes. They always insisted they were pushing the brake even
though the car kept going forward. The harder they pushed on the "brake",
the faster the car went. This all went away when the car makers put a switch
on the brake.... you can't shift out of park unless you mash the brake
pedal. Suddenly all of those parking lot crashes disappeared.

I guess now they will outlaw after-market floor mats.

Larry
In the back yard, under the oak.

[mcbrue]

So let me get this straight - the ES350 won't go anywhere when you
step on the gas, at least not in a hurry, and the big cement truck
rushing down the hill at you will crush the ES because it can't get
started. But once it gets started, you can't stop it. Or perhaps it
will start itself. And this all seems to be caused by dripping oil on
the second hand or after market floor mats that have been installed
under your brake pedal and accelerator. But not to worry unless you
are a woman, or a man in drag with high heels. Ohhh Kay! Got it! And I
have to change the oil every 5000 miles because otherwise the engine
gets all gunked up, but some British Motor Works (or some such brand)
cars have all their maintance costs paid for the first 50,000 miles
and they don't even have to worry about gunky motors, delayed take
offs, or slippery floor mats! Darn - and I thought those old Cherman
Kars vas veird !

mcbrue down by the river in the trailer under the bridge klipping kar
kudzu

[j***@hotmail.com]

Now that you mentioned it, Bayerische Motoren Werke drivers seem to
like to speed on the highways and stop on a dime. I personally don't
know anyone who complained at one of those doesn't go fast enough or
can't stop quickly enough. Yeah, really veird!!

Then again, if I can afford a Bayerische Motoren Werke product I
wouldn't be driving a Toy.

Post by mcbrue
So let me get this straight - the ES350 won't go anywhere when you
step on the gas, at least not in a hurry, and the big cement truck
rushing down the hill at you will crush the ES because it can't get
started. But once it gets started, you can't stop it. Or perhaps it
will start itself. And this all seems to be caused by dripping oil on
the second hand or after market floor mats that have been installed
under your brake pedal and accelerator. But not to worry unless you
are a woman, or a man in drag with high heels. Ohhh Kay! Got it! And I
have to change the oil every 5000 miles because otherwise the engine
gets all gunked up, but some British Motor Works (or some such brand)
cars have all their maintance costs paid for the first 50,000 miles
and they don't even have to worry about gunky motors, delayed take
offs, or slippery floor mats! Darn - and I thought those old Cherman
Kars vas veird !
mcbrue down by the river in the trailer under the bridge klipping kar
kudzu

[j***@hotmail.com]

Post by Larry Rogers
Switch it off !!!! These cars do come with an On/Off switch, don't they?

But the problem with the On/Off switch is that it takes 3 seconds to
turn off! But as you said women drivers don't read manuals ;-)
Actually push-button switch has been around for a long time, but who
else has the sudden acceleration problem with those?

Post by Larry Rogers
".... NHTSA found an all-season floor mat that Lexus sold as an option in a
majority of the cases it reviewed. The rubber mat was sold as a replacement
for the standard mats and should be secured by clips to the car's carpet. If
left unclipped and installed over the regular mats, it can slide under the
accelerator pedal...."

So there is no problem with Camry V6 XLE? The poor must be smarter ;)
These two cars share the same engineering and engine. Now wouldn't
floor mats sometimes jam the pedal so you can't accelerate? Anyone
reported that?

Guess we'll just wait and see. Feds upgraded this to an engineering
analysis.