What happens if you do not change oil/filter on a LS430 for a very long time.

[Mikaelse]

Reason for the question is that I am contemplating taking a roadtrip to look at a LS430  that the owner says that he has not serviced much last 10 years. Filter a few times and new motoroil once.  He has probably driven 80k miles over ten years. Now at 130k total. He says motor sounds ok and does not use any oil really. 
He has kept paint and interior in good shape . 
As you might expect no cambelt , coolant , brake fluid swaps either.  

What happens to a service neglected LS430 that may have done 40k miles and 5 years on same motor oil twice?. Cool climate and driven year round.
The car is priced reasonably low and buyers seem to hesitate as you may expect. 
Is the engine bound for the scrapyard soon or could it be ok? 
Are there any LS430 specific tell tale signs too look for.  Valve tick, blue smoke, black sludge? 

Is it worth the trip?

[Barry14UK]

Strange that reportedly filter has been changed 'a few times', but the oil 'once'!  It seems to me that the owner didn't take maintenance seriously and you have to wonder whether for example brake fluid was replaced because being hydroscopic the absorbed water may have affected the braking system. and so on. Also, we don't know what other parts have been replaced which if needed might involve a lot of cash.  You could buy this very cheaply and then have to spend a lot on it on an ongoing basis.  Depending on your mileage and acceptance of this and that it may be less reliable in your ownership, you could take a punt on it if very cheap.  Personally,  I would rather pay a bit more and get one that has been well maintained, not just polished for better peace of mind.  Some years ago I was offered a quite presentable run of the mill car for free, (No it wasn't a Lexus)  However, having carefully looked at it, I calculated that to put it in good condition would cost more than the car would be worth on the market, so rejected it.  Of course there a few cars where you could spend a lot of time and money but could recover this because it is a rapidly appreciating classic but nice  though the Lexus model you are looking could be made to be be, it's very doubtful if you would get back any major expenditure you might have to spend on it.

[Malc]

15 hours ago, Mikaelse said:

Is it worth the trip?

from where to where ....... and how much is the car ?  driveable or for the trailer ?

MOTs good or ?

Have you time on your hands to play around with it and surely, surely not thinking of replacing your Ls400 

Malc

 

[runsgrateasanut]

At times, and now in particular, I've looked at the oil condition on the dipstick and thought that looks pretty good and so perhaps just a filter change is a good idea.  Daresay others will say that the oil absorbs moisture and although the colour is nothing like I can recall in the bad old days of the sixties when black was quite common looking at dipsticks at the Oasis Garage, Chelmsford,  for customers (my Sunday job as a Lad), I suppose that there could be an argument that just changing the filter is saving the Planet from excessive use of natural resources. etc,  ??? If the seller has used legit quality Filters and can send you a photo of the oil on dipstick then may still be an opportunity for a good Car?  More facts needed with of course that added pinch of Salt.

  

[Mikaelse]

Hi All. Already decided not to go look at this one. Was a 5 hour one way drive to go see it here in Sweden. Price expectation less than 3000£ 
IF I had a protected space to put it as a longer term project perhaps I would have gone to have a look....