Is200 Auto Le - Engine Oil Type

[Capt Ted Striker]

I expect this question will have been posed before but I have been unable to find an answer on the forum - my own fault I expect!!

Please can someone tell me the type of oil to use. From memory the handbook shows the grade but I gather the recommended oil is MINERAL. Is this true??

If so is there any benefit to adding synthetic oil to what is already in there on delivery?? Would synthetic oil be harmful?

In short what make/type (in the absence of TOYOTA OIL) do I buy on the forecourt that is best for my Lexy IS200 LE Auto when or if it needs some added.

Thank You

Ted

[ColinBarber]

Mineral is not the recommended. Any oil meeting the standards and grades listed in the handbook is recommended be it mineral, semi-synthetic or fully synthetic.

Personally I would go with semi-synthetic for that engine. It shouldn't need the added protection that fully synthetic gives (unless you want to give it a hard time, or don't mind spending the extra money) and I feel that 10,000 miles drain interval is too long for a mineral based oil.

[amolkarnik]

The Lexus manual states that the Oil should be of API-SJ or API-SL grade (Sl is better than SJ). I got my car in for a 10k service this weekend and supplied Castrol GTX Magnatec 0W-30 oil (£19.99 from Halfords). Its the best oil Castrol make. Alternatively the Shell Helix Ultra is a very good oil as well but about 50% dearer.