Gs300 Servicing Questions

[Damo]

Hi everyone!

I've loads of questions re servicing my GS300 if anyone can help?

It's just about due her 100k servie (Full LSH to 89k) and I'll be doing it myself and from searching the net I'm fairly confused as to what parts, etc. to use.

She's a late 00 facelift and t/b was done @ 69k nearly 4 years ago so I reckon t/b should be okay 'till next year (Not mileage based but age & perishing)?

89k service was basically check, oil/filter + brake pads so what I'm planning on doing is changing oil & oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, cabin filter, petrol cap (Have intermittant CEL which mostly goes off when I tighten petrol cap and restart) and I'm not sure what else.

I'm not doing it myself to save money - I just prefer doing things myself - so I want to buy the best parts/fluids, etc.

So here's all my questions:

What is the best oil & filter to get? I presume just genuine toyota/lexus filter but which oil?

Any recommendations on air filter, guessing just original again or k&n maybe?

Spark plugs I can't figure out - platinum or iridium? Have read loads on the net about these and very confused so would appreciate help!

What about ATF? Sticker on dip stick says it's life time fluid under normal use, is this true or should I look at changing it?

I plan to get air con serviced too but that's a specialist job as far as I'm concerned so will take to dealer for that, gonna wait to change coolant when I get t/b done next year as I'll get water pump, etc + coolant done then. Gonna replace all calipers/disks/pads next year too so will wait to do brake fluid then.

Is there anything else I should do/check such as rear diff, fuel filter, etc.?

With all the cars I've previously owned I've gotten very mechanically familiar with them but something about owning a Lexus seems to be changing this - for example sitting in traffic the other day I realised I hadn't looked at the temp guage in over 10 mins, very strange ;-)

I love this car and plan on keeping it forever so any advice on the above questions and any other preventative maintenance I should do would be greatly appreciated!

One last question is that I'd like to get a code reader that I can hook up to a laptop - seen these ELM327 jobbies on fleabay, anyone know if they are any good and if they work with the GS300?

Sorry for the epic post, any replies will be greatly appreciated!

Damo.

[maneesh]

the ELM reader did NOT work with my 99 GS300.

[Lexusgs300sport]

So many questions.I serviced my Gs300 sport just before i left Toyota/Lexus.I replaced the diff oil,a.t.f(you have to get the right stuff,think its dextron 5),brake fluid,spark plugs(use the ones that are ment for the car,sport is different),coolant,re-gassed air con and changed pollin fillter.i allso added prolong engine and gearbox oils,not sure how much it works but lexus and toyota both recommend it.I have a k&n air filter so did not change that.The engine oil was Castrol magnetex,diff oil is Castrol syntrax.If you are keping the car then change the lot,you know it has been done then.The gear box was much smoother after the oil change,it felt great before!.I change my pollin filler every year,it makes a big differnce.Known problems are noisy brakes from pins and slidders,if you are doing them then that sorts that issue out.Check all front ball joints out for wear,and thats really about it. :winky:

[Damo]

So many questions.I serviced my Gs300 sport just before i left Toyota/Lexus.I replaced the diff oil,a.t.f(you have to get the right stuff,think its dextron 5),brake fluid,spark plugs(use the ones that are ment for the car,sport is different),coolant,re-gassed air con and changed pollin fillter.i allso added prolong engine and gearbox oils,not sure how much it works but lexus and toyota both recommend it.I have a k&n air filter so did not change that.The engine oil was castrol magnetex,diff oil is castrol syntrax.If you are keping the car then change the lot,you know it has been done then.The gear box was much smoother after the oil change,it felt great before!.I change my pollin filler every year,it makes a big differnce.Known problems are noisy brakes from pins and slidders,if you are doing them then that sorts that issue out.Check all front ball joints out for wear,and thats really about it. :winky:

Thanks a million for the replies, much appreciated esp. as so many questions :-)

I'll take the advice and do the lot - have ball joints already done so okay there...

Time to make a list and this info is a huge help!

Thanks again.

[ColinBarber]

Air filter - use genuine or K&N drop in.

Oil filter - use genuine.

Plugs - standard is iridium, either use OEM Denso or up-rated Denso IK16s. The IK16 would have to be changed every 30k miles not the standard 60k.

ATF - pull the dipstick and look at original fluid. If nice and pink/red and smells ok then leave it. If it is red/brown and smells burnt then change however only use Toyota T-IV fluid

No need to change fuel filter.

When you fill up with fuel, tighten the cap until you get two clicks. You shouldn't get a CEL if you do that unless the cap is faulty or maybe some other air leak in the fuel system.

Any engine oil that meets the spec in the manual is fine. Semi synth is fine or fully if you want to spend the extra (Castrol Edge or Mobil 1)

If you change the coolant then use Toyota forlife red coolant.

Any OBD-II reader that works with the ISO 9141 protocol should be fine. ODBII only became a requirement in 2001 for Europe, not sure if that is why some people have problems with 1999 model. I've tried my reader on a 1998 GS and it didn't work but was fine on my facelift 2000 GS430.

[Damo]

Thanks Colin, just to update -

As per advice bought an ELM327 (which supports ISO 9141) off eBay which works like a dream (Facelift '00 GS300).

Was only 45 euro delivered and came with tons of software, if anyone wants details of eBay seller send me a PM.

Lots to learn now ;-)

Air filter - use genuine or K&N drop in.

Oil filter - use genuine.

Plugs - standard is Iridium, either use OEM Denso or up-rated Denso IK16s. The IK16 would have to be changed every 30k miles not the standard 60k.

ATF - pull the dipstick and look at original fluid. If nice and pink/red and smells ok then leave it. If it is red/brown and smells burnt then change however only use Toyota T-IV fluid

No need to change fuel filter.

When you fill up with fuel, tighten the cap until you get two clicks. You shouldn't get a CEL if you do that unless the cap is faulty or maybe some other air leak in the fuel system.

Any engine oil that meets the spec in the manual is fine. Semi synth is fine or fully if you want to spend the extra (Castrol Edge or Mobil 1)

If you change the coolant then use Toyota forlife red coolant.

Any OBD-II reader that works with the ISO 9141 protocol should be fine. ODBII only became a requirement in 2001 for Europe, not sure if that is why some people have problems with 1999 model. I've tried my reader on a 1998 GS and it didn't work but was fine on my facelift 2000 GS430.

[IrishGS300]

Hi Damo,

Just wondering, where are you buying your parts from ? I've got the same ideas as you, doing the servicing myself. But I'm at a bit of a loss as to where to go for parts.

Cheers.

[Einstein]

I got my T-IV from the local toyota dealer, although they had to order it in specially, bought 10L and did a full flush.

I also got the Red longlife coolant... this costs approx £66, so beware.. they also do a pink one which is cheaper, but doesn't last as long.

I used Toyota fully synthetic oil and a genuine filter, again from the Toyota dealer, as they had the oil on special offer (£12)

I sourced the timing belt, tensioner, diff oil and other small items from a local motor factors, iridium plugs came from eBay.

I reckon the total cost for parts was around £300, and also labour cost was £300, which included regassing the A/C

Every fluid on the car was changed, all the belts, the lot..

I dread to think what the Lexus dealer would have charged, because I had every item done, even those not on the specified time schedule.

John

[Damo]

Hi Damo,

Just wondering, where are you buying your parts from ? I've got the same ideas as you, doing the servicing myself. But I'm at a bit of a loss as to where to go for parts.

Cheers.

Sorry for the delay replying but have only recently went about sourcing parts for the big service.

Much like Einstein - Some stuff from main dealer and rest motor factors and internet.

From Dealer: Toyota Semi-Synth 5L+1L was about €35, OEM Oil Filter about €12.

8L Toyota Long Life Red coolant about €45.

Pollen filter about €20 delivered off eBay (Or possibly better quality one from puravent.co.uk for about €33 delivered) - €58 from Lexus.

Denso SK20R-P11 Spark plugs from camskill.co.uk roughly €16 each delivered - €32 each from Lexus.

Air Filter - K&N drop-in off fleabay for just under €60 delivered.

Hope this helps, will update when figure out where to get the rest!

Damo.