New(old) car for my daughter(7 years on oil)

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Bought a '97 ES 300 Lexus with 159,000 miles on it.
Last oil change Dec. 2009, miles since oil change 4300 miles(in 7 years)
Sat for 2 1/2 years till I bought it a auction for $1500 last week
Oil was Castrol 5/30, new oil is Rotella T6 5/40 and a Fram XG3600 filter
Put new tires on it, old ones were from '08, on the plus side new struts and shocks in '09

I must say this car runs so smooth and quiet, passed SMOG with no high numbers.
Is there any problems on this car or engine I should look out for?

I think its a good first car for my daughter. Except the sound system kicks butt, I wish it sounded more like the radio in my old '66 Chevelle.
 
first thing to do is pull the valve covers and see what you`ve got. then udate the the new rear valve cover and pcv valve.
 
Have all the fluids changed. Make sure the brakes are flushed, look for leaks, inspect hard and rubber lines. Check suspension as rubber bushings may be getting loose. Nice first car. Hope she enjoys it and is safe.
 
How do you know the oil change history of a car you just bought at auction? Paperwork can show that oil changes did happen, but you can't prove that they didn't. And you certainly can't trust the windshield sticker - I see cars all the time where the owner's new Iffy Lube of choice is ignoring the years-old sticker.
 
Originally Posted By: lexus114
first thing to do is pull the valve covers and see what you`ve got. then udate the the new rear valve cover and pcv valve.


Pull the valve cover and have a look for sludge. I had a 98 Sienna with the same engine.

You can keep the valve covers and just replace the pcv valve. Also clean the idle air control valve and throttle body. On the Sienna the opening to the IAC was a Small hole at the 5 o clock position near the throttle body plate.

Post some pics of the condition of the valve cover.

Also find out when the timing belt was replaced. The motor is non interference so the car run it until the belt breaks if you choose.
 
Wow!
It would be interesting to learn the backstory on this vintage Lexus badged Camry.
That the car apparently runs and drives well tells you that it was probably well maintained until it was left fallow.
You already know that everything liquid should be changed.
In your climate, the brake line and structural rust problems that we see here aren't an issue.
Sounds like you got a solid deal.
Let us know how it goes with this old machine.
 
We got all the paper work after we bought the car. They only had Lexus dealers do the work on the car, first in Ontario,CA. then in Santa Rosa,CA.
$1374 for 4 strut/shock and repalce the spare tire(due to age) back in '09. Got to love dealers that look for anything to replace to make a buck. The a/c blows cold and the heater works to. I replaced the tires, changed the oil and filter and the only other thing I've had to fix is one of the window washers shot up and over the car and hit the car behind me. LOL One hole was plugged up and after I cleaned it out both streams of water now hit MY windshield. The air cleaner looks new or I should say not many miles on it, it was put in 2013 and then parked shortly there after due to illness in the family.
I will have to call the dealer to see if the timing belt was changed, my bet is it was because all of the other stuff the dealed replaced.

I think I'll run this run of Rotella 5/40 for 5k miles then switch to Pennzoil High Mileage 10/40 for 5k miles then on.

ROD
 
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OP - sounds like you got a nice car and have a good plan. A heavier oil on an older car is probably a good way to go. Especially in Cali and for a car your daughter drives and you may not get a chance to inspect on a regular basis.
 
I had a 2000 Solara. Same engine I believe. It was a potential sludger. As I recall Toyota extended the warranty in Canada against sludging on Toyotas to 7 years and on Lexi to 8 years.

You can't see anything (except for a black baffle which looks like sludge) when you look down the oil filler hole. The best way to check for sludge would be to remove the front valve cover.

I used a synthetic as it would be less prone to sludging. And changed it regularly. Mine used no oil on a diet of 5W-30. Changing the PCV valve regularly would be a good idea too.

Aside from the sludging it's a fine engine. Sounds like a great purchase.
 
Check the basics, replace the fluids and put emphasis on brakes and tires...

In all likelihood the car won't have a long life, not to be harsh, given a teenage driver. I know, I was one not too long ago and cellphones were only just gaining popularity.

Just don't go overboard... a old safe beater would be ideal till they get past that first year of driving.
 
Below I have attached the link to the Lexus Owners website, create and account and type in the VIN and it will give you every service history on the car that has been done at a dealership.

LINK
 
Go to the Lexus drivers site and put in the VIN - it will pull up any dealer service history.

At that mileage, you will need to reseal the valve covers if they have not been done already. The knock sensors are sometimes problematic on those at high mileage. Both of these jobs are about 5-6 hour in labor.

Other than that, they are solid cars.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Below I have attached the link to the Lexus Owners website, create and account and type in the VIN and it will give you every service history on the car that has been done at a dealership.

LINK


Thank's for the link, it shows the car was at the dealer a LOT. Nothing major, just about every 5000 miles for service. The T/Belt was replaced at 105k miles and they did this three times to make more HP

"DESCRIPTION: ADD ZMAX MICRO-LUBRICANT FUEL ADDITIVE TUNES YOUR COMBUSTION CHAMPER TO HELP RED ~|~ADD ZMAX MICRO-LUBRICANT FUEL ADDITIVE TUNES YOUR COMBUSTION CHAMPER TO HELP REDUCE CARBON BUILD-UP AND CAN INCREASE HORSEPOWER."

That Z-Max must be some good stuf, even Lexus says it increases HP.LOL I really like how it "tunes" your combustion chamber, in all my years of driving(46) I've never "tuned up" the combustion chamber.

Like I said this car had things done to it just to make the dealer a buck. They even took it to the dealer to get a brake light or turn signal light replaced.

Nick1994,
Again thank's for the Lexus site
ROD
 
Anyone who would actually spring for a new spare that'll never be used just like the original one would surely have had the timing belt done.
This car sounds like a very good buy for what you paid.
 
If the car does not have VVT-i, it has a non-interference engines. That means you can push it far past scheduled timing belt changes without worry.
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
If the car does not have VVT-i, it has a non-interference engines.


All 1MZ-FE are non-interference:
0N5D1CS.png
 
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