Project Lexus IS 250
PART TWO: Martyn Knowles lifts the lid on his toolbox and gets stuck into servicing the V6 engine, as well as performing other checks.
The Editor looking keen before starting the service on the IS – with many new parts from our project sponsor Blue Print. First, four engine covers were removed, including the one located on top of the slam panel. I'm thankful to my local garage – Vasstechnik – who allowed me to use a two-post ramp to make the task of taking pictures that much easier. Oh, and to use some of their tools and expertise. Find them here: vasstechnik.co.uk
I've never worked on any Lexus before. After completing this service on the 2.5 V6, I realise now that these cars are so well put together with quality components from the factory that 13 years on, have weathered well. Take the 10mm bolts holding the engine undertray – they all came undone easily and went back on afterwards without fuss. There is very little rust around the car, just some surface rust both sides near the rear diff. Quite a bit different to the underside of our 2010 Mondeo project that this car replaces.
The sump plug and oil filter are within easy reach. The undertray doesn't need to be disturbed to tackle this job – just open a flap in the tray to release the oil filter. One job I wasn't looking forward to was removing the spark plugs. In the V6 formation, bank 1 (left looking at the engine from the front) holds cylinders 1, 3 and 5, while bank 2 has 2, 4 and 6. Reaching the spark plugs on bank 1 is OK, but to get to the plugs on bank 2 requires that the inlet manifold is undone and removed from the engine. In fact, the job isn't that bad, but as you will read in the photo captions I did have to remove the manifold twice!
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Engine coolant was changed at the last main dealer service according to the history file (14,000 miles ago), but... as the radiator has a drain tap, it is so easy to drop some out and replenish. Just three litres of coolant came out, the full system from factory holds 9.1 litres. In fact, when annually renewing the oil, you may as well drop coolant out at the same time, before topping up to keep it in tip-top condition.
Not shown here in the following images – I viewed front and rear brakes, checked over suspension components and did a drop test on the 12V battery.
At the end of the day (or rather two days it took me with picture taking) I was happy with the tasks completed and concluded that working on the IS is actually really straightforward.
OIL & FILTER CHAN
