My wife drives the Lex (2001 ES300). She drives it very liitle. Market, church, etc. She drives less than 50 miles per week. Can you drive a car "too little" ? Are there things that I should look out for ? Specter

 

Low mileage autos should be serviced by time, rather than mileage.

Every three or four months, the oil should be changed, regardless of the mileage driven.

You could go every other change on the oil filter, if a good quality one was installed.

The rest of the fluids changed every two to three years. This includes brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid and the transmission fluid.

The air filters should be checked every three to four months, and replaced when necessary or every two years at most.

Toyota purchased replacement parts would be fine to use in the Lexus...

 

That's an excellent list... but Tammy did forget one thing to remember when owning a Lexus that has very few miles put on it...


... make sure you pm Leets as soon as you consider selling it.

 

Pretty much. All of the fluids & seals/gaskets still wear out, which still wears all the metal components out. (While a fluid doesn't "wear" without mileage, it will accumulate moisture. Where water is, oil isn't.) You also get into short drives, where the engine doesn't fully warm up. That's where most engine damage comes from. Especially if you're not doing more preventative maintenance to combat that.

 

one way to combat the possible moisture build up is to make a point to take the car on a highway run at least once every week or two weeks. Go for at least a half hour drive at highway speeds. This will also insure that the battery gets charged to capacity.

In addtion to the fluids being changed on a time basis, remember that for some of the rubber components. Drive belts, timing belts and CV boots are made of rubber and after around 5 years, the rubber will start to age and possibly crack (more so the drive belts rather than the boots and timing belt). Be sure to check these out.

steviej

 

Why time vs. mileage ? Less miles less wear and tear. Less breakdown in fluids, parts, etc. Why would one not do maintanence based on time vs. milage ? Seems logical. Specter

 

Time plays a role in wearing down things.

 

Ain't that the truth... If it is true for us I guess true for cars.

Specter

 

fluid that aren't moved around or heated up will maintain moisture and acid build up. When these fluid just sit there they will contribute to the breakdown of the engine from the inside out.

This is the exact reason why most motorcycle owners who store their bike for the winter will drain and fill it with brand new oil rather than let it sit with the used oil in it. The brand new oil is clean and contains way less destructive acids.

steviej