Sd2515

I was just gifted w/an '07 w/69k on it. It has the melting dash & had conventional oil changes every 3k miles. Can someone recommend a good dash cover as there's many to chose from & should I switch to Synthetic? If conventional is still suggested, should I keep that 3k interval? Also, Any other advice would be appreciated..Thanks!

ESh

First of all, congrats on zour new ride.

I think the 3000 OCI is too short, you can go 5000 miles easly on ful synth (TGMO or Mobil 1 5W30).
I would check the VVTi hose and also do a full maintanance (engine oil, all the filters, tranny oil, coolant, brake fluid...). Also, I would replace the whole dash, it is not too expensive.

Clutchless

Do a search here on Dash Covers. Mostly just select one that looks good to you for the price and has some decent reviews.
It is way to expensive to replace the entire dash assembly, save your money for more important maintenance.

What he said on maintenance, especially getting that transmission fluid changed as it is a weak area. You can try both Toyota and Lexus dealers as this is a Camry under the hood. Some dealers will do it and some will say it should never be changed. If you want it to run for over 100,000 miles on the original transmission, then change the fluid now. Prices vary, so shop around. The procedure is complicated so expect a cost of $200 to $300.

A 5000 mile oil change is very safe as Lexus calls for 10,000.

Brake fluid should be changed every 3 years as it absorbs moisture, also service the brake caliper slide pins as they get sticky over time leading to a locked caliper.

Coolant is good for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

In fact getting the whole vehicle inspected by a good independent Toyota/Lexus specialist is a good idea. Do not go to a dealer except maybe for the transmission fluid change. They will make up stuff to repair and rob you. Do the transmission after the other stuff has been inspected and maintained so you can easily identify their lies.

Enjoy the new to you ride.

Also check your cabin air filter as they are often ignored. There are many youtube videos and it only takes 3 minutes to do yourself once you know how. Most Toyota/Lexus cars have the same cabin filter and access way through the glove box.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

I recommend 5000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first, with full synthetic high mileage oil. High mileage oil has additives that helps keep oil seals supple to prevent leaks. I’ve been using AmazonBasic oil for over a year on 4 different Lexus cars. Time is just as important as mileage when it comes to fluids.

Dash pad - I have no experience with them. If it was me I would DIY a whole dash replacement but I’m very mechanically inclined and very experienced.

+1 on ATF replacement. You’re at a good mileage to get it done before it’s too late.

AA2016

I bought a black carpet style dash mat over five years ago from eBay for under $40 and I still have it on. Black is the best because it reduces the glare by not reflecting the light that hits it. If you want to take things up a notch, a company called Cover Lay sells a plastic dash cover that you glue on which gives it a better look, but it is in the 300-dollar range. You can find YouTube videos on it. The switch to synthetic oil is a debated subject. I use conventional on mine since it is an old engine and I want to keep it consistent with how it was maintained. It can’t harm anything changing it at 3k intervals, but the max I push it on mine is 5k.

tolian21

I recently sent used oil to analysis, it was Mobil1 5w-30 EP. 11 month in use with 10k miles on it, mostly city driving!. The oil was still good, 2.7 TBN. These engines are very easy on oil. 10k is no brainer, I was also worried about it and finally did UOA to have a peace of mind. 110k on car, only seen Pennzoil and and Mobil1 EP since new.

ESh

Mine is almost at 140000 miles, runs like new. Until 100000 miles I used M1 or TGMO 5W30 10000 miles OCI, but since then I dropped to 5000 OCI. I plan to keep it long.

June1978

I bought this:


Not the best looking but I got use to it and it does the job. I got tired of the glare from the top of the instrument cluster. In the beginning i thought about cutting in down the middle and just covering the left side of the car/top of the instrument cluster but again I learned to just deal with it

Oh yea- you may experience shift flare in the morning when the car is cold. Goes away after 5-10 minutes of driving. if you go to the toyota/lexus dealer for the tranny fluid change, have them check for a software update. This resolved the shift flare for my 07. You should do this software update regardless IMO (if available/needed)