2GRFan, good to know the whole story. Everything I've ever owned has seen the full range of use. Pulling a good long hill under load is best.... and we are talking life times of 250, to 350,xxx mi being driven this way and nothing has blown up! ha!
On a side note my street bike was spotless inside compared to others. 30,000 mi and you could eat off the insides. Higher port velocities keep intake, exhaust, piston, and cylinder tops clean. All engines get three doses of Techron (yearly) and the cages get STP oil treatment. It's mainly for the flat tappet engines having high shear loads of non-roller camshafts, but the stuff sticks around after shutdown and does no harm that I can see. Bottom line is don't lug them treating them like a tractor motor and most will be fine. Well baring OEM defects like busted valve springs. I digress.

 

I have a 08 IS350 150K miles, after oil change, I drove 4000 miles and the oil level drop to low scale, It's probably burning oil. Recently, I am getting error code P0420/P0430. Can burning oil cause cat failure?

 

I've never had to chase down those issues, but after a brief search they don't seem related to oil consumption. Couldn't hurt to run some BG PN109 to help reduce consumption though.

I have experienced a sulfur smell after hard acceleration, but no CEL's. I've read it can be normal on these cars.

 

No, the P0420/P0430 is not related to oil consumption. In most cases it isn't a cat failure either, rather it is an exhaust leak, due to perforation of the Y-pipe under the heat shield.

 

Try dealing with a IS250 with Carbon build up issue. It will never be fixed. Lexus is my bit*h so I treat her like one. Stupid design flaw in the engine makes me want to "Vomit"

 

The IS-350 engine has been absolutely unchanged since 2006... an amazing testament to Lexus engineering. No wonder it sat so many years on the Wards 10-best engines list. Same with the 2UR in my IS-F. To think that after TEN whole model years after Lexus introduced the 2UR in the IS-F, the Ford Mustang will finally see similar tech in their 5.0 (DI, ~12:1 CR, Ti valves, forged internals, etc.)... kinda cute it wins a 2018 Wards 10-best award after adding tech Lexus did a full flipping decade earlier! ...mad props to Lexus!!

Anyhow, my '09 IS-350, since purchased w/56k in 2011, saw the gamut of driving types, city driving, MAJOR freeway commutes, and some track racing. She was driven hard, but well cared-for. The EPR was a revelation before selling her last May at 195k to a fellow engineer buddy.

 

Just chiming in here as a data point. 2006 IS350 at 125k miles, I top off 1 quart every 1100 miles and have been doing so since around the 90k milestone

 

 

 

I have a 2008 IS350 with, currently, just under 216K on it. Bought it used back in early September from a Lexus dealership. I had a 2000 ES300 previously. Did the first oil change at the end of January and the car had no oil in it. The low oil light came on, but I knew I was going to change it soon; I was waiting to hit five thousand miles.

I talk to the service agent at Lexus that I've been dealing with for close to ten years. He thought it was values or gaskets and would cost three grand to do; apparently, the pull the engine do the job. At that time, he said the IS, LS, and GS all start burning around a quart of oil every 1500 miles. I had been taking pictures to see what going on with the oil.

I recently had the alternator go out. I figured might as well get the oil burning fix too since they'll be taking the engine out. Apparently, he said the fix is to replace the short block. That job would run $16,000. Heck, at the price, might as well get a used ISF for just a few grand more, LOL.

I was just curious what people have found out on this issue other than it appears to be common with the engine. My car seems to be burning a higher rate for it's miles. Runs good, other than the recent alternator issue. My concern, from what my service agent says, it will eventually mess with catalytic converter, which is about a $2500. Not a major issue if it's once every ten years, but a big deal if every other year. I live in California and smog is every two years.

 

lovekeiiy, I think your service adviser is wrong in that oil consumption is going through the valves or through gaskets. The working theory in this thread is that oil is leaking through blocked oil control rings on the pistons. BG Pn 109 frees up the blockage and returns the function to the oil control rings. It's good to question how something like a special chemical could prevent and stop oil consumption but anecdotal evidence has proven it to work. Check out other Toyota's too, 2AZ, prius 1.5, etc. BG Pn109 is usually less than $15, so why not try it?

 

The first thing to find out is exactly where the oil is going. If it is leaking or if it is being burnt up within the combustion chamber. If not leaking, and truly being burnt up in the CC, then more than likely it is your piston rings are toast causing oil to travel up past the oil control rings and compression rings. Second, but less likely issue might be the valve stem seals are leaking oil from the heads, past the valve, and into the CC. To fix the piston ring issue isn't necessarily replacing the motor; but to Lexus, it's easier than removing the engine, fully disassemble it, have the bores honed, new pistons/new rings installed, the motor reassembled, and then reinstalled. I would suggest a good, used motor to replace it; many do come with a mileage/day warranty after the purchase date.

 

My 06 IS350 has 160k miles and burns about 1 quart every 1100 miles. I use Castrol GTX 5W30 syn blend. I don't see any blue smoke under normal driving, but when I floor it I can see dark grey smoke out the back which looks like normal burned fuel with some oil. I just keep oil in the trunk and top off as needed.

 

Have a 2007 IS 350.150,000 miles For the last 2 years oil guy at the lube joint was telling me that oil doesn't register on dip stick when I bring it in every 4-5000 miles. Paid mechanic $300 to check it out and he replaced a gasket and a new oil pan plug. Just took it back to lube joint. Same thing, oil light came on and dip stick dry. Really disappointed in this. Doesn't seem to blow smoke and not leaking on the driveway any more, just using oil. Considering trading in at dealer. 5 different recalls on this car and dealer is 90 miles away. Runs great but really!!! It's a "Lexus". Also have a 2002 SC430 with160,000 miles on it. Been perfect!

 

I have a 2006 gs300 with 110,000 miles on it, burns about a quart of oil every 1500 miles. Asked the lexus mechanics about it and they told me that they done a study or whatever on it and that it is normal and as long as it doesn't burn over a quart every 1,000 miles I have nothing to worry about. I told them it was BS and motors should not burn that much oil with so few miles on them and they just said well we have looked into it and there isn't any problems. I have always wanted a lexus and recently bought this with 100,000 miles on it and have been cured of ever wanting another lexus, Really nice car but with problems like that not worth it at all. Hell my 74 gmc doesn't even burn a quarter quart every 3,000 miles between oil changes, but this high dollar car does, yeah so over this.
Good luck everyone, hope your motors outlast the cars.