I have a 2007 460, and several months ago, I started to notice that the engine took longer to start than usual. It got worse, and sometimes it took more than 5 seconds to start the engine. Lexus diagnosed the problem and said it was bad fuel injectors. They recommended that I only use name brand premium gas, which I already did. After the repair, it ran fine until this past week. The same problem is occurring, and it barely started today. I have had a problem with 2 different cars in the past with the same symptoms. It was always the fuel pump. Anyone else have these issues?
Thanks.

 

Did you switch fuel stations after the injector replacement? Not all "premium" fuel is created equal. We have a discount fuel retailer here, Sheetz, that has terrible fuel. Every high end dealer in the area recommends avoiding them like the plague. A couple of years ago, a municipality used them for their light-duty fleet and it trashed the fuel system in over a dozen vehicles.

I notice you're in Illinois - you've obviously been getting very cold weather there as of late. Is the vehicle garaged? Could it be starting slower because of the climate?

Just a couple of things to think about. Good luck.

 

I have a 2008 460L that experienced the same problem. The long cranking got worse and worse until I finally called the dealer. The Lexus dealer claimed that Costco Premium was the culprit but they replaced the fuel injectors about two months ago (I've owned the car since December 2007) and I haven't had a problem since. I'm now buying only Shell and BP premium. My wife's 2008 GX470 is now having the same problem but she has been buying Shell and BP for the last two months as well so not sure if the gas really matters or if it's a Lexus fuel injector problem.

 

I have been using Shell forever. Zero problems.

 

The gasoline is not a problem unless the individual local retailer is somehow adulterating the fuel in his underground tanks.

It can vary geographically, but basically all grades of gasoline have the same designated octane regardless of the brand, or off-brand, name it is sold under. This is because all that gasoline came out of the same pipeline. An individual retailer may inject their own additives at the storage facility, but the actual fuel is the same.

This is a curious problem though. I'm wondering if moisture in the fuel lines may be the culprit. AceVA has a good point.

 

My prediction, it's your starter.

 

I had this longer cranking problem on my IS300 when I use either BP or Costco. Costco gas in my region comes from BP. The long cranking problems only occurs during winter around 30-45 degrees F ambient.

Shell gas does this on occassion also. Again only during those temperatures. I don't have this problem when I run Mobil Gas.

I think it has to do with different winter gas composition pretaining to volatility, which is how easily they evaporate. In winter, if the fuel is too "heavy", it is harder to evaporate hence leading to a leaner condition for starting.

I speculate this may not occur on all cars because some cars may run slightly leaner than others, due to tolerance variation in O2 sensors or M/A sensors.

If you are still having problem, go with Mobil, Phillip 66, or anything other than Shell or BP.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

I always run BP 93 octane and have never had this problem...

Craig