My Rx 400h owners manual says change oil every 5000 miles but lexus website says this:

"Determining The Proper Maintenance Interval

Your Lexus should receive scheduled maintenance every 5,000 to 7,500 miles (or every 4 to 6 months), depending on your circumstances and driving habits.

5,000-Mile Or 4-Month Intervals

Use 5,000-mile or 4-month intervals if you primarily drive your Lexus under any of the following conditions: - Driving on unpaved or dusty roads
- Towing a trailer or using a camper or cartop carrier
- Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below freezing

7,500-Mile Or 6-Month Intervals

Use 7,500-mile or 6-month intervals if you primarily drive your Lexus under conditions less strenuous than those listed above."

source: http://www.lexus.com/models/warranty_vehicle_protection/maintenance.html

Now I don't drive on dusty roads or tow anything or make repeated trips less than 5 miles in temps below freezing. So what do I follow? My owners manual or their website?

Lexus service is not cheap and I don't want to pay 50% extra (because of more frequent visits) if I don't have to.

Any suggesstions?

btw, how much does it cost for a scheduled maintenance at a Lexus dealership? I have no idea as I haven't put on that many miles yet.

 

As a former Lexus owner, I can say scheduled maintenance at Lexus costs A LOT, at least at my local dealership. When I owned mine, the first "minor service" (i.e, oil change) was included at no charge...don't know if they still do that or not. Subsquent "minor service" vists were around $250, which included an oil change & "checking" various fluid levels, etc.

What I learned was the key thing to ask for was just a "Lube, Oil & Filter". Their charge for this modest service: $50. Still, twice as much as the local Toyota dealer though.

Of course, YMMV with your local dealership...perhaps some are more reasonable than others.

 

Thanks for replying. What about the service frequency? How often did you get it serviced and what do you suggest for me...5k or 7.5k?

 

If you have a garage or other space it's incredibly simple, and cheap to DYI. It'll cost you about 30 on oil/filter and 12 for a catch pan.