blackcts

My IS220D done nothing but mostly fairly short runs and never had any problems with the dpf. When has the car last had a software update from a Lexus dealer? That's a major factor - if it hasn't had one in the last few years I'd recommend paying for it. Use C2 low ash engine oil, clean the egr valve once a year, take it for a motorway run every few weeks and I'd guarantee you will not have any problems..they are a well designed dpf system. That said I agree about the lack of a dpf light. I think you can get techstream from eBay which would monitor what you are looking for - these may be a free legit lite version..if not they are likely a pirate version. I'm not too clued in on Lexus diagnostics.

It wouldnt do any harm to change the air and fuel filter for all that they would cost (if they haven't been done in a while). I also would recommend lots of hard acceleration and high revs (once rolling) for a few weeks to see if it makes any difference. I honestly think my 220d goes well and I think they do not like being driven easy.

@is200newbie - thanks so much for all your help. The car was perfect until it went in to an indie for a service where it had 4 new brake pads replaced. The mechanic mentioned the brakes were seized at the front but managed to free them. Ever since there has been a rattling ovet rough surfaces which completely goes away with the lightest touch of the brake. One mechanic thought it was bushes (after a quick look) a second mechanic had it up on the ramp and said that I needed to get caliper mounts and bolts from lexus. I think it is too much of a coincidence that this noise only started after the pads were replaced and the fact the noise goes away when braking tells me it must be caliper related. A pain in the rear!!! Thanks again

Thanks very much! Sorry im not too mechanically minded so is it that the caliper is seized? It rattles like mad on any type of rough road. Still stops like a train though. Just had brembo pads all round and brake fluid. Mechanic mentioned fronts calipers were seized but managed to unseize them (its the drivers side front)

I've been told I need a new Caliper Mount and bolts which is about £190 including vat!!! Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do as this seems really excessive. Car is an 08 IS220d. Please help!!! Cheers

Cheers I've been told I need a new Caliper Mount and bolts which is about £190 including vat!!! Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!!

Hi all, My IS220d was just serviced by an indie at 87k and had brembo pads fitted all round with brake fluid change. The car drives and brakes superbly but since the service I have noticed a rattle from the drivers side suspension when going over any kind of rough road. At first I thought it was drop links but the mechanic said the car was 100% after the service. I had a quick look at the suspension and as far as I could tell everything looked spot on (although im not a mechanic). I then noticed applying any kind of brake pressure stops the rattling when going over bumpy roads. Any ideas? Cheers

I wouldn't worry, they all seem to do it. My replacement engine done it from new and I checked about 4 220ds on the lexus sales line and they all had evidence of spotting. As long as it's not spraying all over the engine bay and loosing lots of coolant it should be fine.

My 220d is the same, it's been fairly trouble free but all wee things at once recently

No worries, cheers might invest in that android diagnostic, can't go wrong for £2.99 in the play store

@The Dreamer - good stuff, what software do you use? Pm if you want.

That said, the D-CAT system has a 5th injector, which operates when the ECU detects a partial blockage of the dpf, so as long as the engine is at operating temp and there is plenty of diesel in the tank, the D-CAT system should sort itself out, regardless of revs. Running it at high revs would do no harm though.

@Matus - I take it you are turning on the forced regeneration option in the software then taking it for a run? In this case what you are saying is correct, you don't need a high rev run as the software is intervening to force a generation. That said for anyone that doesn't have the software, high revs will help get the car nice and hot which is always a good thing. Head lexus mechanic told me at operating temp - 2,500rpm in 4th gear is perfect for helping with a regeneration.

Aye, AFAIK c2 and c3 have the same mid saps 0.8% ash content, the only difference bring a very slight fuel economy requirement difference. I'm the C3 wouldn't do any harm to the 220, but I thought I may as well stick with the C2 as advised by lexus themselves. I used Millers which is great value and is very well regarded. But that GM stuff is incredible value, if I had a 250 I wouldn't hesitate to use it. I would be amazed if there was any real world difference in fuel economy between C2/C3.

That oil is the bargain of the decade, you'd pay that for 4 litres of Castrol Edge! I'd happily use it myself only the diesel needs a C2 spec oil. Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Oh and you will need 6.3 litres!! of engine oil!

Argento, regarding oil the IS250 isnt too fussy, the handbook recommends 5w30 as a grade, so take your pick of brands. I think John on here used GM (General Motors) 5w30 FS Dexos 2, which was around £20 for 5 litres (I'm sure he will on to confirm) which is a bargain and will do the job just as well as Castrol etc IMO. I used Millers and their premium choice is XF Longlife ECO 5w30 and their budget oil is Trident Longlife 5w30, both will do the job, but any decent brand will be great. I used a genuine lexus oil filter which was about a tenner delivered from one of the Lexus dealers on ebay. Any reputable brand of air and cabin filter will do the job just fine, Blueprint, Bosch or Mann etc.

I'd get it stuck on a diagnostics machine, most indies should have equipment that would read values. Could be a batch of bad diesel, you never know how it's stored. Did you use a genuine fuel filter? Probably not that but you never know.

Totally agree with the above - all the diesel needs extra is a fuel filter, granted it's not as reliable as the petrol, but a search round other manufacturers diesel problems would scare you, apart from the HG issue which they stand over. Don't see any other manufacturer doing that. Off the top of my head, 4yr service for an IS250 is oil, oil filter, air filter and brake fluid change. Use the GM 5w30 as recommended on here or Millers. I'm nearly sure the brake fluid needed is DOT3, but check in the handbook. Buy a genuine oil filter from eBay and a decent brand air filter, such as Mann or Blueprint they don't matter as much.

Surely if you bought the best parts and oils and brought them to an indie who knows what they are at, it would cost a fraction of the prices above. Can't understand why it's so expensive, it's not like a timing belt has to be changed or anything. Genuine Lexus parts can be bought on ebay from dealers at fairly reasonable prices. The right grade of oil and brake fluid can be purchased from any motor factors.

08 Is220d, around 75k, new 3/4 engine and software update about 15k miles ago. Had oil and filter changed about 500 miles ago, oil used was Millers Premium 5w30 C2 and genuine lexus oil filter. Car took 3 attempts to start (it was showing 24 miles to empty) then the message 'oil maintanance required' flashed up and disappeared. Filled it up with diesel and again it took 3 attempts to start and the same 'oil maintanance required' flashed up. Car has been fine since. Oil level is ok, possibly very fractionally over the full mark. Noticed a bit of white smoke when it was cold last week, went away when warm and took it a run in case it was a dpf regen. Any ideas where to start? Fuel filter was changed last year (genuine) and it's been well serviced. Its done more short journeys recently than normal. Due to the nature of the 5th injector I wouldn't imagine it would dump diesel in the sump like the mazdas? Cheers

I have never touched under the bonnet apart from topping up oil - is there an easy way to remove the clips without breaking them? Cheers

Out of curiosity - what are the clutch and gearbox problems? As regards the engine and head gasket problems - I would be wary of one that hasn't had the engine replaced (you can check with dealer) Other than that, they are no less reliable than any other modern diesel IMO. EGR and DPF problems are common among all manufacturers.

Just read the handbook and it seems that the air filter is an inspection at major service. The air filter was replaced at lexus at 1.5 years ago. The air filter replacement is 4yrs/40,000 miles!!! That could explain why the genuine lexus air filter is so expensive, it must be up to the job to last that service interval. I'm in 2 minds to replace now, I'm a big believer in servicing with proper parts but at the same time there is no point replacing something that isn't due.

Probably about just slightly over a litre over 6,000 miles. I think there is about 12,000 miles on the replacement 3/4 engine. Shell Helix Ultra Extra 5w30 was used at last service.