Would you buy this - low oil?

[Jeff Elliott]

Hi All -

Found what appeared / appears to be the right deal on a 2021 LX570. Right color, good maintenance record at a lexus dealership, low miles, good price. Was doing my PPI and checked for the bad stuff I know about (valley plate leak, cam tower leaks, etc.) and found nothing. Then, pulled the dipstick and oil level was low... like showing on the stick but barely. While I flew in to buy the truck and drive it back, this scared me enough that I passed and flew back home. The dealership was genuinely shocked that it was low on oil - they clearly didn't check that and weren't trying to hide anything.

Now, as I'm looking for other trucks, I don't see anything that compares to this deal. I'm starting to think I should have bought it but made them buy me an extended warranty or something. So, did I make the right call or would you have bought the truck and made them change the oil on the spot?

 

[ryanCA]

It could be last oil change they put one qt less - no biggie

It could easily be cam tower oil burn that so many Tundras have - which at that point you wont even know till you drive it and see oil level being burned away …

When you dump a gf, dont have second thoughts

Have some self confidence

Plenty of LX out there - go for the next one

 

[gaijin]

Hi All -

Found what appeared / appears to be the right deal on a 2021 LX570. Right color, good maintenance record at a lexus dealership, low miles, good price. Was doing my PPI and checked for the bad stuff I know about (valley plate leak, cam tower leaks, etc.) and found nothing. Then, pulled the dipstick and oil level was low... like showing on the stick but barely. While I flew in to buy the truck and drive it back, this scared me enough that I passed and flew back home. The dealership was genuinely shocked that it was low on oil - they clearly didn't check that and weren't trying to hide anything.

Now, as I'm looking for other trucks, I don't see anything that compares to this deal. I'm starting to think I should have bought it but made them buy me an extended warranty or something. So, did I make the right call or would you have bought the truck and made them change the oil on the spot?

"Breathe in, breathe out, move on..."
-Jimmy Buffett (R.I.P.)

 

[DallasTide]

Plenty of fish in the sea on the LX side. Good call imo.

 

[gasman4u]

Good eye for detail on catching the miss of the “multi point inspection” process these cars go through. Odds are, it would have been ok. But that’s not absolute.

Agreed with others, it could’ve been fine but if ANYTHING happened regarding leaks, lube issues in the future you’d be kicking yourself for not passing.

There will be another LX. Keep looking.

 

[Sandroad]

Did they have a record of having just changed the oil? At dealers, every used vehicle I’ve ever looked at has just had a fresh oil change. These engines hold a lot, just under 8 quarts. If a marginally trained person in the service express lane left it about a quart low, I would not be surprised. All the other engines that go through there use maybe half that and they might have simply shut off the oil supply pump a quart early on a 5.7.

 

[Jeff Elliott]

Well, a week or so later and I have a line on a sub 20K mile 2018 configured as I want it. Will know more in a few days but this one, while more expensive, looks to be the better option. Thanks team for helping me have clarity on what to do here.

 

[04UZJ100]

No

 

[Jeff Elliott]

Did they have a record of having just changed the oil? At dealers, every used vehicle I’ve ever looked at has just had a fresh oil change. These engines hold a lot, just under 8 quarts. If a marginally trained person in the service express lane left it about a quart low, I would not be surprised. All the other engines that go through there use maybe half that and they might have simply shut off the oil supply pump a quart early on a 5.7.

What oil that did show on the dipstick was dark so that's a negatory on the ole oil change. If it had been clear oil I would have chalked it up to a mechanic forgetting to put that last quart in but not the case unfortunately.

 

[ryanCA]

Well, a week or so later and I have a line on a sub 20K mile 2018 configured as I want it. Will know more in a few days but this one, while more expensive, looks to be the better option. Thanks team for helping me have clarity on what to do here.

Congrats

post pics

 

[Sandroad]

What oil that did show on the dipstick was dark so that's a negatory on the ole oil change. If it had been clear oil I would have chalked it up to a mechanic forgetting to put that last quart in but not the case unfortunately.

Then probably good move to have passed on it. These engines are easy on oil so a quart low with old oil is a flag.

 

[Pads Fan]

Hi All -

Found what appeared / appears to be the right deal on a 2021 LX570. Right color, good maintenance record at a lexus dealership, low miles, good price. Was doing my PPI and checked for the bad stuff I know about (valley plate leak, cam tower leaks, etc.) and found nothing. Then, pulled the dipstick and oil level was low... like showing on the stick but barely. While I flew in to buy the truck and drive it back, this scared me enough that I passed and flew back home. The dealership was genuinely shocked that it was low on oil - they clearly didn't check that and weren't trying to hide anything.

Now, as I'm looking for other trucks, I don't see anything that compares to this deal. I'm starting to think I should have bought it but made them buy me an extended warranty or something. So, did I make the right call or would you have bought the truck and made them change the oil on the spot?

Would you be able to disclose the name/location of the dealership and more details on the LX (color, miles)? I'm about to do the same thing (fly in, buy a 21' LX). Fingers crossed the one you were looking at is not the same one I'm looking at, although might not be as big of a deal as others have said. Thank you.

 

[Jeff Elliott]

Would you be able to disclose the name/location of the dealership and more details on the LX (color, miles)? I'm about to do the same thing (fly in, buy a 21' LX). Fingers crossed the one you were looking at is not the same one I'm looking at, although might not be as big of a deal as others have said. Thank you.

Of course. It was a 2017 though so not the one you're looking for I suspect. It was this one:

2017 Lx570

 

[Jeff Elliott]

The low mile (15k) 2018 I had brought in via CarMax was too rusty for my taste so I passed on it. The guys at CarMax agreed and refunded the transfer fee which was great. Just sent a wire on a southern 2021 with low miles that I will fly in and pick up on the weekend. They put it on the lift and sent me videos so I'm confident it's all sorted. Thanks again gents for the help!

 

[stonepa]

Then probably good move to have passed on it. These engines are easy on oil so a quart low with old oil is a flag.

Depends on whether during rhe previous oil change they didn’t fill completely. The oil level would not have recovered.

Not really a good test given every oil change is an opportunity to do it wrong and no one will be able to tell.