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Lexus RC F (2022 year). Manual in english - page 15

247

6-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)

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6-2.Matte paint care guide (if equipped)

Illustrations in this manual are simplified for explanation and may not represent the actual
vehicle.

Top coat (clear): A transparent coating which protects the lower layers of paint.
Some clear coats enhance the appearance through improved color depth or
gloss.
Top coat (base): Paint which gives the vehicle body its color.
Intermediate coat: Enhances the top coat finish and durability.
Primer: Enhances the rust resistance of steel parts of the vehicle body. Primer is
also applied to the inner side of vehicle body and structural components.

Basic knowledge about matte clear coat

The body of a vehicle is painted with layers of several different coatings to
enhance its durability and appearance. The top layer is called a clear coat.

Unlike a normal clear coat, which enhances the glossy appearance of the base
paint, matte clear coat gives the base paint a non-glossy finish with a unique
texture.

In order to ensure the longevity of the matte clear coat and its texture, special
care must be taken when cleaning the vehicle.

Basic paint structure

B
C
D

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6-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)



Normal clear coat



Cross section

Light
Clear
Base



Enlarged surface



Matte clear coat



Cross section

Light

Matting agent
Clear
Base



Enlarged surface

Illustrations in this manual are simpli-
fied for explanation and may not repre-
sent the actual vehicle.
Glossiness of a surface is seen by the
human eyes by a difference in the
amount of light that reflects off the sur-
face.
A surface painted with normal clear
coat is flat and smooth. As the amount
of light that reflects off the surface is
large, the vehicle body will appear
glossy.
A surface painted with a matte clear
coat is slightly uneven due to the added
matting agent. As the light shining on
an uneven surface is diffused signifi-
cantly, the amount of light reflected is
small, making the vehicle body look not
glossy, with a unique texture.

Difference between general
clear coat and matte clear coat

A
B
C

B
C
D

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6-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)

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If the painted surfaces of the vehicle
are dirty, wash the vehicle immediately.
(Washing your vehicle



P.251)

Dirt

Due to the slight unevenness, matte
clear coat surfaces are more likely to
trap dirt and other foreign matter com-
pared to normal clear coat surfaces.

If dirt or foreign matter is left on the
vehicle, it may settle into the textured
surface of the matte clear coat, making
it more difficult to remove. Additionally,
as the surface of the matte clear coat
will become more flat when dirty, the
vehicle body will start to look glossy,
ruining the textured finish.
Therefore, make sure to clean the vehi-
cle regularly and not allow dirt to
remain on the vehicle for extended
periods of time.
If dirt or foreign matter is allowed to
settle and cannot be cleaned off with
normal washing, it will be necessary to
remove the dirt with the upper layer of
the textured finish and then to repaint
the entire part.
Ask your Lexus dealer for details.

■

Materials that may become difficult to

remove

The following are likely to settle into the

vehicle body and should be cleaned off

immediately.

Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior

250

6-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)

●

Rain water, sea water, and other liquids

that may cause water stains

●

Sand, pollen, volcanic ash, and other par-

ticulate matter

●

Dead insects, bird droppings, etc.

●

Sap, leaves, flowers, etc.

●

Mud, snow, anti-freezing agents, and

other road debris

●

Gasoline, engine oil, asphalt, and other

oily materials

■

Do not apply a coating to the vehicle

Do not apply a coating to the vehicle body,

as it will form a film over the painted sur-

faces, filling the matte clear coat surface,

making it more flat. As a result, it will

become more glossy, possibly permanently

losing its matte properties.

Take care in order to not damage the
painted surfaces.
When minor damage occurs to a vehi-
cle with a normal clear coat, it can be
repaired by polishing it or using touch
up paint. In contrast, a matte clear coat

cannot be repaired using these meth-
ods.
If these methods are used the uneven-
ness of the matte clear coat may be
removed or filled in. In either case, the
surface will become more flat, making

Repair of paint damage

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6-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)

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it appear more glossy, possibly perma-
nently losing its matte properties.
In order to maintain the matte finish
when repairing damage, it will be nec-
essary to repaint the entire part.



Working from top to bottom, liber-
ally apply water to the vehicle body,
wheel wells and underside of the
vehicle to remove any dirt and dust.



Wash the vehicle body using a
sponge or soft cloth, such as a
chamois.



For hard-to-remove marks, use car
wash soap and rinse thoroughly with
water.



Wipe away any water.

Washing your vehicle

Washing the vehicle by hand is rec-
ommended.

How to wash your vehicle

NOTICE

■

Avoiding damage to the painted sur-

faces

Observe the following precautions.

Otherwise, the painted surfaces of your

vehicle may be damaged and perma-

nently lose their matte properties.

●

When washing the vehicle, do not use

a brush.

●

Do not use rubbing or polishing com-

pounds (ex. scratch remover).

●

Do not rub the vehicle body.

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6-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)

■

General washing tips (



P.251)

■

If the vehicle body is dirty (



P.249)

Question: What should I do if any of the following have attached to the vehicle?

NOTICE

●

Do not attach a stickers to or vinyl

wrap the vehicle body.

●

Before attaching a magnet (sign, etc.)

to the vehicle body, make sure to wash

and thoroughly dry the area of the

vehicle body where the magnet is to

be attached.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are frequently asked questions about the matte clear coat and
their answers:

Washing the vehicle

Question

Answer

Can the vehicle be washed?

Yes. The vehicle should be washed immediately if it is dirty.

Can the vehicle be washed
frequently?

Is there anything I should be
careful about when washing
the vehicle?

Make sure to start by rinsing the entire vehicle with plenty
of water from top to bottom.

Item

Answer

Leaves, flowers, branches,
etc.

Remove immediately.
They may scratch the matte clear coat and if they are
allowed to remain on the vehicle, dirt may settle into the
matte clear coat, making it more flat. As a result, it will
become more glossy, possibly permanently losing its matte
properties.

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6-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)

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■

Vehicle washing products (



P.251)

Sand, pollen, and other par-
ticulate matter

Wash off with water immediately.
If the contaminants are allowed to remain on the vehicle,
they may settle into the matte clear coat, making it more
glossy, possibly causing it to permanently lose its matte
properties.

Asphalt (tar)

Water repellent glass coating

Remove immediately.
Even if removed, depending on the contaminant, the matte
clear coat may be damaged, possibly permanently losing its
matte properties.

Glass treatment remover

Tire cleaner

Gasoline

Oil

Washer fluid

Question

Answer

What should I use to wipe off
dirt?

Use a soft chamois cloth.

What should I use to dry the
vehicle?

Can I use a water stain
remover?

Lexus does not recommend the use of water stain remov-
ers, as they may damage the matte clear coat.

Can the vehicle be waxed?

No. Do not wax the vehicle or apply a coating to the vehicle
body, as they may cause the matte clear coat to lose its
matte texture.

Can a coating be applied to
the vehicle body?

Can I use an iron remover?

No, as it may cause the matte clear coat to lose its matte
texture

Can I use tar and pitch
remover?

No, as they may damage the matte clear coat.

Can I use a matte paint
cleaner/wax?

Lexus does not recommend the use of matte paint cleaners
or waxes, as they may cause the matte clear coat to lose its
matte texture.

Item

Answer

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6-2. Matte paint care guide (if equipped)

■

Body coatings

■

Repairing the vehicle body (



P.250)

■

Attaching accessories and other objects to the vehicle

Are there genuine Lexus
vehicle washing products
available for matte paint?

No. Use a soft chamois cloth for cleaning the vehicle body.

Are there any vehicle wash-
ing product brands that Lexus
recommends?

No. Use a soft chamois cloth for cleaning the vehicle body.

Question

Answer

Can a body coating available
at a Lexus dealer be applied?

No, as it may cause the matte clear coat to lose its matte
texture.

Can an aftermarket body
coating be applied?

Lexus does not recommend applying a coating to the vehi-
cle body, as it may cause the matte clear coat to lose its
matte texture.

Can an aftermarket body
coating designed for matte
paint be applied?

Lexus does not recommend applying a coating to the vehi-
cle body, as it may cause the matte clear coat to lose its
matte texture.

Question

Answer

Can damage to the paint be
repaired?

In order to maintain the matte finish when repairing paint
damage, it is necessary to repaint the entire part. Consult
your Lexus dealer for details.

Can I use rubbing or polish-
ing compound (ex. scratch
remover)?

No. Using a rubbing or polishing compound or touch up
paint may damage the matte clear coat. In order to maintain
the matte finish when repairing paint damage, it is neces-
sary to repaint the entire part. Consult your Lexus dealer
for details.

Can I use touch up paint?

Question

Answer

Can a sticker or vinyl wrap be
attached to the vehicle body?

No. They may damage matte clear coat when they are
installed and may cause the matte clear coat to lose its
matte texture when they are removed.

Can a magnet be attached to
the vehicle body?

Yes. Make sure to wash and thoroughly dry the area around
where the magnet is to be attached before attaching it.

Question

Answer

255

6-3. Maintenance

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6-3.Maintenance

■

Repair and replacement

It is recommended that genuine Lexus parts

be used for repairs to ensure performance

of each system. If non-Lexus parts are used

in replacement or if a repair shop other than

a Lexus dealer performs repairs, confirm

the warranty coverage.

■

Allow inspection and repairs to be per-

formed by a Lexus dealer

●

Lexus technicians are well-trained spe-

cialists and are kept up to date with the

latest service information. They are well

informed about the operations of all sys-

tems on your vehicle.

●

Keep a copy of the repair order. It proves

that the maintenance that has been per-

formed is under warranty coverage. If any

problem should arise while your vehicle is

under warranty, your Lexus dealer will

promptly take care of it.

General maintenance should be per-
formed on a daily basis. This can be
done by yourself or by a Lexus dealer.

Scheduled maintenance should be
performed at specified intervals
according to the maintenance sched-
ule.

■

Resetting the message indicating main-

tenance is required

After the required maintenance is pre-

formed according to the maintenance

schedule, please reset the message.
To reset the message, follow the procedures

described below:

Select

on the multi-information dis-

play. (



P.81)

Press the

meter control

switch on the steering wheel to select

“Vehicle Settings” then “Scheduled

Maintenance requirements

To ensure safe and economical driv-
ing, day-to-day care and regular
maintenance are essential. It is the
owner’s responsibility to perform
regular checks. Lexus recommends
the maintenance below.

WARNING

■

If your vehicle is not properly main-

tained

Improper maintenance could result in

serious damage to the vehicle and possi-

ble death or serious injury.

■

Handling of the battery

●

Engine exhaust, some of its constitu-

ents, and a wide variety of automobile

components contain or emit chemicals

known to the State of California to

cause cancer and birth defects and

other reproductive harm. Work in a

well ventilated area.

●

Oils, fuels and fluids contained in vehi-

cles as well as waste produced by

component wear contain or emit

chemicals known to the State of Cali-

fornia to cause cancer and birth

defects or other reproductive harm.

Avoid exposure and wash any affected

area immediately.

●

Battery posts, terminals and related

accessories contain lead and lead

compounds which are known to cause

brain damage. Wash your hands after

handling. (



P.269)

General maintenance

Scheduled maintenance

256

6-3. Maintenance

Maintenance”. (To confirm setting,
press .)

Select “Yes” and then press

A message will be displayed on the

multi-information display when the

reset procedure has been completed.

You can perform some maintenance
procedures by yourself.
Please be aware that do-it-yourself
maintenance may affect warranty cov-
erage.

The use of Lexus repair manuals is recom-
mended.
For details about warranty coverage, refer
to the separate “Owner’s Guide”, “War-
ranty and Service Guide”, “Owner’s Man-
ual Supplement” or “Warranty Booklet”.

Do-it-yourself maintenance

General maintenance

Listed below are the general main-
tenance items that should be per-
formed at the intervals specified in
the “Warranty and Service Guide”
or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.
It is recommended that any prob-
lem you notice should be brought to
the attention of your Lexus dealer
or qualified service shop for advice.

WARNING

■

If the engine is running

Turn the engine off and ensure that there

is adequate ventilation before perform-

ing maintenance checks.

Engine compartment

Items

Check points

Battery

Check the indicator (if
equipped) and con-
nections. (



P.269)

Brake fluid

Is the brake fluid at the
correct level?
(



P.268)

Engine coolant

Is the engine coolant at
the correct level?
(



P.267)

Engine oil

Is the engine oil at the
correct level?
(



P.265)

Exhaust system

There should not be
any fumes or strange
sounds.

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6-3. Maintenance

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Radiator and con-
denser

The radiator and con-
denser should be free
from foreign objects.
(



P.268)

Washer fluid

Is there sufficient
washer fluid?
(



P.270)

Vehicle interior

Items

Check points

Accelerator
pedal

• The accelerator

pedal should move
smoothly (without
uneven pedal effort
or catching).

Automatic trans-
mission “Park”
mechanism

• When parked on a

slope and the shift
lever is in P, is the
vehicle securely
stopped?

Brake pedal

• Does the brake

pedal move
smoothly?

• Does the brake

pedal have appro-
priate clearance
from the floor?

• Does the brake

pedal have the cor-
rect amount of free
play?

Items

Check points

Brakes

• The vehicle should

not pull to one side
when the brakes are
applied.

• The brakes should

work effectively.

• The brake pedal

should not feel
spongy.

• The brake pedal

should not get too
close to the floor
when the brakes are
applied.

Indicators/buzz-
ers

• Do the indicators

and buzzers function
properly?

Lights

• Do all the lights

come on?

Parking brake

• Does the parking

brake pedal move
smoothly?

• When parked on a

slope and the park-
ing brake is on, is the
vehicle securely
stopped?

Seat belts

• Do the seat belts

operate smoothly?

• The seat belts should

not be damaged.

Items

Check points

258

6-3. Maintenance

Seats

• Do the seat controls

operate properly?

Steering wheel

• Does the steering

wheel rotate
smoothly?

• Does the steering

wheel have the cor-
rect amount of free
play?

• There should not be

any strange sounds
coming from the
steering wheel.

Vehicle exterior

Items

Check points

Doors/trunk

• Do the doors/trunk

operate smoothly?

Engine hood

• Does the engine

hood lock system
work properly?

Fluid leaks

• There should not be

any signs of fluid
leakage after the
vehicle has been
parked.

Items

Check points

Tires

• Is the tire inflation

pressure correct?

• The tires should not

be damaged or
excessively worn.

• Have the tires been

rotated according to
the maintenance
schedule?

• The wheel nuts

should not be loose.

Windshield wip-
ers

• The wiper blades

should not show any
signs of cracking,
splitting, wear, con-
tamination or defor-
mation.

• The wiper blades

should clear the
windshield without
streaking or skip-
ping.

Items

Check points

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6-3. Maintenance

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The OBD system determines that a
problem exists somewhere in the emis-
sion control system. Your vehicle may
not pass the I/M test and may need to
be repaired. Contact your Lexus
dealer to service the vehicle.



When the battery is disconnected
or discharged

Readiness codes that are set during ordi-
nary driving are erased.Also, depending
on your driving habits, the readiness codes
may not be completely set.



When the fuel tank cap is loose

The malfunction indicator lamp comes on
indicating a temporary malfunction and
your vehicle may not pass the I/M test.

The error code in the OBD system will
not be cleared unless the vehicle is
driven 40 or more times.

Contact your Lexus dealer to prepare
the vehicle for re-testing.

Emission inspection and
maintenance (I/M) pro-
grams

Some states have vehicle emission
inspection programs which include
OBD (On Board Diagnostics)
checks. The OBD system monitors
the operation of the emission con-
trol system.

If the malfunction indicator lamp
comes on

Your vehicle may not pass the
I/M test in the following situa-
tions:

When the malfunction indicator
lamp still remains on after sev-
eral driving trips

If your vehicle does not pass the
I/M test

260

6-4. Do-it-yourself maintenance

6-4.Do-it-yourself maintenance

Do-it-yourself service pre-
cautions

If you perform maintenance by
yourself, be sure to follow the cor-
rect procedure as given in these
sections.

Maintenance

Items

Parts and tools

Battery condition
(



P.269)

• Warm water
• Baking soda
• Grease
• Conventional

wrench (for terminal
clamp bolts)

Brake fluid level
(



P.268)

• SAE J1703 or

FMVSS No.116 DOT
3 brake fluid

• SAE J1704 or

FMVSS No.116 DOT
4 brake fluid

• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for

adding brake fluid)

Engine coolant
level(



P.267)

• “Toyota Super Long

Life Coolant” or a
similar high quality
ethylene gly-
col-based non-sili-
cate, non-amine,
non-nitrite and
non-borate coolant
with long-life hybrid
organic acid tech-
nology

• For the U.S.A.:“Toy-

ota Super Long Life
Coolant” is
pre-mixed with 50%
coolant and 50%
deionized water.

• For Canada:“Toyota

Super Long Life
Coolant” is
pre-mixed with 55%
coolant and 45%
deionized water.

• Funnel (used only for

adding coolant)

Engine oil level
(



P.265)

• “Toyota Genuine

Motor Oil” or equiv-
alent

• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for

adding engine oil)

Fuses (



P.283)

• Fuse with same

amperage rating as
original

Items

Parts and tools

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6-4. Do-it-yourself maintenance

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Light bulbs
(



P.286)

• Bulb with same num-

ber and wattage rat-
ing as original

• Phillips-head screw-

driver

• Flathead screw-

driver

• Wrench

Radiator and con-
denser (



P.268)



Tire inflation pres-
sure (



P.277)

• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air

source

Washer fluid
(



P.270)

• Water or washer

fluid containing anti-
freeze (for winter
use)

• Funnel (used only for

adding water or
washer fluid)

WARNING

The engine compartment contains many

mechanisms and fluids that may move

suddenly, become hot, or become elec-

trically energized. To avoid death or seri-

ous injury, observe the following

precautions.

■

When working on the engine com-

partment

●

Keep hands, clothing and tools away

from the moving fans and engine drive

belt.

●

Be careful not to touch the engine,

radiator, exhaust manifold, etc. right

after driving as they may be hot. Oil

and other fluids may also be hot.

●

Do not leave anything that may burn

easily, such as paper and rags, in the

engine compartment.

Items

Parts and tools

●

Do not smoke, cause sparks or expose

an open flame to fuel or the battery.

Fuel and battery fumes are flammable.

●

Be extremely cautious when working

on the battery. It contains poisonous

and corrosive sulfuric acid.

■

When working near the electric cool-

ing fans or radiator grille

Be sure the engine switch is off.
With the engine switch in IGNITION

ON mode, the electric cooling fans may

automatically start to run if the air condi-

tioning is on and/or the coolant tempera-

ture is high. (



P.268)

■

Safety glasses

Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or

falling material, fluid spray, etc. from get-

ting in your eyes.

NOTICE

■

If you remove the air cleaner filter

Driving with the air cleaner filter

removed may cause excessive engine

wear due to dirt in the air.

262

6-4. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Pull the hood lock release lever.

The hood will pop up slightly.

Pull up the auxiliary catch lever and
lift the hood.

Hood

Opening the hood

WARNING

■

Pre-driving check

Check that the hood is fully closed and

locked.
If the hood is not locked properly, it may

open while the vehicle is in motion and

cause an accident, which may result in

death or serious injury.

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