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

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6

6-1. Maintenance and care

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

Wipe it off with a soft cloth damp-
ened with neutral detergent diluted 
to approximately 1%.



Wring out any excess water from 
the cloth and thoroughly wipe off 
remaining traces of detergent and 
water.

It is recommended that regular mainte-
nance should be performed for areas 
that are frequently touched to maintain 
quality.

■

Routine maintenance

This maintenance is most effective if 
performed regularly (around once per 
month).

1

Soak a cloth in lukewarm water 
(approximately 40°C [104°F]), 
wring it out thoroughly and then 
wipe the entire body.

Wipe carefully so that the pile is not dishev-

eled. Be sure to prepare a clean cloth. 

Once you have wiped the part with the 

cloth, rinse it until it is completely clean 

before using the cloth again.

2

Once it has dried, use a lint brush 
or the like to comb the pile.

■

When cleaning the artificial 
leather (Alcantara®)



If liquid is spilled onto the surface, 
apply tissue paper or the like to 
absorb the liquid.



If any substance such as mud or cof-

fee dries and becomes stuck to the 
surface, use a lint brush or the like to 
lightly brush the dirty area and 
remove the substance. Then, it is 
recommended to clean the dried 
substance from the surface using a 
vacuum cleaner.



For oil-based substances, use a dry 
cloth or tissue paper to wipe off the 
substance as much as possible, 
while being careful not to spread it.

If the substance still cannot be 
removed, use the following procedure 
to remove it.

1

Liquid substances: Soak a cloth in 
lukewarm water (approximately 
40°C [104°F]), wring itout thor-
oughly and then wipe the dirty area 
from the outside inward.

Wipe carefully so that the pile is not dishev-

eled. Be sure to prepare a clean cloth and 

use the clean portion of it to clean the sur-

face.
Oil-based substances: Dab a cloth soaked 

in benzene, lukewarm water or pure ethyl 

alcohol (for drinking) within the dirty area 

from the outside inward, and then dab a 

dry cloth on the dirty area to absorb the 

substance.

2

If the pile on the surface is disheve-
led, use a lint brush or the like to 
lightly brush the surface, and then 
allow the surface to dry completely.

■

To remove substances adhered to 
the pile

To clean dust or other adhered sub-
stances, use a lint brush or the like to 
lightly brush the area and remove the 
substance. If the substance still cannot 

Cleaning the artificial leather 
(Alcantara

®*

) areas (if 

equipped)

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6-1. Maintenance and care

be removed, use adhesive tape to 
remove it.

*

: Alcantara

®

 is a registered trademark of 

Alcantara S.p.A.

NOTICE

■

When driving

Areas that are frequently touched are 

more likely to attract dirt. Ensure that 

your hands are clean before touching 

anything.

■

To prevent damage to artificial 

leather (Alcantara®)

Observe the following precautions to 

avoid damage to and deterioration of 

artificial leather (Alcantara®):

●

Do not apply excessive force

●

Do not dig your nails into it

●

Do not rub it with your hands

●

Do not touch it if your hands are dirty

■

When using adhesive tape

If a strong adhesive tape is used, there is 

a possibility that the surface of the carpet 

could be damaged.

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6

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

A

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

A
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.261)

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 any authorized Lexus retailer or 
Lexus authorized repairer, or any relia-
ble repairer for details.

Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior

A

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

■

Materials that may become difficult to 

remove

The following are likely to settle into the 

vehicle body and should be cleaned off 

immediately.

●

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 

Repair of paint damage

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removed or filled in. In either case, the 
surface will become more flat, making 
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.261)

■

If the vehicle body is dirty (



P.259)

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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■

Vehicle washing products (



P.261)

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.260)

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 
any authorized Lexus retailer or Lexus authorized repairer, 
or any reliable repairer.

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 any authorized 
Lexus retailer or Lexus authorized repairer, or any reliable 
repairer.

Can I use touch up paint?

Question

Answer

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■

Attaching accessories and other objects to the vehicle

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.

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6-3. Maintenance

6-3.Maintenance

■

Where to go for maintenance service?

In order to maintain your vehicle in the best 

possible condition, Lexus recommends that 

maintenance service operations as well as 

other inspections and repairs be carried out 

by authorized Lexus retailers or Lexus 

authorized repairers, or any reliable repair-

ers. For repairs and services covered by 

your warranty, please visit an authorized 

Lexus retailer or repairer, who will use gen-

uine Lexus parts in repairing any difficulties 

you may encounter. There can also be 

advantages in utilizing authorized Lexus 

retailers or repairers for non-warranty 

repairs and services, as members of the 

Lexus network will be able to expertly assist 

you with any difficulties you may encounter.
Your Lexus retailer or Lexus authorized 

repairer, or any reliable repairer will per-

form all of the scheduled maintenance on 

your vehicle reliably and economically due 

to their experience with Lexus vehicles.

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

For details about maintenance items and 
schedules, refer to the “Lexus Service 
Booklet” or “Lexus Warranty Booklet”.

What about do-it-yourself mainte-
nance?

Many of the maintenance items are easy to 
do yourself if you have a little mechanical 
ability and a few basic automotive tools.
Note, however, that some maintenance 
tasks require special tools and skills. These 
are best performed by qualified techni-
cians. Even if you’re an experienced 
do-it-yourself mechanic, we recommend 
that repairs and maintenance be con-
ducted by any authorized Lexus retailer or 
Lexus authorized repairer, or any reliable 
repairer. Any authorized Lexus dealer or 
repairer will keep a record of maintenance, 
which could be useful should you ever 
require Warranty Service. Should you 
choose to select a qualified and equipped 
professional other than an authorized 
Lexus repairer to service or maintain your 
vehicle, we recommend that you request 
that a record of maintenance be kept.

■

Does your vehicle need repairs?

Be on the alert for changes in performance 

and sounds, and visual tip-offs that indicate 

service is needed. Some important clues 

are:

●

Engine missing, stumbling or pinging

Maintenance requirements

To ensure safe and economical driv-
ing, day-to-day care and regular 
maintenance are essential. 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

Battery posts, terminals and related 

accessories contain lead and lead com-

pounds which are known to cause brain 

damage. Wash your hands after han-

dling. (



P.276)

Scheduled maintenance

Do-it-yourself maintenance

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6-3. Maintenance

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●

Appreciable loss of power

●

Strange engine noises

●

A fluid leak under the vehicle (However, 

water dripping from the air conditioning 

system after use is normal.)

●

Change in exhaust sound (This may indi-

cate a dangerous carbon monoxide leak. 

Drive with the windows open and have 

the exhaust system checked immedi-

ately.)

●

Flat-looking tires, excessive tire squeal 

when cornering, uneven tire wear

●

Vehicle pulls to one side when driven 

straight on a level road

●

Strange noises related to suspension 

movement

●

Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feel-

ing brake pedal, pedal almost touches the 

floor, vehicle pulls to one side when brak-

ing

●

Engine coolant temperature continually 

higher than normal (



P.70)

If you notice any of these clues, take your 

vehicle to any authorized Lexus retailer or 

Lexus authorized repairer, or any reliable 

repairer as soon as possible. Your vehicle 

may need adjustment or repair.

268

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.276)

• Warm  water
• Baking  soda
• Grease
• Conventional 

wrench (for terminal 
clamp bolts)

• Distilled water

Engine coolant 
level(



P.275)

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

• Funnel (used only for 

adding coolant)

Engine oil level 
(



P.273)

• “Toyota  Genuine 

Motor Oil” or equiv-
alent

• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel  (used  only  for 

adding engine oil)

Fuses (



P.291)

• Fuse  with  same 

amperage rating as 
original

Light bulbs 
(



P.294)

• Bulb  with  same  num-

ber and wattage rat-
ing as original

• Phillips-head screw-

driver

• Flathead  screw-

driver

• Wrench

Radiator and con-
denser (



P.276)



Tire inflation pres-
sure (



P.285)

• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air 

source

Washer fluid 
(



P.278)

• 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

Items

Parts and tools

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WARNING

●

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.

●

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.

●

Take care because brake fluid can 

harm your hands or eyes and damage 

painted surfaces. If fluid gets on your 

hands or in your eyes, flush the 

affected area with clean water imme-

diately.

If you still experience discomfort, consult 

a doctor.

■

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.276)

■

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.

■

If the fluid level is low or high

It is normal for the brake fluid level to go 

down slightly as the brake pads wear or 

when the fluid level in the accumulator is 

high.
If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, it 

may indicate a serious problem.

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6-4. Do-it-yourself maintenance

1

Pull the hood lock release lever.

The hood will pop up slightly.

2

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.