How to change oil on a Lexus IS250

This post is on how to change the oil on a Lexus IS250 2WD. I have never liked taking my cars to those quick oil change places. And after one occasion where they pushed an overpriced air filter stating that it need to be replaced and I declined. I checked the filter and it was perfectly clean and then decided I can do this myself and save a few bucks and now exactly what work was being done on my car. The Lexus dealers want a huge amount for this service so another reason to do it yourself (DIY).

The process: First you need the all the tools and parts:

Oil pan:
Car jack and stands:
Good socket set:
Shop towels:
Gloves:
This tool is a must for the oil change - it is a oil filter wrench that fits the Toyota/Lexus housing.
Recommended oil is 5W-30 for the Lexus oil change but I usually use 5W-20 across all our vehicles (YMMV). For my model year, the 2WD needs 6.6q and the AWD 6.8q. So I plan for 7 quarts on each oil change.
 
Next I usually get the Wix filters for my model year here:
Now that you have the tools and parts, the process is pretty easy...
1) Set the parking brake!
2) Jack each side placing the car jack on the frame and place the stands.
3) Locate and remove the filter cover (3 screws).

4) Locate the drain plug and using a 15mm socket take off the plug when the drain pan is in place. Allow all the oil to drain. Usually will drain better if the car has been warmed up and oil thinned out.

5) Next I remove the filter using the tool mentioned above:

6) Allow the filter to drain and replace:

7) Reinstall filter and tighten the housing with the tool. Put drain plug back in place. Wipe off all the excess oil around the areas.
8) Now time to refill:

Again, it is just under 7 quarts depending on your model.
9) Last step is to reset the oil change meter. To do this, when the car is off, keep holding down the trip meter and push the START button. Once it flashes, you are all set for the next change.
Note: I had this happen once where the VSC light came on after the oil change. If you remove the positive battery terminal, it will reset.
Good luck on your next oil change!