LexusSC4302008Overview/lexus/sc430/2008/base/

2008 Lexus SC430

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 SC430.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2008 Lexus SC430 is a passenger car that uses an engine requiring 5.5 qt of 5W‑30 API oil and is mated to an Automatic (S6) transmission, achieving EPA fuel‑economy ratings of 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined. Owner complaint records show a total of five reports for the model year, the lowest figure across the 20022010 production range, with air‑bag issues identified as the primary complaint area and three recalls issued. Consequently, the 2008 model marks the most reliable point in the SC430’s history, though it still carries a modest level of reported concerns.

Model year201020092008200720062005200420032002

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/23/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZD3. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turn3OEM · verified
Tire size245-40ZR18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZD3
Engine air filter1780150060
Fuel filter233000A020
Spark plug9008091180
Front wiper blades8521253081 alt 8522224110
Serpentine belt99366H2230
Thermostat9091603138 alt 1634650010
Cabin air filter8713950030

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 23 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity1.4
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts181 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub213 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)750 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Timing8-12, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.88-1.01 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Residual Pressure21.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance3-100 Motor ohms
Engine Compression142-178 PSI. 14 Maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure43 psi @ Idle, 43-85 psi @ 3000 rpm psi

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs / 87 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.26 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.26 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.181 in / 0.413 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
13 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9 ft. lbs., Step 3: 12 ft. lbs.3 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9018 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
136 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9036 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 Lexus SC430 sits at the bottom of a declining trend in federal complaints, dropping from 52 in 2002 to just 5 in 2008, while recalls fell from 4 in the early years to 3 in 2008, matching the consistent three recalls seen in 20062009. Investigations also decreased steadily, falling from 3 in 2002 to 1 in 2008, and the number of technical service bulletins rose modestly from 85 in 2004 to 108 in 2008, suggesting ongoing manufacturer attention. In 2008, the most frequent complaint areas were air bags (4) and structure (1), with no reported crash or fire complaints, indicating a relatively clean safety record for that year. Compared to the 2007 spike in complaints (18) and the subsequent zero complaints in 2009, 2008 represents a clear low point in the generation’s issue arc. Thus, a 2008 model year is a solid choice for buyers seeking a period of reduced reported problems within the SC430 lineup.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
108
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
5
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 5 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Air Bags4
Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V741000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 17/10/2019

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 108 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
L-SB-0030-24 Rev22025-12-15StructureSome 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev12024-07-29StructureSome 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev12024-07-29StructureSome 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0030-242024-06-21StructureSome 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0030-242024-06-21StructureSome 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific SC430. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 SC430 take?

5.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 SC430 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the SC430 get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined mpg.