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07-30-2026LAST POST
I thought I'd share some pictures from my little canyon drive today here.

I'll keep it short and sweet. My car did absolutely fantastic with the added RC F LCA front bushings and wider PS4S tires. However, here's the bad...

This car gets way too hot when driven hard in hot weather. I didn't take a picture of my oil temperature, but I was super glad I was paying attention to it. I was in 3rd gear going about 40mph up Mt. Baldy Road before the cutoff to GMR. As I hit GMR, it is an uphill blast. I looked down at my oil temperature, and it really started to spike upwards. Sufficient to say I then laid off of it for a few minutes and it went back down. However, when I got back on it again, I could only do about 30 seconds to 1 minute blasts in 2nd gear before the oil temp spiked again.

I obviously knew these were not track ready vehicles, but I was honestly shocked at how the oil temp was spiking under hard driving. This car definitely needs aftermarket cooling if it is going to be tracked.
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25 V8 IS wrote
I thought I'd share some pictures from my little canyon drive today here.
Angeles Crest Hwy [ACH] a few days ago...
> Some S65 noise along the way...
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smokinjoe64 wrote
Angeles Crest Hwy [ACH] a few days ago...
> Some S65 noise along the way...
And every one of those beautiful BMWs have much better cooling systems too! Thanks for sharing! Am I allowed to join for one of these or is it no Lexus allowed?
25 V8 IS wrote
And every one of those beautiful BMWs have much better cooling systems too! Thanks for sharing! Am I allowed to join for one of these or is it no Lexus allowed?
25 V8 IS's user avatar25 V8 IS personally NP with ya joining a cyn run...in the back, of course - - jk :laugh:

Jus know, most all cars are AM upgraded/modified [ie tuned, suspension, brakes, etc]
Although we don't "race", cyn drives are quite spirited at times as seen in vid ;) :D
> One thread to monitor SoCal 'LA/OC' drive events
Regarding 'cooling' topic, definitely an issue on SoCal hot day cyn runs with many vehicles.
Upgraded my M3 with do88 coolers [rad, oil, PS] for heat issues sometimes present w/ e92 M3s.
smokinjoe64 wrote
25 V8 IS's user avatar25 V8 IS personally NP with ya joining a cyn run...in the back, of course - - jk :laugh:

Jus know, most all cars are AM upgraded/modified [ie tuned, suspension, brakes, etc]
Although we don't "race", cyn drives are quite spirited at times as seen in vid ;) :D
> One thread to monitor SoCal 'LA/OC' drive events
Regarding 'cooling' topic, definitely an issue on SoCal hot day cyn runs with many vehicles.
Upgraded my M3 with do88 coolers [rad, oil, PS] for heat issues sometimes present w/ e92 M3s.
You seem to know more than me about cars. Since the IS 500 is not a pure "F" car, it is missing the oil and trans cooler that come on those vehicles.

Sufficient to say, back in February when the weather was a lot cooler, I tore up Azusa Canyon and encountered 0 oil temp issues. The IS 500 engine bay is not very good at dispensing heat because it is crammed in there.
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Yeah, cooling is one of the most overlooked aspects of performance cars when on track or twisty roads. Highway pulls and such are much easier on the engine.

I had some back luck at GMR last time with a flat tire, but I really love that road and love driving it. Have you done ACH? Not as technical, much faster, and the road conditions are slightly better.
smokinjoe64 wrote
Angeles Crest Hwy [ACH] a few days ago...
> Some S65 noise along the way...
Do you guys plan on a sunset or night drive?
jmg wrote
Do you guys plan on a sunset or night drive?
Hmmm interesting...never previously considered 🤔
> Very cool clip...what day of wk, approximate timeframe/duration?
jmg wrote
Yeah, cooling is one of the most overlooked aspects of performance cars when on track or twisty roads. Highway pulls and such are much easier on the engine.

I had some back luck at GMR last time with a flat tire, but I really love that road and love driving it. Have you done ACH? Not as technical, much faster, and the road conditions are slightly better.
Yeah, I remember a few years ago I did the entire ACH from the backside (off I-15) all the way to Pasadena in my M2C. It was an awesome experience.
jmg wrote
Do you guys plan on a sunset or night drive?
Nice driving! Good job!
jmg wrote
Do you guys plan on a sunset or night drive?
jmg's user avatarjmg I'm down for it...

Reposted to regional LA/OC Cyn Run thread for broader exposure and potentially set-up a run in Aug.
Thx & great idea :thumbsup:
smokinjoe64 wrote
jmg's user avatarjmg I'm down for it...

Reposted to regional LA/OC Cyn Run thread for broader exposure and potentially set-up a run in Aug.
Thx & great idea :thumbsup:
Hell, I'm down...As long as it is cool enough for my IS 500 oil not to boil over! :lol: