When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Doing my routine check up to ensure everything is good, especially since I've been driving a bit more than usual.
I noticed some coolant around the reservoir cap and I noticed the coolant is not low, but definitely lower than my last check up.
Is this normal? Should I be concerned? Can I just top it off?
In the first pic, you can see the crusty coolant circled
in the 2nd pic you can see it's not low per say, but definitely lower than previously noticed.
Looks like the coolant is at about the low line which is okay when the engine is cool. Add some so it sits a bit above the low line if you add too much coolant will puke out the cap. If possible carefully inspect the radiator for leaks look for the same type of crusty build up. Is the crusty build up same colour as coolant? Your pic is washed out basically black and white.
How many miles? Rad failures are common same for water pump leaks.
The crusty stuff is white. I’m assuming it’s been sitting for a while. She only has 92k miles.
I wasn’t aware radiator and water pump was a common issue for the GS.
Do you know the service/replacement interval for the water pump off the top of your head?
Originally Posted by LeX2K
Looks like the coolant is at about the low line which is okay when the engine is cool. Add some so it sits a bit above the low line if you add too much coolant will puke out the cap. If possible carefully inspect the radiator for leaks look for the same type of crusty build up. Is the crusty build up same colour as coolant? Your pic is washed out basically black and white.
How many miles? Rad failures are common same for water pump leaks.
The crusty stuff is white. I’m assuming it’s been sitting for a while. She only has 92k miles.
White? Is the overflow bottle starting to break down?
I wasn’t aware radiator and water pump was a common issue for the GS.
It's common on basically every Toyota and Lexus made in the last ~15 years I do a bunch of them per year. Luckily they don't blow up out of nowhere (not that I've seen) they start to seep coolant you see the calling card of pink or red crust.
Do you know the service/replacement interval for the water pump off the top of your head?
There isn't one, wear item that gets replaced when needed.
Get a... fishing magnet ready, get the car to a place where you won't it sitting for awhile (a few hours) and where a bit of coolant on the floor won't be an issue and check whether the rad cap is still in one piece. Ask me how I know. Plenty written about it here. If you don't manage to take out all the pieces with the magnet, you'll probably need to remove the water inlet assembly (the alu manifold thing to which the rad cap, thermostat and a whole bunch of hoses attach) to get them, which is not particularly convenient.
Coolant cap is something you should replace when doing the radiator. I haven't seen one so bad that it fell apart but yea some people have been there done that. Toyota changed the cap style and build quality, quite honestly it sucks.
Won't be long before we start to see the cracked Radiators showing up with age also. In addition to other lack of Coolant service regular changes that could also effect the engine gaskets and sealers leaking.
White? Is the overflow bottle starting to break down?
It's common on basically every Toyota and Lexus made in the last ~15 years I do a bunch of them per year. Luckily they don't blow up out of nowhere (not that I've seen) they start to seep coolant you see the calling card of pink or red crust.
There isn't one, wear item that gets replaced when needed.
Yes, white. Faint pink. I'm assuming it's been there for a while and the heat could have discolored it.
Oh boy, luckily I don't see any coolant on my garage floor.
Looks like the coolant is at about the low line which is okay when the engine is cool. Add some so it sits a bit above the low line if you add too much coolant will puke out the cap. If possible carefully inspect the radiator for leaks look for the same type of crusty build up. Is the crusty build up same colour as coolant? Your pic is washed out basically black and white.
How many miles? Rad failures are common same for water pump leaks.
Is any coolant acceptable or should I get a certain kind, since I'll be mixing with the OEM.
12-11-23, 09:13 PM
Coolant Low
