I was looking at the OEM replacement from Bell Lexus but they have common failures. Is there another brand that the community has found holds up better? Is it common to add an aux trans cooler while doing the radiator job?

 

Not sure about "common failures" with the OEM units, but I would stay away from the many Chinese radiators that are now sold. I would just get a Denso which is the OEM supplier. You can shop around for a better price compared to the dealer. Denso 221-9263.

As far as a aux trans cooler, if you are towing this is a good idea and the OEM setup is the way to go. Search for the OEM cooler installation thread here on the forum.

 

... yes, the common failure is the plastic tank losing its bond with the metal radiator core ... causing weeping in the vicinity of the upper radiator hose. Somewhat common beyond 100,000-odd miles. Visually appears to be a radiator hose leak at the radiator hose fitting ... but ...

 

I bought an OEM radiator for GX460 from Bell Lexus in 2021 when it was on sale and in fear of incoming parts shortage.
When I actually need to use it in 2023, The brand new radiator is actually found damaged during shipping, and leaking.
Too bad it is out of 1 year warranty for Lexus OEM parts.
I then bought and installed a toyoRad from rockauto, pretty good so far.

 

Mine started leaking at 105,000 miles so I replaced with OEM and also added the OEM trans cooler. Makes sense to add the cooler while you are already in there.

 

Sounds good idea. Is the transmission cooler air-cooled?
In the original setup, the transmission cooler is embedded in the radiator and therefore cooled by coolant.
Wonder how these two compare in terms of cooling efficiency.

 

The OEM trans cooler is air cooled. See this thread for all the info.

 

I just installed an all aluminum aftermarket radiator. Will post the DIY install video soon.

 

... and the Brand is ? ...

 

No brand, made in China. All aluminum made in China radiator

 

... 😳 ...

 

When Japanese fails, go for China. No brainer 😉
If you want to go aftermarket it's all made in China. If you want to keep buying new radiators go for the original Lexus radiator.

 

I've used those generic aluminum rads no issues except one I got came with fans, they were terrible.

 

With all due respect your statement is asinine and shouldn't be taken seriously. ALL radiators have a failure point in a given set of miles and I trust Denso/Toyota way more than some Chinese communist sweatshop's product with inferior metallurgy. If you get 125,000-150,000+ out of a factory or OEM replacement radiator consider the product life successful. It's your responsibility for maintenance and a radiator is a wear item that'll need replacement at some point. If you're Gen X or older then you know this. I've had millions of miles on three dozen or so vehicles and a dozen radiator replacements from every decade 1980s on up so it isn't something new.

 

Care to explain what the failure point would be on my all aluminum "sweatshop" radiator?
90k miles on my original "made in Japan" radiator, that's a little too early for a radiator to be going bad on a Toyota/Lexus. Every single item on my Lexus is original Toyota/Lexus except for my new "sweatshop" radiator.
Everyone is free to their own opinion so anyone can choose to take my statement seriously or not, unless you are the supreme communist leader and people should only listen to you?
Do you know why America has the most millionaires in the world? Because it's full of sheep that are always suckered into believing what is good and bad, if it's not original it's trash, if it's not made in the USA it's trash!
So sheep will be sheep, follow the heard, stay a sheep my friend!