I have a '95 LS400 with 160,000 miles. By reading the info on this sight from all of you experts, I have been intrigued and encouraged enough to tackle some of the basic maintenance to prolong the life of the car. My father helped me change to hood struts and change the air filter, which I did again today. Today I also checked my fluids. Power steering was way low, coolant (toyota red) was a little low, and I topped off the brake fluid because the brake light kept coming on. I added distilled water to the coolant because I'm worried about mixing green and red. Should I be? I'm a little obsessed with changing the oil regularly, so I'd like to learn to do it myself. Should I, or should I just pay $30 and have a pro knock it out? If so, I think I need ramps. What type should I get? Now that I am getting familiar with these basic things, what other basic projects can I start without being paranoid about messing something up if I do it wrong?

 

im no expert, but for a measly 30 bucks your way better off letting a garage change the engine oil every 5 km, or every 3 km if your way too worried. btw engine oil is highly toxic and trying to dump it is a headache

 

thanks for the sarcasm.

 

Did topping off the brake fluid fix the brake light coming on?
Not a good idea to mix coolants.
For ramps - measure distance from ground to bottom of car in front of the rear wheels. If the ramps are taller than this distance they won't fit in the rear but the front will be ok. You could also drive up onto a 2x4 or similar and then slip the ramps in place. Don't get the cheap metal L shaped ramps - they can collapse if you drive up and stop too suddenly. Find some that are triangulated.
Check tire condition and pressure - they are the most important component of the car along with brakes.

 

engine oil is only toxic if you either try to bathe in it or if you try to eat it....pretty much like almost every other fluid in a car.

you can dump it at any oil collection center.

no, don't mix red/green coolant, use only toyota Red. distilled water to top it off will be fine.

if you feel like it go ahead and change the oil, i don't trust 90% of shops due to both myself and close family/friends having issus int he past, so i change pretty much all my fluids myself.

don't do it if you want to save money, you'll only save a couple dollars, but if you wanna learn, go for it.

 

ps. screw ramps, buy a good jack and some jack stands.

 

Most auto stores around Dallas have a recycle capacity for used motor oil.
Nothing looks worse than Green & Red Coolant mixed together. How well it performs I have no idea.

Have you ever changed your brake fuid? It does not last forever you know.