Is this normal??
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Is this normal??
So I just want to know is this what my car temperature should be sitting at. I ordered an OBDII bluetooth scanner so I can tell the exact temperature I will let you guys know what it says, I have been told it should be at 180 degrees. I turned on the heat full blast and moved down a tad, but not much.
Last edited by 981uz; 05-22-17 at 04:49 PM.
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
When I turned the heat on it moved downward a tad not very much. Turning the heat on did not increase the temp afire it decreased it. If I had to give a percentage of what the needle sits at, I would say it's at about 55 percent. Just drive it on a 3 hour road trip and it didn't budge didn't get any hotter or colder. Thanks for your help!
#5
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Do you think I should get the coolant flushed and change? By the way when I took it to the shop they said my engine oil was perfect, coolant bright red and they pressure tested it and found no leaks.
#7
Probably okay
What really matters is how your guage responds to high outside temps, and/or heavy engine loads. THAT reveals if you have a cooling system problem; a small increase on the guage is no biggie, but more than one division could be an issue that needs attention. If your temp checks out using OBD II +/- 5 degrees of thermostat setting, that should correlate to a mid-guage reading. If not temp sender could be cause, which will also affect fuel efficiency and driveability. But, don't get hung up on the guage not being perfectly centered; it's how it responds to heat loads that's important, in giving you an early warning of cooling problems.
Trending Topics
#8
Lead Lap
mine would go up that high when its 95 and 99% humidity on idling in traffic. will fluctuate between that and under half) which it usually sits at.
Nothing to worry about.
Nothing to worry about.
#9
BahHumBug
iTrader: (10)
Guys these stock gauges are NOT that precise. +/- 5-15% from center could easily mean the same actual coolant temp on different cars.
Even per the factory manual the "normal" range is nearly from top to bottom.
Unless the temp is consistently high (ie- top 25%) i wouldn't worry about it. If you are worried, get a proper gauge to check.
Even per the factory manual the "normal" range is nearly from top to bottom.
Unless the temp is consistently high (ie- top 25%) i wouldn't worry about it. If you are worried, get a proper gauge to check.
#10
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Guys these stock gauges are NOT that precise. +/- 5-15% from center could easily mean the same actual coolant temp on different cars.
Even per the factory manual the "normal" range is nearly from top to bottom.
Unless the temp is consistently high (ie- top 25%) i wouldn't worry about it. If you are worried, get a proper gauge to check.
Even per the factory manual the "normal" range is nearly from top to bottom.
Unless the temp is consistently high (ie- top 25%) i wouldn't worry about it. If you are worried, get a proper gauge to check.
#11
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Yeah the temperature was 67 degrees in the photo I took. Maybe is nothing I get very paranoid about my vehicles. Just thought I would share. The next 90 degree day we have I will do the temperature reading again post it. maybe theirs someone out there that thinks theirs is reading a little high. Thank you for your help.
#12
Lexus Fanatic
Your LS400 is beautiful, I love the blue and they look great on the LS430 18s.
Anyways, its a little high from how my LS400 was when it was new. Haven't owned it in a long time, but It would sit about 48% and never fluctuate....ever..... Steep mountain passes, idling in the heat, it would always sit right at the same spot. Since yours isn't moving or changing under different scenarios and you've checked the temp, I would chock it up to age and the way the gauge reads and not worry about it.
I found this picture online, this is representative of how I remember the temp gauge in my 98 reading when warmed up
Where in MD are you? If you want somebody to look at it who knows these cars in and out and you can trust to not take you for a ride, I have an independent Lexus mechanic in Rockville. He was a Lexus Master Tech for 16 years, since Lexus began, been in business at his own place for 11 years or so. He has a blue 2000 LS400 himself and obviously is also very knowledgable about the car. Honest as can be too, he'll tell you straight up if theres no problem.
Happy to PM you his info if you like.
Anyways, its a little high from how my LS400 was when it was new. Haven't owned it in a long time, but It would sit about 48% and never fluctuate....ever..... Steep mountain passes, idling in the heat, it would always sit right at the same spot. Since yours isn't moving or changing under different scenarios and you've checked the temp, I would chock it up to age and the way the gauge reads and not worry about it.
I found this picture online, this is representative of how I remember the temp gauge in my 98 reading when warmed up
Where in MD are you? If you want somebody to look at it who knows these cars in and out and you can trust to not take you for a ride, I have an independent Lexus mechanic in Rockville. He was a Lexus Master Tech for 16 years, since Lexus began, been in business at his own place for 11 years or so. He has a blue 2000 LS400 himself and obviously is also very knowledgable about the car. Honest as can be too, he'll tell you straight up if theres no problem.
Happy to PM you his info if you like.
#14
Racer
The day after I bought my LS after replacing coolant hoses upper and lower, it would heat up to about where yours was. This was in November too when outside temps were 50-55 in AZ so I didn't know it at the time, but I had improperly bled the cooling system and was about half a gallon low on coolant.
Make sure to add coolant through the fill valve in the center front of the engine through the 17mm fill hole.
I have a feeling that's your problem, just need to get all the air out and double check to see if you're low.
Also, if you don't have a genuine Toyota/Lexus thermostat, I would have one swapped in since aftermarket one may have higher heat ranges compared to OEM causing the gauge to fluctuate to an elevated level.
Make sure to add coolant through the fill valve in the center front of the engine through the 17mm fill hole.
I have a feeling that's your problem, just need to get all the air out and double check to see if you're low.
Also, if you don't have a genuine Toyota/Lexus thermostat, I would have one swapped in since aftermarket one may have higher heat ranges compared to OEM causing the gauge to fluctuate to an elevated level.
#15
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Your LS400 is beautiful, I love the blue and they look great on the LS430 18s.
Anyways, its a little high from how my LS400 was when it was new. Haven't owned it in a long time, but It would sit about 48% and never fluctuate....ever..... Steep mountain passes, idling in the heat, it would always sit right at the same spot. Since yours isn't moving or changing under different scenarios and you've checked the temp, I would chock it up to age and the way the gauge reads and not worry about it.
I found this picture online, this is representative of how I remember the temp gauge in my 98 reading when warmed up
Where in MD are you? If you want somebody to look at it who knows these cars in and out and you can trust to not take you for a ride, I have an independent Lexus mechanic in Rockville. He was a Lexus Master Tech for 16 years, since Lexus began, been in business at his own place for 11 years or so. He has a blue 2000 LS400 himself and obviously is also very knowledgable about the car. Honest as can be too, he'll tell you straight up if theres no problem.
Happy to PM you his info if you like.
Anyways, its a little high from how my LS400 was when it was new. Haven't owned it in a long time, but It would sit about 48% and never fluctuate....ever..... Steep mountain passes, idling in the heat, it would always sit right at the same spot. Since yours isn't moving or changing under different scenarios and you've checked the temp, I would chock it up to age and the way the gauge reads and not worry about it.
I found this picture online, this is representative of how I remember the temp gauge in my 98 reading when warmed up
Where in MD are you? If you want somebody to look at it who knows these cars in and out and you can trust to not take you for a ride, I have an independent Lexus mechanic in Rockville. He was a Lexus Master Tech for 16 years, since Lexus began, been in business at his own place for 11 years or so. He has a blue 2000 LS400 himself and obviously is also very knowledgable about the car. Honest as can be too, he'll tell you straight up if theres no problem.
Happy to PM you his info if you like.