My car is about to hit 200k. I know many other people have hit this milestone, but it is new territory for me. Is there anything I should be looking at doing to get many more years out of my car? My timing belt was last changed about 70k/7 years ago.

Thank you,
John

 

I am at 165k, but from reading other posts and my own experiences, I'd say:

(1) check that power steering fluid is fresh-ish. I saw care care nut video where the filter clogged in the plastic reservoir and killed the power steering. Often overlooked, but I changed my PS fluid 2 years ago.

(2) make sure coolant is good. I am still on original radiator, but I have read that broken trans pipe in radiator cab leak fluid and destroy the transmission. So check you radiator, maybe proactively replace after 20-ish years, with Denso or OE... and certainly your coolant every 5 years.

(3) Don't stop changing trans fluid every 30-60k miles (flush vs drain... not wading into that). If you've never done trans before, some say leave it. ONLY with Toyota WS fluid to be safe.
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(4) I assume you've done water pump with timing belt. Mine supposedly at 90k was but went at 125k.. Car started overheating but I caught it early. I think the shop cheated me and never even did the belt. long story. I would also change pulleys etc. and crankcase / camshaft seal then, but it's all a moot point for now if you did the tb recently. EDIT: 7 years ago is not recently... I personally would wait 2 more years but if you know you are keeping car say 8 more years only, you could do it early. But 9 years/90k is in my manual (2005), not sure about your for other years. I also wonder if valve cover gaskets should be considered proactively at that time. Might e cheaper labor and that seems a common issue. Never had it yet myself.

(5) accessory/serp belt AND TENSIONER. Why risk it? Next time you do this belt, change the tensioner(s?) too, if never done. accessory belt going can probably have some nasty side effects.

(6) Differential fluid every 60k or so or 6-ish years.

(7) I do my brake fluid every 3-4 years, or measure the water % with tester/strips. Manual does say every 3 years.

(8) Keep changing oil every 6-7 months (or 5k-ish miles). Even with syn oil.

(******* 9) Overlooked: change battery regularly. It has been biggest source of trouble for me, including causing me to damage my starter. I will not keep mine over 3 years, from experience. Worse than other cars I have owned until now.

(10) If original alternator, figure it will go. Several Lexus models I know went at 150k, including my own. Not car death, but very inconvenient.

(11) Hoses?? I am 100% original on mine, and where to begin? Just a thought.

(12) Have some luck!

I don't think there is magic. A lot of the above is maintenance right out of the manual. My car drives like new (powertrain) but does not quite ride like new (suspension?). The above however I think protect against catastrophic failure of major components. I have changed oil regularly, roughly twice a year. Only recently started using synthetic regularly. No oil burning or usage in between changes either way. From what I read, the engine is hardier than the transmission. I've read cases of radiator internal failure killing the trans. Regular coolant changes every 5 years or more is probably best thing for that, to inhibit corrosion.

 

That is a good suggestion list. Thank you. The only items I do regularly is change the synthetic oil and check the brakes.

 

If that's all, you've saved a ton of money, although you of course have changed the timing belt as you said before. If i knew I'd reach 200k / 20 years without all of those, maybe I would have. the fluids change costs add up (trans flush at dealer esp, since they charge a lo for the WS fluid). So I cannot say if I've over-maintained. Sometimes I get behind, but I don't like to leave fluids forever. 5x brake fluid, 2x coolant, 3x differential, 1x trans fluid (soon 2x), etc. It adds up and I have asked myself if cost-effective. I have spent around $20,000 in maintenance and repairs (alternator, starter, 1 cat, 1 o2 sensor, y pipe, 1 wheel bearing, tires and brakes, plus miscellaneous stuff and the fluids.) over my 16 years of ownership. Car for me is not dirt cheap. Buying 5 year old and selling 5 years later with 0 might make more financial sense. But here I am, fairly low miles per year now. Next huge thing barring a repair is timing belt again in 2.5 years.

 

well at 165,000 I was sold the control arm bushings by my Lexus dealer but motor mounts and transmission mount made more differemce
motor mounts look fine until you get them off and then you see the problem

 

When my water pump went at around 130k miles, Lexus found a bunch of issues. I think both radiator fans were changed. I forget the other items, besides the timing belt.

 

Is there a reason that you have 130 K on your timing belt?

 

I had already changed it by then. I did it again because the water pump was being changed.

 

So,you did a belt at 70 and 130 K and now have 200k?

 

Yes.

 

+1 vote for changing out your trans fluid, if it’s never been done by this point, maybe do it every year or every oil change for a couple years so get fresh fluid cycled in.

in other groups I’m noticing a lot of alternators going out between 150-200k, as well as cracked radiators. Happened to mine at about 140k. Front end suspension (particularly lower control arm bushings) would be a great investment in ride quality. You can source kits from figs, or get oem parts from places like amayama or impex, for example.