Fix leak or let go?
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 3
From: TX
Fix leak or let go?
Team -
I am the 2nd owner of a 01 Lexus LS 430.
I have done timing belt, valve covers gaskets, rack and pinion and other major repairs since 2019.
It just hit 200K on the ODO.
It has a couple of problems that has me at a crossroads - Should I let it go or fix to keep for life?
First problems is morning sickness on first startup of the day. It shifts into drive eventually, typically about 5 minutes of warm up and it is good to go. Manageable thus far.
Second problems is the one that is giving me a headache. It is leaking oil at a decent rate. Not that big of an issue to me, however HOA is on me about the oil leaks on the driveway / street and I have got to do something about it.
What are y’all’s thoughts?
I am the 2nd owner of a 01 Lexus LS 430.
I have done timing belt, valve covers gaskets, rack and pinion and other major repairs since 2019.
It just hit 200K on the ODO.
It has a couple of problems that has me at a crossroads - Should I let it go or fix to keep for life?
First problems is morning sickness on first startup of the day. It shifts into drive eventually, typically about 5 minutes of warm up and it is good to go. Manageable thus far.
Second problems is the one that is giving me a headache. It is leaking oil at a decent rate. Not that big of an issue to me, however HOA is on me about the oil leaks on the driveway / street and I have got to do something about it.
What are y’all’s thoughts?
Last edited by jayydela; Jan 20, 2026 at 04:14 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 609
Likes: 111
From: New York
Team -
I am the 2nd owner of a 01 Lexus LS 430.
I have done timing belt, valve covers gaskets, rack and pinion and other major repairs since 2019.
It just hit 200K on the ODO.
It has a couple of problems that has me at a crossroads - Should I let it go or fix to keep for life?
First problems is morning sickness on first startup of the day. It shifts into drive eventually, typically about 5 minutes of warm up and it is good to go. Manageable thus far.
Second problems is the one that is giving me a headache. It is leaking oil at a decent rate. Not that big of an issue to me, however HOA is on me about the oil leaks on the driveway / street and I have got to do something about it.
What are y’all’s thoughts?
I am the 2nd owner of a 01 Lexus LS 430.
I have done timing belt, valve covers gaskets, rack and pinion and other major repairs since 2019.
It just hit 200K on the ODO.
It has a couple of problems that has me at a crossroads - Should I let it go or fix to keep for life?
First problems is morning sickness on first startup of the day. It shifts into drive eventually, typically about 5 minutes of warm up and it is good to go. Manageable thus far.
Second problems is the one that is giving me a headache. It is leaking oil at a decent rate. Not that big of an issue to me, however HOA is on me about the oil leaks on the driveway / street and I have got to do something about it.
What are y’all’s thoughts?
Last edited by demark1; Jan 20, 2026 at 09:17 PM.
If the transmission is bad you can buy a used one and have a mechanic install for way less than a good used car will cost. If you know your car well and most all else is good, then fix it. The oil leak could be a major job if the sealer has failed where the block, pan, and oil pump meet. You could monitor oil every fuel fill up or fix it right but it is very labor intensive. Some guys here have done a DIY by dropping the subframe while holding the engine in place with a support bar. It can be done at home but requires more skills than basic repairs. With a used car it is blank slate and you discover stuff as you go along. It all depends on how much you like the LS, what you are willing to pay if you replaced it, and if DIY is even an option. If you were to DIY both job, I would say repair it without a doubt.
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 723
Likes: 241
From: UT
Very iffy here. Even though these are great cars, people throw out that '300,000 mile cars' slogan like a mantra. They don't all get there. Yours sounds like it has some chronic stuff going on. While an oil leak could be anything, it could be the camshaft seal, which is back behind the timing belt, lots of labor and you don't want to ignore all the hoses you are going to disconnect that may crack when you remove them and then of course you want to do another timing belt because you're there and you have to remove it anyway. Your transmission sounds like it has a rare actual mechanical problem, so what about when you do all that and then the next thing happens? Or it doesn't fix everything? I love these cars but at 200k with those issues I am tempted to advise you say your farewells.
If you are DIY-ing, maybe. If not, heck no.
If you are DIY-ing, maybe. If not, heck no.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 197
From: Texas
Wwll, the big mistake was buying a home in an HOA. I would not live under a dictatorship like that if they GAVE me the house for free. The solution to your problem it to sell the house and move to a democratic jurisdiction.
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 609
Likes: 111
From: New York
@jimisbell , I think you meant to reply elsewhere. But FWIW, I love your answer and agree! Too many HOA horror stories.
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