Last time I went to get my oil changed at the dealer they told me the rad was leaking. When I got home I looked and you could see on the top passenger side where there was fluid. i have not driven it since but now I have some free time to deal with it. So I found a shop that charges $170 labor to change it and I trust them. But I don't know which radiator to get . I hear good things about koyo but the denso is cheaper . I just want one that is gonna fit perfect , work properly and last a while. I do not wanna spend a lot on a lexus oem as I do not plan on keeping the car for more then another year or so. What should I buy ? Is 221-3170 the correct part number from denso ? There are 2 different ones i have seen for the lS430. There are 2 kinds of coolant on Amazon , what is the difference ? Both are toyota but different stock/part numbers . Which one do I need ?

 

I bought a Denso for a different Lexus and I was happy with the quality. No issues with the fit and it's been going strong for about a year. I would do it again.

Denso is the OEM for Lexus, but I think Denso's aftermarket radiator line is different than what comes from the factory for some models. What interesting is the Denso radiator from the dealership actually seems to have a widespread defect from the factory, they all seem to eventually split at the same place, so regardless I wasn't going to buy it from the Lexus dealer and pay the 500% premium for a radiator that had a defect.

I bought mine at RockAuto, they seemed to have the best price. I've heard good things from Koyo also but if it was me, I would go with the aftermarket Denso.

Regarding the coolant, the premixed "pink" coolant is the "super" long life one that Toyota switched over to I believe in 2003. The "red" coolant is the one that needs to be mixed with water that earlier models had. Check your owners manual, it will specify. There was a transition year and I don't know off the top of my head.

If you're starting from scratch with an empty cooling system, I believe either is fine.

 

Did you notice on Rockauto the 430 denso radiator with the tow package? Usually this means a more heavy duty cooling system. Does the LS430 tow package involve other components? Wonder if you can put this one in instead. It was about $30 less too.

Looks like it is the same for the AC condenser. Denso via the dealer is way more expensive then Denso on Rockauto.

 

The Lexus I bought my radiator for only had one Denso option.

Usually the tow option is more heavy duty, but it could also be something strange like not having a transmission cooler connection because it expects the car to have its own external transmission cooler? That might be why it's cheaper.

I'd make sure to see a diagram before I went with that option to see if it was plug and play. I honestly didn't even know these cars had a towing package.

The safest bet would be just get he standard one you know will bolt right in.

 

gonna go ahead and get the denso from Amazon , with prime I get two day shipping free . Less then 130 bux Thanks for the replies

 

do i need two gallons of coolant since I am having a new rad installed ?

 

yes...if u change out the radiator then you have no coolant in the system. yes you will need to refill and bleed the system.

 

IIRC, the "tow option" has a 1.5inch thick core compared to a 1inch thick. I replaced mine with a koyo w/ tow option. 40k miles with no issues and it runs closer to the lower tick mark. It was a plug/play install. The tow option has the transmission cooler built-in as well.

 

Do I get the one with or without the tow option? (2001 LS430)

 

Whichever is cheaper. They will both fit and I saw no differences between the two.

 

Towing rad is just thicker, more thermal mass and fin area

 

Country of manufacture may explain lower price of tow package radiator.

 

I think it's Taiwan, not japan that's for sure. Denso has a lot of places they have make their parts these days but supposedly it's all to the same QC and spec

 

I purchased the Denso towing package radiator one year ago from Rock Auto and installed it last September. It has worked fine. I also replaced the hoses with Lexus radiator hoses, which fit well and needed to be replaced. Used the Toyota red fluid, purchased from a local Toyota dealer since I have a 2001.

Later the cooling tank hose began leaking at bottom connection. I fixed it with a new stainless steel clamp temporarily, until I replaced the both cooling tank hoses with Lexus hoses. Replacing radiator is relatively straightforward, for an amateur, if you prepare and use the radiator replacement thread. See my comments on what you will encounter at the end of the main radiator replacement thread. Rehearse on removing electrical and have tools needed to remove baked on large hoses. I would have replaced both cooling tank hoses at the time I did the radiator.

 

Measure your existing radiator - if 1", it's the tow package radiator, if 5/8" then it's the standard. My 2005 had the 1" from the factory. Denso on Rockauto = $75.89
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...,radiator,2172

ALSO - if you're replacing the radiator, you're so close to it anyway, that I would go ahead and replace the thermostat.
Aisin / OEM $15.61
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...hermostat,2200

If replacing the radiator, grab a 1 gallon CONCENTRATED jug of Toyota Red coolant from a Toyota dealer, and a gallon of distilled water. I also replaced the transmission line hoses, as they were in horrible shape, using bulk hose from AutoZone and new stainless hose clamps.

Regular old Sharpie pens make great plugs for the transmission lines.