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I have a 2005 Lexus LS430 with around 200k miles on it and it has run beautifully until about 2 days ago I noticed the coolant gauge reading about 1 notch over what it normally shows which is usually around the halfway mark. I checked the reservoir and it was low so I filled it to the full line with Prestone 50/50(made for Toyota, Lexus, and Scion) and it’s still running hot. Should I have poured it in the actual radiator instead of the overflow tank and does anyone have any suggestions of what else it might be?
Thank you! Happy Lexus owner
Always fill through the rad inlet not through the reservoir. Also the only time the external reservoir should be full is when the car is hot.
If adding coolant doesn't fix the issue it could be a thermostat not opening completely or the radiator is getting old and tired. Thousands of hot/cold cycles over the span of 200K miles can slowly build up sludge inside the radiator causing it to not cool properly.
Ok thanks bradland I will try filling radiator once it cools down again and report on the results. I’m not a mechanic by any stretch so sorry if I sound like an idiot but I’d much rather sound dumb and ask than be stuck on the side of the road, thanks again for the input
Ideally it would be best to try and diagnose your problem before driving excessively. You don’t want to cook your engine. Good luck. Let’s us know how you make out. Hopefully it will be an easy fix.
Last edited by Bocatrip; Nov 29, 2018 at 06:26 PM.
Ok thanks bradland I will try filling radiator once it cools down again and report on the results. I’m not a mechanic by any stretch so sorry if I sound like an idiot but I’d much rather sound dumb and ask than be stuck on the side of the road, thanks again for the input
+1 If this is my car, I would not drive it until I figure out why it is running hot.
Ideally it would be best to try and diagnose your problem before driving excessively. You don’t want to cook your engine. Good luck. Let’s us know how you make out. Hopefully it will be an easy fix.
+1. My car was sold to me in 2016 and day 2 I noticed zero coolant in the reservoir, and zero coolant to be seen in the radiator. It "never" ran any hotter than it has in the last 2+ years with the coolant full.
It could be as simple as a thermostat, as these cars are not ones that have electric water pumps and thermostats. Just do not drive, as tempting as it is. Not as much anymore, but we all remember the stories of, "I just needed to make it 2 more miles," where someone is reporting that the engine has blown head gaskets....
Installed 20mm wheel spacers on the rear with 18's. So happy! The looks is so much better and plus - I feel the increased stability of the rear end. It vastly improved. I don't know why but even acceleration feels a little faster (I also replaced 2 rear wheel hubs while installing the spacers, can they contribute to this feeling?).
Installed 20mm wheel spacers on the rear with 18's. So happy! The looks is so much better and plus - I feel the increased stability of the rear end. It vastly improved. I don't know why but even acceleration feels a little faster (I also replaced 2 rear wheel hubs while installing the spacers, can they contribute to this feeling?).
Wow, talk about a thread hijack. Why didn’t you just start a new thread instead???
^ Back on topic. If your coolant level is in fact low (by having to add significant amount to the radiator to fill it) you need to determine where it went. Check your dipstick for coolant in the oil (bad news). Check for coolant leaks around the front and below the engine, and around the radiator cap. Look for telltale pink spots. You might want to pressure test your cooling system. Don't just fill the radiator and drive on without ascertaining why you are loosing coolant and therefore running hot.
Ok thanks bradland I will try filling radiator once it cools down again and report on the results. I’m not a mechanic by any stretch so sorry if I sound like an idiot but I’d much rather sound dumb and ask than be stuck on the side of the road, thanks again for the input
I got myself the $20 funnel that makes it easy to burp the radiator. The reason is it has a stopper. So what you do is you can overfill the radiator, it won't spill because it has an adapter, and when air comes up, it's replaced by coolant. I used to use a towel and let spillage get absorbed by the towel.
If you are not filling up a lot, then unnecessary. But I like it...
Just finished some repairs on my leather seats. I had some wear spots, that were bugging me. Last month, I ordered some leather dye from Leather World Technologies - Ecru color – color number EI 75. I used it to touch up some wear and tear on the seats and trim on my 2005 LS430, UL package. Cleaned the worn areas with isopropyl alcohol, smoothed out the nubs with some 400 grit sandpaper, and then brushed on the dye with a small brush. It worked FANTASTIC! Some pics are attached.
P.S. I came across Leather World products via a post on Club Lexus. I can't seem to remember which forum, so I am sharing this post in multiple places.
2005 Lexus LS430 running hot
