Hi
I was thinking to change the coolant on my NX200t-2017 as advised to prevent the coolant from turning acidic by time (Change every 5 years).
My question is if the coolant starts to turn acidic after few years, how to know the coolant I am buying from the dealer is not sitting on his shelf for the last 5 years? Is there a manufacturing date on it (like we see on tires)?
I could be changing the car coolant with an even older coolant.
Any thoughts on this, thank you.

 

Coolant inside the original bottle is highly inert I don't know the exact time frame before it starts to go bad but probably 10+ years. Coolant breaks down via heat cycles and contact with the various materials in your engine. Data point: coolant doesn't break down much if the car sits for long periods. Another data point: coolant in a Toyota hybrid (not engine, for the hybrid components) lasts much longer than in the engine due to lower temperatures/less heat cycling.

Replacing the coolant every 5 years is probably overkill but it's also potentially cheap insurance.

If you buy from the dealership the chances of you getting old coolant is zero the turn over rate is extremely high.

 

Who said you have to change Lexus engine coolant every 5 years? Toyota Lexus is engineered to cuts down the maintenance and cost of the Drivers, Toyota Lexus is one of the LOWEST Maintenance costs vehicles in the world, Toyota Lexus Engine coolant last at least 150k Miles 200,000km+, and everything on Toyota Lexus is designed to last 200k Miles+ but sometimes technical difficulty some parts may break down early that's unfortunate.
I never changed the Engine Coolant on my Toyota or Lexus unless I got a leak or cracked Radiator or Coolant Reservoir cracked and broken Cap, only Flushed once on my old Toyota Solara at 350,000km 220k miles. Never changed anything on the Toyota Solara only Brakes engine oil Transmission fluid, the headlight still lasted until the day I gave it to my old brother at 380,000km Engine and Transmission were still strong but the underbody frame was rusted also radiator is rusted, and making a hole there. The only 1 issue I got was the Brake Booster was replaced with a used one $85 bucks hahaha 18 years driven Toyota Solara and spent only $85 bucks to fix the car lol.
My Dad and My grandfather were Right about Toyota Lexus !

Driven Lexus IS350 for 8 years I did not have to fix anything, I have driven Lexus RC350 for 2 years now, and everything is tight no problem only the Tires wear outer/inner I replaced the Lower control arm bushings just to fix the tires, that's all.

Driven a BMW M35i N55 6cyl Turbo, I had fixed... Engine Oil Housing Gasket, PCV engine head, 2ndary MAF sensor, Turbo Charge pipe and wastegate, Engine head cover gasket, Oil Pan gasket, Engine Starter, Starter Relay, right front Axle, right rear Wheel Bearing Hub, Engine Coolant leaked badly replaced Coolant Reservoir( BMW Dealer stumped on this they gave up, I spent 2 hours on this)...lastly the N55 Engine of BMW has died !
Caused of Dead: Broken Wrist Pin, Rod Bearings knock, Crankshaft scored, Camshaft making metal shavings. "Engine revived by Me and my friend"
BMW dealer quoted $15-18k CAD to replace new engine.
Shop quoted $10-12k for a good used Engine.
Do it yourself costs $5-6k CAD ! BMW is like women, mad every day hahaha.

 

50k or 6year if you want avoid high maintenance cost after 100k mil.

 

It is very easy and cheap to test coolant. You can get a tester for under ten bucks. I go by mileage - first change at 100K, then 50K thereafter. And at the first change, I flush with distilled water and switch to universal coolant, Prestone or SuperTech, whichever is on the shelf. It amazes me how many folks are insistent on only using Toyota coolant. Do they use Toyota motor oil? I doubt it.

 

If you are going to give advice, at least make it be accurate and or true... What you just said goes against what TOYOTA recommends... I TOO also have a Solara and yes it's not bad to maintain but you still need to follow the maintenance recommendations. I currently have 255k miles on the car. But I definitely spent money on replacing items and what not... The fact that you changed coolant until something is leaking or breaking already speaks volumes of how you take care of the vehicle or lack thereof. See attached document. Toyota recommends changing coolant at 96 months OR 128,000KM= 80,000 miles. Will the car keep going.. sure, but why even risk it. Coolant is cheap. $60 for two gallons and it will last you another 8 years. I also attached a picture below this one to show you that Lexus does NOT recommend nor do they advise your statement above.




Note that's the example I used because you stated you had a Solara and mine is an 07'. ALL vehicles have a similar schedule that you can easily find to determine what needs to be done/flushed/drained...etc.



OP: Don't worry about that at all. Dealers don't sit on product like that. If the dealer was sitting on common things like coolant for 5 years then they wouldn't be in business because clearly, they aren't selling/using stuff. You can see a manufacturing date on the bottle to clearly tell you when it was made. I've gotten stuff from places that have been a couple months old to almost a year. It doesn't matter. The coolant isn't going to go bad in it's container. It degrades by running through the engine and heat cycles...etc.

Don't listen to the above advice that Solara guy gives at all. It's wrong. Go by the scheduled maintenance of what the manufacture recommends. It's silly to do otherwise. MOST maintenance items for our cars are not expensive. If you know how to work on cars you will save a ton of money. Spark plugs, oil changes, coolant flush..etc. These are all very easy items to do. There are tons of youtube videos and information on Toyotanation and on here to show you what to do.

See service recommendation for our 2018NX. Yours will be similar if not the same. Right from the folks that MAKE the vehicle.
CHANGE COOLANT at 100k and everyt 50k miles/60 months thereafter...



Also all this information is easily accessible. Google search make/model and it will take you to the MyLexus page. Put your vehicle in and you can view and print ALL recommendations for maintenance from 5k miles/6 months all the way to 150kmiles / 180months of ownership. Considering MOST people don't keep cars that long anymore that's probably why they stopped.

-Nigel

 

Recently purchased a gallon of coolant part number 00272-SLLC2 from the Lexus dealership. My 2015 Rx350 and my wife's 2016 Nx200t only needed about 3oz. each. I kmow not much but wanted to top off. Also both cars have the factory fill still in them and under 70,000 miles. Anyway, I was thinking may be a good idea to check the Ph. Both cars had a Ph. of 7.6 while the New in the jug was showing a Ph. of 7.8.

 

agreed cant go wrong with going with scheduled maintenance and what the manufacturer recommends.

 

Hi guys,
Do you guys have DIY procedure to changing engine coolant for NX200T? Thanks.

 

Check this video. It is for RX, but NX should not be too different.

 

I do the voltage test with a multimeter to check antifreeze condition in all my vehicles (3). Any reading over 0.4 volts will indicate a replacement. Easy test w/multimeter, negative probe to battery ground or any ground on frame/engine and positive probe in antifreeze liquid at radiator, taking care not to contact probe with metal neck of radiator. My 2 cents.