b2884987

Hi all, my RX300 is reaching 200,000 miles. My coolant level is just below the low level, so I was thinking I might as well do something extra if needed.

Does my car need a coolant flush? Or would drain and fill be just fine enough? If I flush the coolant, is it bad for the car?

salimshah

If the coolant has been maintained a simple drain and fill should be enough.

Flush in principle is needed when you have contaminants that would be left behind in a drain.

Around 200,K miles, you will be approaching a timing belt change. You may consider water pump change and a complete drain would be needed.

Salim

b2884987

What do you by maintaining the coolant?

Aron9000

Changing it at the recommended intervals.

Personally I'd just top the coolant off for now and keep an eye on it. It will have to be changed when you do the timing belt/water pump service, no sense in paying to change it to only have it changed again in a few thousand miles.

b2884987

How do I know when to do the water pump service aside from checking wear from the timing belt?

salimshah

It is so hard to tell the knowledge level of a person who post on the net. For novices I suggest reading Readers digest guide to Automobile maintenance [very old book can be bought for cheap but covers all basics]. Not to offend any one there are self help books * for dummies.

Water pump is generally replaced when it develops a leak. Since the replacement involves taking off the timing belt, most owners do it primitively with Timing belt change. I gambled on my RX and skipped the water pump change at 90K and did it at 180K. I gambled on my SC and water pump leaked at 120k.

Salim

Baetke

Water pumps are cheap compared to the labor required to replace them. When you do a timing belt change you have already paid for the labor so putting a new pump in is just good preventive maintenance. Just make sure you use an OEM pump, not a rebuilt pump.