lexsc4

Hi all,

08 RX350 AWD with 92K miles.

Over the weekend my Lexus mechanic did the motor oil, transmission fluid, transfer case, rear differential drain/refill and brake fluid flush. I asked him to do the coolant flush as well but he told me he sees a lot of water pump failure by 120-130K miles. So why waste the money now and flush the coolant, just wait until the water pump fails and replace it all together.

So should I replace the coolant now at 92K miles? or just wait until 120-130K miles?

Thx.

08 RX350 AWD (wife)
08 Avalon Touring (mine)

Rainbird

Lexus recommends the coolant be changed at 100K miles.

lexsc4

Thx. 92K or 100K miles, no difference.

Since I already bought the 2 gallons of that Super Long Life coolants a couple of months ago, I am going to go to another mechanic of mine and have it flush and refill next week rather than wait for the water pump to fail.

txt

The longer the antifreeze is in use, the lower the corrosion resistance.

Car manufacturers now use long-life antifreeze and they usually recommends the 1st change at 100K miles (which is equivalent to 6 years).

Since the 1st drain and refill doesn't remove all the used fluid, the 2nd and subsequent change interval is only 50K miles (or 3 years).

My RX only had 31K miles, but the antifreeze was 6 years old so I recently did the 1st drain-and-refill.

The RX's antifreeze is now good for another 3 years

JoeInHNL

The Lexus maintenance schedule says 100,000 miles/10 years for the first coolant change and 50,000 miles/ 5 years for subsequent changes.

lexsc4

I thought removing the radiator plug and the two engine block plug should remove at least 90% of the old coolant? My mechanic informed me that to do a proper drain/flush/refill, I need 2 gallons of the Toyota Super Long Life coolant. According to the Owner's manual, coolant capacity is 8.9 quarts.

txt

If you drive 15K miles a year, you will reach 100K miles in less than 7 years.

If you drive 5K miles a year, you will reach 10 years before you hit 100K miles.

So it looks like the corrosion inhibitors has a minimum lifespan of 6 years

You can prolong the life of your radiator and water pump by replacing the coolant as soon as its rust inhibitors begin to lose some effects (ie. at 6 years).

If I wish to keep your cars beyond 6 years, I would replace the coolant sooner rather than later.

You can apply the same reasoning on the "50K miles/ 5 year" and it will work out to a 3-year minimum fluid change interval

lexsc4

OK. I decide to go ahead and do the flush and refill at 92K miles.

Just called my other trusted mechanic and he will do it for $50 labor since I will supply the coolant. The job should take 1-1.5 hours since he has to drain the radiator, block and flush it with water. Then refill and burp.........Anyway $100 total is a cheap and peace of mind since I will be driving quite a bit during the Christmas holiday.

JoeInHNL

The following is cut and pasted directly from the 2008 RX Warranty and Service Guide that I downloaded from the Lexus website today. It is clear from this that Lexus thinks you can go 10 years or 100,000 miles from the initial fill. When I replaced the coolant in my 2004 RX330 at 9.5 years/68,000 miles it was very clean, as was what I could see of the interior of the radiator.

Engine Coolant
When inspecting, visually check the engine coolant level on the see-
through reservoir. Add coolant as necessary. When replacing, drain
and flush the cooling system and refill with coolant. Always use Genuine
Toyota Super Long-Life Coolant or similar high-quality non-silicate, non-
amine, non-borate ethylene-glycol coolant with long-life hybrid organic
acid technology (i.e., a combinationof low phosphates and organic acids).
A qualified technician should perform these operations.
Note:
Initial replacement is at 120months/100,000 miles. Replace
every 60 months/50,000 miles thereafter.

txt

http://www.tundratalk.net/forums/tun...000-miles.html

Check out the above.

MNSC3

iTrader: (1)

I just had Lexus flush and refill with long life at 84,000 miles/ 6 years. They said it wasn't needed til 100,000 miles or when the water pump goes out. I told him I wanted it changed now to help keep the water pump lubed with fresh coolant and hopefully prolong it's life, I've heard around $700.00 to change the pump....... And also the corrosion issues.
$139.97 at the dealer.

'08 RX 350 Flint Mica/blk 84,000

Foshoopd

Sounds like quick and easy insurance to just go ahead and get it done. Planning to do mine soon as well--soon as I figure out what is vibrating at 75mph!

lexsc4

My mechanic just had it done this weekend. Costed me $50 for 2 gallons of Super Long Life and $50 labor. Now let's see how long the water pump will last, currently at 92K miles. I guess when the water pump fails, I might at well have him change out the spark plugs since the labor in there already.

mimranbeig

I took my 2007 at the Toyota dealer two years ago and the flushed the coolant for $99. I had only 47K miles on it back then.