When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Replace the Serpentine belt and check out the automatic belt tensioner and idler pulleys, or consider replacing them at the same time. I think there are kits with all of those pieces.
This video shows a great way to bleed the cooling system of air.
To bleed my RX350 of coolant system of air when I drained out the old coolant from the radiator recently I used the same type of funnel in the video, but just opened the bleeder port screw and then closed the port while the engine is warmed up to release any trapped air pockets with the climate setting turned to high and topped off the funnel until the bubbles stopped appearing in funnel and the coolant level became steady and hot air started to blow out of the AC vents.
The special type of bleeder/fill funnel used in the video tend to bleed air out the coolant system on its own without the extra step of connecting an hose from the bleeder port to the fill funnel. However, I did have an hose connected to the bleeder port that drained the coolant to a container when I opened it. You only need to open the bleeder to help release any trapped air pockets during the filling process if you notice no bubbles in the filling funnel or the heat is not working.
The Car Car Nut method is not necessary, but I assume it works.
Last edited by carguy75; Jan 12, 2025 at 06:33 AM.
I would also change the thermostat and thermostat housing gasket with a new water pump.
@carguy75 Thank you for your response! I take it the thermostat housing itself doesn't need to be replaced?
Originally Posted by carguy75
To bleed my RX350 of coolant system of air when I drained out the old coolant from the radiator recently I used the same type of funnel in the video, but just opened the bleeder port screw and then closed the port while the engine is warmed up to release any trapped air pockets with the climate setting turned to high and topped off the funnel until the bubbles stopped appearing in funnel and the coolant level became steady and hot air started to blow out of the AC vents.
The special type of bleeder/fill funnel used in the video tend to bleed air out the coolant system on its own without the extra step of connecting an hose from the bleeder port to the fill funnel. However, I did have an hose connected to the bleeder port that drained the coolant to a container when I opened it. You only need to open the bleeder to help release any trapped air pockets during the filling process if you notice no bubbles in the filling funnel or the heat is not working.
The Car Car Nut method is not necessary, but I assume it works.
That's pretty interesting, thanks for the remark. This method does look a lot simpler to use.