Hi,

I just bought my 2002 SC430 last week. Checked the dealer service records and found out that the coolant has never been changed.

Now I've got the Toyota Red Long Life coolant and want to change it. Is there a DIY for this? It should be easy as I have done this for my 2004 Toyota Sienna. You don't even need to jack up the car since there is a drain plug right at the lower back side of the radiator that you can open with your hand.

Where is the drain plug for the SC430? Do I need to jack up the car?

Thanks for your help.

 

See the attached PDF

 

Thanks VVTiBob. You are the man.

I searched and didn't find any DIY.

 

Yes sir, BITG! Minus the O. Bob, we should patent this acronym.

 

I just did the coolant change with an easy method I learned before. This method doesn't require taking off any of the engine block drain plugs so no need to even jack up the car.

Make sure the car is level before you start. When engine is cold, put a large tray underneath the front part of the car below the radiator, then loosen the radiator drain plug with hand at the bottom of the radiator on the driver side. Coolant will start to come out. Now adjust your tray position to catch the coolant. Then take off the radiator cap, the coolant will rush out and drain after 5-10 mins. Make sure you adjust the tray position to catch all the coolant rushing out. Properly dispose of the old coolant.

Put the drain plug back in and tighten. Add distilled water to the radiator and it takes just about one gallon. Take out two bolts holding the coolant tank and pour out the old coolant. Wash the coolant tank and put it back in.

After the radiator is filled with distilled water (about 1 gallon), put on the radiator cap and start the car. Turn temperature to the highest (85F) and turn on the fan at low speed, let the car idle for 5 mins. This will circulate the coolant/water in the system. Then, turn off the car and drain the coolant like before.

Repeat this for 2-3 times. You will see what's coming out is pretty much just water. Now you mostly only have distilled water in your system. After the last fill and drain, add one gallon of Toyota Red Long Life undiluted coolant ($25 at dealer) and fill up the coolant tank as well. Drive the car for a while and recheck the coolant level, add distilled water if needed.

Total time to do this is about 1 hr. It is so easy anyone can do it.

 

Do you have to remove the splash guard to drain the coolant from the radiator?

 

No need. Just have a large pan to catch the coolant when it is draining out.

 

Draining coolant using the radiator petcock will only drain about 1 gallon of the coolant (total capacity is approximately 10.5 quarts).

Note the PDF in the second post which mentions the two drains in the engine block in addition to the petcock drain in the radiator. In order to get to the block drains you will have to remove the under engine cover (splash pan).

I changed the radiator last week on my SC430 and spent a little time searching to see if I could reach the block drains (I knew where they were but couldn't see them or feel them), before giving up because I was running out of time and so have about 40% new coolant.

But I am going to find those drains so when I do the timing belt and water pump this summer I can do a full refresh of the coolant.

 

If you use the method described in my earlier psot, you will see after a few refill and drain cycles it is pretty much just water in the system. Then you only need to add undiluted coolant at the final refill.

This method eliminates the need to drain from the engine block, which is diificult in itself, and the potential air bubbles in the system.

 

Can you use Walmart brand coolant or has to be the Toyota long life?

 

No judgement — My question to you is — Why would you want to use anything but OEM coolant or what’s recommended for your Lexus?

Are you trying to save money? Is the Toyota brand hard to come by in your area?

The price difference isn’t that much and well worth it and you only have to do it every 30,000 to 60,000 miles or every 3 to 5 years.

Anybody can use what ever they want — Personally, I would stick with Lexus/Toyota brand as that’s what I feel confident in using for both my Lexus vehicles and that’s what’s recommended.

But that’s my choice — you do whatever is best for you.

 

I've probably had three coolant changes through the lifetime of my 117k mile SC. The first time was Toyota long life but IIRC the last couple of times I used the Prestone brand which was directly compatible with what my 2005 SC needed. If you have the analytical capability to research which non Toyota brands provide the exact same chemical properties or better and you can get it cheaper, more power to you. Those options are definitely available out there. If you're not sure and just picking something and hoping for the best, well better just use the OEM brand. You don't need to suffer a seized engine on something as basic as coolant.

 

I've said it many times, risking a bad chemical reaction is totally worth saving $12.