Coolant leak at 96K miles
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Coolant leak at 96K miles
Just had routine oil change and a transmission drain-and-fill today. Unfortunately, mechanic noticed a small coolant leak that has dripped onto the engine and transmission bell housing. It may be a long-standing issue since the time I bought the car at 70K last year because he had to top off coolant a few times during oil changes but we could never figure out where the coolant went. Hopefully it is just a hose and not a head gasket leak. It is a 5-hour labor job just to remove parts to get a better look. Before I spend $500 for a look-see I'm going to inspect it this weekend with my Dad first and use a wireless endoscope I found on Amazon for $30. The car has been running great for the 26K miles that I've had it. No other indications of issues, errors, odors, or anything (other than the occasional musty AC smell). Well, also the car wouldn't start after four days at the airport parking garage and I think that is related to a known TSB afflicting 2013 models, below (post #8):
2013 LS battery discharge issue requires ECU update
2013 LS battery discharge issue requires ECU update
Last edited by FatherTo1; 10-01-18 at 04:34 PM.
#2
Pole Position
Yeah under no circumstances should you give someone $500 just to find a coolant leak. You kidding me??
Pressure test it, get a flash light and a mirror. Look on the bottom, look on the top, look on the sides. These engine compartments aren't hard to maneuver around and it's easy to see everything (IMO).
Pressure test it, get a flash light and a mirror. Look on the bottom, look on the top, look on the sides. These engine compartments aren't hard to maneuver around and it's easy to see everything (IMO).
#3
Racer
Thread Starter
Yeah under no circumstances should you give someone $500 just to find a coolant leak. You kidding me??
Pressure test it, get a flash light and a mirror. Look on the bottom, look on the top, look on the sides. These engine compartments aren't hard to maneuver around and it's easy to see everything (IMO).
Pressure test it, get a flash light and a mirror. Look on the bottom, look on the top, look on the sides. These engine compartments aren't hard to maneuver around and it's easy to see everything (IMO).
#4
Racer
Thread Starter
So I topped off the coolant four days ago on 10/10/2018 and today it is even lower than before and below the Low level! No leaks on the ground and no splatter on any engine parts. I don't see any leaks near the radiator or reservoir. Wondering if the cooling system is just low from the previous owner or when they may have replaced the water pump. I need to go back and review Lexus records to see if water pump was ever replaced. The car runs great and I do get some heat. The weather is still in the high 80s and so I'm not sure if I have any heater symptoms. Instead of noticing q lack of heat, I actually feel as if the AC works too well sometimes. I usually have it set at 72 for the Summer but sometimes it blows colder than expected and I dial it warmer to 74 or 76 even (outside temp 100+). If there is a leak, it doesnt appear to be head gasket since no oil contamination in the coolant reservoir ad no smoke out the exhaust nor any burning smells.
I topped the coolant back up and will check it again in a few days. I know there is some dried up coolant underneath near the transmission bell housing but it looks crusty and maybe old (from a long time ago?). I dont know what caused that to begin with. I wanted to clean off that area but my jack is too tall to place at the front center jack area. Anyone have any suggestions on where else to jack the LS up so I can clean off old coolant stains to see if coolant reappears?
I used a $30 wireless endoscope to get some of the underneath photos below. Excuse the bright pink halos as I think that's just from the LED lights. There is clearly quite a bit of dried up coolant but I don't know if tha is all new. I have read some other threads about low coolant and some folks have added coolant only to see it drop low and stay at the low level without getting worse. I just want to know where all the coolant is going and figure out if I have a leak somewhere but it is hard to get under the car to clean it up and confirm new splatter.
I topped the coolant back up and will check it again in a few days. I know there is some dried up coolant underneath near the transmission bell housing but it looks crusty and maybe old (from a long time ago?). I dont know what caused that to begin with. I wanted to clean off that area but my jack is too tall to place at the front center jack area. Anyone have any suggestions on where else to jack the LS up so I can clean off old coolant stains to see if coolant reappears?
I used a $30 wireless endoscope to get some of the underneath photos below. Excuse the bright pink halos as I think that's just from the LED lights. There is clearly quite a bit of dried up coolant but I don't know if tha is all new. I have read some other threads about low coolant and some folks have added coolant only to see it drop low and stay at the low level without getting worse. I just want to know where all the coolant is going and figure out if I have a leak somewhere but it is hard to get under the car to clean it up and confirm new splatter.
Last edited by FatherTo1; 10-18-18 at 08:53 PM.
#6
Lexus Test Driver
Your "AC works too well" comment is related to the low coolant level. This is a problem in the winters that happens when sitting still at idle for an extended period of time. As soon as the car starts moving and you start working the engine, the low coolant starts moving and you get heat again.
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EazyLS460 (10-05-22)
#7
Racer
Thread Starter
Your "AC works too well" comment is related to the low coolant level. This is a problem in the winters that happens when sitting still at idle for an extended period of time. As soon as the car starts moving and you start working the engine, the low coolant starts moving and you get heat again.
Do you think I have a leak somewhere, 213374U? @roadfrog regularly tops his coolant off too and I don't think he had any leaks in his system. But where does the coolant disappear to?? I added 8 fluid ounces on 10/10/18 and 12 fluid ounces today, 10/14/18 to FULL.
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#8
Lexus Test Driver
Heater core in every other Japanese car I've worked on is behind the dash. A trick if your radiator fan quit working was to turn the heat on full blast; it would act as a radiator inside the cabin with the blower motor replacing the radiator fan.
I too have to top mine off every so often but have not found the leak either. Recently had to replace the radiator and bled the system fully at that time, I should bleed it once more just to see how much coolant it actually takes. Will report back if I do that.
I too have to top mine off every so often but have not found the leak either. Recently had to replace the radiator and bled the system fully at that time, I should bleed it once more just to see how much coolant it actually takes. Will report back if I do that.
#9
Pole Position
Well I think your mechanic doesn't have point - about coolant leaking under your intake - because that does look like you had/have a pretty good coolant leak. Definitely keep an eye on that.
#10
Racer
Thread Starter
Pretty scary to see the valley flooded with coolant on this IS:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8184588&postcount=10
That looks more like coolant IN then engine of the IS F rather than on the valley of the vee. Yikes!
On this other IS F, the coolant leak seems contained in the valley, but "outside" the engine:
What is the middle section then? I thought the vee is empty space and I can't see any coolant puddles when trying to peek under the intake manifold on the LS. Shouldn't I be able to see this from above the engine of the LS?? And what part or seal is failing that causes this leak? Why is it common on the IS F?
Last edited by FatherTo1; 10-14-18 at 09:04 PM.
#12
Racer
Thread Starter
As for the TPMS layout, they changed it on the 2013+ model years when the LS went through a mid-cycle facelift.
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CamelKool (06-28-20)
#13
Racer
Thread Starter
Yup, leak near the valley plate of the vee. The underbody covering must have been catching the drips and preventing puddles beneath the car. Mechanic says this is common in the IS cars and Lexus V8s at 100K miles and even ES/RX 330 at 150K miles. The factory seal wears down over time and needs to be redone. It is a 5-hour labor job. Initial estimate is $570...which I consider not too bad, although I am disappointed from the Lexus flagship. This issue is not present in the LS 430 because the material or design in the valley of the vee is different.
#14
Pole Position
I have seen those IS threads with the coolant leaking, but honestly I haven't heard of it being a problem on the LS460 engine, but unfortunately it does look like it may be occurring with yours. I imagine what is leaking is the O-ring around that coolant bypass pipe under the manifold. Either that or a simple clamp.
Either way $500 bucks isn't a bad price to remove that intake and fix it. IMO.
Either way $500 bucks isn't a bad price to remove that intake and fix it. IMO.
#15
Racer
Thread Starter
Looks like the leak was in the rear as well as the front pipe. Normal for the coolant to be in the central chamber, but not normal to be present around the perimeter. Will be glad to get this finally fixed as it has been a mystery and difficult to diagnose.