200 Coolant

[PQuist]

Has anyone had their engine coolant changed by themselves? Dealer has quoted me £105 +VAT to change the coolant but I cannot justify this amount.

How easy is it to change that considering I haven’t held a spanner in my hand before?

[Monster-Mat]

easy to do, just make sure you use Toyota red coolant, there is a drain tap at the bottom of the radiator

[Mr Morse]

Don't do it while the engine is hot!

Like da man says, release the small plug at the bottom inside of the rad, then unscrew the top cap.

Filling up - tighten the bottom plug, fill with coolant at the top, run the engine to get it circulating and top up the expansion bottle.

10 min job

[PQuist]

how much is Toyota red coolant roughly?

[Monster-Mat]

best asking chris shipley....

[Mr Morse]

how much is Toyota red coolant roughly?

←

It's a generic product so you don't need to buy from Toyota. Halfords, Motor World or Charlie Brown's do a 5L can for about £25

Just make sure it's the RED colour stuff

[crazylex]

Watch out for trouble bleeding it when filled - see this link coolant noise and my avatar.

Even though with my problem I did not hange the coolant myself, basically it was on insurance claim, I would normally do everything I could myself that I was capable of, Lexus are a rip off, as are all main dealers of any make .

I would be interested to know if you do not have this problem when done - keep it posted !

[PQuist]

Changed the cooland on Sunday. Job done in 20min. Drove 50 miles just to be certain and guess what? Absolutely delighted. The fan doesn't kick in when idea for a few min as it used to.

[nicnac]

£100 odd for ten minutes work.....nice if you can get it!!

[aski]

Changed the cooland on Sunday. Job done in 20min. Drove 50 miles just to be certain and guess what? Absolutely delighted. The fan doesn't kick in when idea for a few min as it used to.

So you dont have any air in the system? I have seen others on here mention it. I was about to change mine until i saw some of the posts saying they had problems afterwards with trapped air.

Whats the best way to avoid getting air in the system?

Does it need jacking up?

My driveway is on an incline if that makes any difference.

Any ideas guys

[Monster-Mat]

when filling up, once you have about 2 litres in the radiator, switch on the engine, turn the heater to full heat and medium fan setting

keep topping up the radiator till its full, (the temp should start to move of cold) once the guage starts rising close the rad cap, top the expansion bottle upto the mark indicated, run upto full temp.

switch of engine, alow to fully cool, top up if needed

NOTE:

there is a block drain tap under the exhaust manifold...it looks like a little tap(infact, it is a little tap)

Edited January 19, 2006 by Monster-Mat

[aski]

there is a block drain tap under the exhaust manifold...it looks like a little tap(infact, it is a little tap)

I take it that this is significant?

Can you expalin Matt as I have only ever changed the coolant on my escort when I was 17.

What does it do/required for

Edited January 19, 2006 by Monster-Mat

[Monster-Mat]

I take it that this is significant?

Can you expalin Matt as I have only ever changed the coolant on my escort when I was 17.

What does it do/required for

for a complete coolant change the block, in best practice, also needs draining...this is where its done, in all honesty, if a good flush is done, it doesnt really matter that much

its a pain to get to aswell :)

Edited January 19, 2006 by Monster-Mat

[aski]

I take it that this is significant?

Can you expalin Matt as I have only ever changed the coolant on my escort when I was 17.

What does it do/required for

for a complete coolant change the block, in best practice, also needs draining...this is where its done, in all honesty, if a good flush is done, it doesnt really matter that much

its a pain to get to aswell :)

I take it you need to get under tha car to reach it then :tsktsk:

[Monster-Mat]

I take it that this is significant?

Can you expalin Matt as I have only ever changed the coolant on my escort when I was 17.

What does it do/required for

for a complete coolant change the block, in best practice, also needs draining...this is where its done, in all honesty, if a good flush is done, it doesnt really matter that much

its a pain to get to aswell :)

I take it you need to get under tha car to reach it then :tsktsk:

yep...dirty dirty job well not exactly, just a real pain to get to from under the manifold from the front...it really isnt worth worrying about on such new cars at the moment....i doubt lexus drain the block anyway

Edited January 20, 2006 by Monster-Mat