runsgrateasanut

To digress on the Bloater theme my Grandfather was the last to own the largest Smokehouse in Great Yarmouth which produced the "Bloater" until 1956 when all the Herring had been fished out. He sold to M&S and exported the "Silver Darlings" to Greece and Italy. The premises are now the "Time and Tide" Museum. Don't recall as a Child eating a Bloater only Kippers. In Geat Yarmouth Regent Street there was a Shop which had a giant "Bloater" above its doorway. Used to fascinate me as a child. Daresay its in a Museum somewhere. https://yarmouthmuseums.wordpress.com/

Fitted a Wireless (with night vision) reversing Camera to the GS. Fortunate there had already been a Taurus at some time in its past and so a hot lead was found in the boot side well. Saved a bit of fiddling with the reversing Light. Not a thing of beauty when there is a triple cable with plugs dangling from the non integral Screen affixed to the Dash, but hey ho does the job.

A couple of weeks back I asked my Mechanic to check for anything that needed be replaced and particularly with regard to Steering pre MOT. He found no fault and I trust him. The MOT guy said its an advisory but no need to worry short term. Expecting to do trip to France (at long last) will be 1200 miles minimum and no time to get the replacement inner Control arms changed. Just don't want to end up in France with another broken down vehicle. Will take the new ones with me, but.........

All vehicles on Facebook mention Kilometres for some reason, so not deliberate. Nicely detailed I have to say, and being on LPG will avoid use of E5 or E10 to some extent.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/209005414663559/?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A9a71e8be-dadb-4a99-8212-f5d9593859ff

Thanks John, I've ordered a pair from Rock Auto as I'm not convinced by the seller on ebay who quotes legit brand Advertising but will they be a bona-fide product. When they say "may not be boxed" etc and several different Brands quoted I wonder what the product will actually be. One Neg. feedback complaining of faux product. Should be with me by the 21st at £57 the pair. I daresay the outer should also be changed same time. We'll see. Job on the back burner for the moment.

Car passed its MOT with two advisories. The one that concerns me is quote " Play in Steering Rack inner joint(s" There's a very good Vid on replacing parts of a Steering Rack but the kits I've seen on Rock don't seem to include the Plastic "Castelated (?)" parts which I suspect is what may need to be changed? Its expensive to get a new Replacement and although there are companies offering to "refurbish" there's no knowing for certain what they replace. Steering feels fine and what I did once think was a possible issue, may in fact be a Wheel ABS which makes a vibrating sound on hard lock when slow turning -on rare ocassions. No vibration to the wheels at speed or veering off centre. My Mechanic didn't find any fault and there is no leakage. The P/S Pump was replaced three years ago and I have drained and replaced the fluid. No lights on the Dash for ABS or anything else. Anyone experienced Steering issues with a GS?

Passed the MOT yesterday with two advisories. Sub frame corroded but not seriously weakened and play in the steering rack inner joints which I have been wondering about for some time. Has any other GS owner had a Steering Rack problem? The LS400 has never had any such problem and has done higher miles. Since acquiring the vehicle its had a few new parts. New Calipers, Discs and pads, Serp belt, Oil Filter, Wheels and new Tyres (Sold the 18's 8.5J Grandstand wheels after getting them refurbed, for £500). Still have the Spare (with used tyre) if anyone is interested? Put 17" 7JJ Wheels on and do wonder if the fact that this model had the option of the Wider wheels has something to do with the Steering rack issue - more strain? Had issues of the VSC lights not going out and the CEL light coming on, which was solved by replacement of the lower 1st Bank Lambda sensor. So, no lights on the Dash. Sorted the leaky Sun roof (hopefully) some time back. Fitting a Rear View Wireless Camera but have to say, where do you put the Screen. So many Air bags and an undulating Console make it difficult to place. Don't really want it stuck to the Wind Screen as too far away and light will make it difficult to see the image. Already have a DashCam stuck to the internal Mirror which is less obvious to people outside the Car. It works well.

A way of getting "old Bangers" off the roads, considering that no doubt a high proportion are older untaxed vehicles. If they die a death with Ethanol it will be to the Gov'ts advantage to reduce numbers of Motorists. Perhaps too simplistic a thought. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/nov/26/ministers-lose-80-million-revenue-after-scrapping-car-tax-discs

You may be right, but replacing Lead with a substitute was simpler than replacing water content which this E10 seems to have. Some garages in France were only selling E10 several years ago and it would be interesting to know the profit benefit to Refineries of replacing part Petrol with E10 because the answer to that Question and the fact that Madam Johnson is now running the Governments strategy on reducing Carbon emmisions, this Petrol shortage situation has given an ideal opportunity to "test the water". I couldn't get E5 locally yesterday, only E10. May not have been a supply problem, but just sold out quickly, perhaps? Must be more Cars on the road that can take E10 than can't, so why no E5 Super?

Whereas I keep thinking about the reverse. Replacing my Grey Leather Gear Knob for one of those Chinese leather and wood (?) examples. Haven't seen one with Grey leather each side of the Peach wood (?) GuessI could paint the Leather Grey. Have got some paint in the Garage. Mottled in appearance unlikely to look shabby.

Been unable to fill up and not too bothered though only have less than a Quarter in the Tank. Awaiting the necessary Forms to prove had the Vaccine which will take five days. Tried to download using the App on my PC but after giving all details and a photo of my Driving Licence, it then wanted a selfie. Don't have a Webcam and so phoned the three digit number and hoping will be sent irrespctive of not haivng a selfie or a copy Driving licence. What is this al about?? France trip held up yet again owing to beaurocracy, fuel issue and other personal issues. As MOT due on 14th Oct, have booked in for test. Now the Q. part, will using Fuel injection Cleaner be OK with the E5 or the E10 which I suspect will be the only alternative to diesel after a couple of years? Gov't green madness! (They need to watch this video - I always used Wynns prodcut on these 600 mile trips into France. Will it actually benefit performance where E5 removes performance? (apols video is rather long and can miss the first 20 mins i.m.o)

Only the V6 GS is not compatible. The straight six from 1998 is compatible according to the DVLA. Why the variance?- good question. I have a straight six. Not sure about the GS430 as that will be a V8 engine like the LS430.

LPG - It must be the way to go to avoid as much E10 as you can in the vehicle. Although I suppose this is only wise if it has a Plastic fuel tank as non-moving E10 may damage the tank. I enjoyed my W140 with LPG even though I took a risk with it every drive as it had single point system and a plastic Air intake. Previous owner had blown it apart twice. In six years I managed to avoid same. Perhaps I'll look for a system for this GS300 as I sold a V8 sequential system that sat around for several years intending to put it in my LS400 but never getting around to it. No good for the GS Straight six anyway.

Watched the "Sky Arts 2 hour programme last night of the Eagles at the Forum in 2018. What a group - fantastic after a fourteen year lapse in their history.

At times, and now in particular, I've looked at the oil condition on the dipstick and thought that looks pretty good and so perhaps just a filter change is a good idea. Daresay others will say that the oil absorbs moisture and although the colour is nothing like I can recall in the bad old days of the sixties when black was quite common looking at dipsticks at the Oasis Garage, Chelmsford, for customers (my Sunday job as a Lad), I suppose that there could be an argument that just changing the filter is saving the Planet from excessive use of natural resources. etc, ??? If the seller has used legit quality Filters and can send you a photo of the oil on dipstick then may still be an opportunity for a good Car? More facts needed with of course that added pinch of Salt.

The specific item seen in this thread is what concerned me to buy from Rock Auto a Bosch 3330 filter. https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/counterfeit-oil-filters-are-putting-engines-at-risk https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1217138&cc=1363542&pt=5340&jsn=408&_nck=ZExt1ysfqhqWnq%2BEvUNdS4kQ4ZFqctuXoVauwVeFXZZPyH34YRhCpnqMmRiyR6RMR0pvfZNrVqgItLV%2B16iaMBSxmosI%2FCDszZqZMoClwwxVQTUXHxFb6cJ%2Bga5wiqKlDStXImLZyVtY%2BU6s0eryJGomDmAYFnUuRExlAQ31J%2FJGigBRfFqQayUslNFc8jjDkavI0zGfD0V%2F97UPZWEpu7lH5UrEzLdJOzGpFIlfi4OSJPPo8c2%2BF1WQ2ZzapGBisOYkp7xVwfn80FYfZ%2BPaFcHwkUezy4i0MOd%2BE%2FDU0RgG5VeSfhZyMWFWaE1rQaqtdB5PnePjzOIQi7BHy3CShf82GGTlaMW8

Reading your article reminds me that apparently there are fake Spark plugs around and I have been toying with which Oil Filter to buy for the next oil change. Seen filters on ebay marked as "Toyota" and with a box, but slight variation in code made me do an online check to see if there are any articles on possible fakes. Research has made me buy from Rock Auto in the hope of getting a genuine product. Many of them on the bay look like added labels. A Bosch filter from Rock costs me under £15 on arrival. If it doesn't look right I'll have learned a lesson.

Need to check that these will fit as per part number as may only be for 89-94 ? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274844310727

So, on the straight six I think I have, divided into two blocks of three, an upstream and downstream O2 sensor on Bank 123 Cat whereas I only have an Upstream O2 sensor on bank 456 and now I recall (still sleepy when I last replied) seeing beneath the Car a second O2 Sensor. Having taken a look, that 2nd Sensor is on straight pipe slightly forward of mid door position. Can't see an extra Box and the nearest Cat is angled upward and partly out of sight (assume Bank 2) Paperwork history suggests has had some Exhaust repair work at some time but can't say if a Cat or muffler existed before and has been removed. The Car is very quiet when running, not noisy.

I'll have to have another look but from what I could see under the Bonnet the two Cats are inline with the 02 Sensors, three of which Sensors are visible from the Engine Bay. The diagram is LHD version and perhaps has something extra for California emission Laws? Can't believe there are six 02 Sensors, but who am I to doubt..............

I imagine the low life use a battery powered Reciprocating Saw or similar Angle Grinder. They certainly won't be using a spanner to release nuts. Must make a hell of a noise but in broad daylight I think I've read that these scroats wear Garage Overalls so that people observing assume that they are doing something legit? The Mk 2 GS 300 has its Cats high up in the Engine bay so no worry for me.

Quote " nearly all toyota engines that use a belt rather than a chain are non-interference, including the 4.0 and 4.3 V8sI" Unquote Fear I have been referring to this 2004 thread Colin and a comment you made. Thanks for the correction. The GS300 year 2000 is a VVTi engine so I may get the belt done before a long trip, but there is mention of 100k mile change in this old thread.

I miss my LS400 v8 however I do find this GS300 packs acceleration. (Can be modded to 1000HP I read, not that I'm into that. The interesting thing I also read from Member Colin recently, is that the GS300 altough Cam belt has a non-interference engine. I'd booked the cambelt, water pump etc, change for next week, but after looking at the Cam belt on it and seeing it is a Toyota Belt, I have postponed the change as the Belt in the Kit I bought from Rock Auto I was not too happy about and have just ordered a genuine Toyota Belt via a US seller. The Belt was last changed at 68k back in 2007 and now has 131243 miles. There is a little oil seal leakage seen on the Sprocket but think it can wait perhaps until after we can get to France and back - whenever that may be? 02 Sensor has just failed and VSC two lights have come back on after I cleared them. Will sort next week. Downstrem one will be pig of a job so not doing it myself.

Initially I was referring to a similar car as the one you have purchased, up for sale as per link, should anyone be interested in that model. Before writing the link I waxed lyrical about the issues I have with my Mk 2 GS300 which is why I suppose I was scanning Cars for sale and spotted the Mk 3 version. The Mk 3 is a nice looking Car. I bought during lockdown and regret the only cheapy Lexus that came up locally was the one I purchased and didn't really give it sufficient scrutiny. I'm knocking it into shape at some expense. Didn't meant to spoil your thread. That's amazing mpg by the way. The 3L Mk 2 does less than 30 mpg. Is your Car a straight six or a V6? Significant difference.