Britprius

The plugs on the GS450H are easy to get at and change only requiring the engine top covers to be removed, and one bolt holding the coils. It took me well less than an hour to change mine including an oil, and filter change. These plugs in the Toyota cars are changed every 120,000 miles, and are removed, checked, threads lubricated, "yes I did say lubricated" and refitted at 60,000 miles according to the service schedule for the Prius for instance. The reason for removing at 60,000 is given as to stop them seizing in. If the plugs were changed at 60,000 miles the one now fitted have only done 30,000 miles. Since they do not deteriorate with age only miles there is no reason to change them. John

Your one up on me I haven't got a Black and Decker workmate. I'm jealous. John.

Phil have a word with Mij in Walsall. They were by far the best quote I got for my GS450H rear system. I did actually make up my own exhaust mainly because of a delay in getting a response from them initially due to Email problems at there end. See my post in the GS section "Exhaust problems". John

As "Farqui" says there are a number of factors that come into play. However the actual tyres you are using can make a big difference to your MPG figures What tyres were fitted to your previous vehicle, and what tyres are fitted to your new vehicle? Looking these up for rolling resistance may give a clue as to what is going on. If you are uncertain let us know the details of the tyres, and I will put the figures up for you. The difference between an "A" rated tyre, and an "F" rated tyre is substantial. If you can put up with the harder ride increasing tyre pressures by 2 PSI can make a noticeable difference, and can often improve tyre life. The simple fact is the right tyres can pay for themselves in fuel saved over there life time. John.

If you read the post 8 again you will find they are new bushes. John

After putting another couple of hundred miles on the exhaust I can now confirm a definite improvement in economy of around 5%. This is something I had not contemplated as a result of changing the exhaust, but I am more than pleased with the result. John.

Good outcome. Keep a close eye on the fronts just in case you never know. John

I just looked up the Email quote, and I over priced very slightly. Actual quote was £659-66 for one front shock fitted. I did not have them do the work as I refurbished the shock myself. John.

I was quoted £670 for one front shock at Lexus Wolverhampton fitted. John.

They are showing the price as £263, and that is about the price they can be found at. According to the picture it looks correct. John.

The rears are very easy to fit takes me about 30 minutes on the floor with a trolley jack as no spring compressor is needed if you go about it the correct way. The fronts take a little longer, but still do not need a compressor. I must admit I am still dubious they are the correct items for the gen3 GS450H, but if they are that's a great price. They are charging you about £200 for fitting that is about 1 hours work in a workshop. John.

If they are the correct parts that is an extremely good price. The cheapest I have been able to find front or rears have been £100 more than the prices quoted. The non hybrid GS shocks however are at the price levels quoted so beware that they are the correct parts. The difference is that the GS450H shocks are adjustable on the road. The adjustment is via a rod accessest through a hole in the top of the threaded section of the shocks. John.

I must disagree with you there Peter on two counts possibly three. One your going to get less mpg from V Power in spite of what the adds say. Two your paying "in your words" possibly £5 extra for less mpg. A fuel additive "injector cleaner" added twice a year would have the same or better results at less cost. I did work for Esso Petroleum for a number of years, and most of what you hear is marketing hype. Although the CT "the car the OP is asking about" has a high theoretical compression ratio, it's actual compression ratio is much lower as being an Atkinson cycle engine the inlet valves are kept open for part of the compression "short compression" stroke so reducing it's compression. It also has a long stroke combustion designed for a long slow burn to get the most from the mixture expansion as it burns. This increases the engine efficiency. John.

Primarily the amount of power you get from any liquid or gas fuel depends on it's calorific value "the amount of energy it contains for a given quantity", and secondary what the engine was designed to run on. The lower octane fuels contain more calories than the higher octane, and the CT was designed to run on the lower octane rated fuels this is in the handbook. You will gain both performance, and economy by staying with the correct grade. There is nothing to gain from using higher octane fuels providing there are no problems with the engine such as a faulty knock sensor. If the knock sensor is faulty a higher octane fuel will mask the problem. John.

Being stainless does not stop the exhaust "in particular the silencers" from being eaten away by acid. The silencers are more vulnerable because the metal is thinner, they run cooler and have areas below the pipe levels that cannot drain moisture. Once the inner skin gets perforated the acid moister gets trapped between the two skins attacking the inner skin from both sides. John.

If the GS is anything to go by the pipe work is not stainless. The rear silencers have stainless end plates and a "very" thin stainless outer cover. This gets eaten away by by sulfuric acid from the combustion process eventually from the inside. See my pictures in the GS section under "Exhaust problems". John.

Pictures of the silencers. John

It was the "Y" section that failed, but the outer skin of the rear boxes was rust through in a couple of places on each box. The inner skin was crumbling to the point where I could if I tried push my fingers through. I'll post some pictures of the boxes later. I could have repaired the "Y" section, but as I intend keeping the car I decided it was just postponing the inevitable. John.

I took the car for a regular 100 mile round trip today that I do on a weekly or more basis. The weather, and traffic were not conducive to getting the best MPG. To my surprise the car produced the best figures ever on the computer by 4%, and more typically 5%. This is definitely not a placebo effect, but very real. I can only put this down to the exhaust system. I am sure under more favorable conditions the figure could have been higher. John.

The screen should be showing the camera, but yours is showing maps.Go to ready mode as that should also work. John

After going into accessory mode press the brake pedal and select reverse or alternatively press the unlock button by the side of the gear shifter. John

Lee the function is not in the hidden menu. With assessor mode on put the car in reverse so that the rear view appears. Press the touch button on the lower right of the screen, then the button on the lower left to choose the operating mode. Do this with the steering slightly offset to one side as this will show the steering lines instead of them being hidden behind the straight ahead lines. Turning the steering will move the lines to show the path the car will take. John

The reversing lines especially the ones that move with the steering are the most useful feature of the camera enabling reverse turning between objects easy. The view shown is normal. John.

The batteries were from a company called "Phoenix power equipment LTD" in Yorks, but are available on Ebay at similar prices less if you order from China. A single battery is available "non tagged" at Maplins for £4. The battery is a CR2450 button cell. Tags are not essential as just fitting the battery in place and re-fixing the cover should work fine as the current required is minimal. However being a retired electronics engineer I like to dot the I's, and cross the t's. Be sure when re-fitting the battery the side marked + is upper most that is visible with the cover not fitted. John.

I would ask for an external valet on the car to be paid for. This would cost possibly £30, but would be reasonable recompense. John