Redefined

Why not go with 500ml (I assume on the 500h its about 6L on a full oil renewal with filter) and take for a drive. Then check the disptick is on the higher mark when oils hot. If not another 200ml until you reach it. Flat surface obviously and hope the light stops doing that. I always think that slightly less oil is better than overfilled... Excess pressures and blown seals/gaskets and all that.

Hi Hatat... Do you have access to your service book or manual. Under oil/top up there might be a small section explaining how much is acceptable to lose every 1000 miles. I've had more than one car now (at least 2 were Subarus 3.0L Spec B petrol) that came with a little card explaining that I could lose x amount over 1000 miles. Hence a good idea keeping an eye on the levels and also investigating how much oil loss is acceptable. Might be it's a few 100ml of oil short so at certain angles/times it's sending the low oil signals up. Hope you get it sorted (I know I'd be tempted to check the oil and if at the low mark/tolerance level when cold, to just top it up by a smidgen). *Smidgen being 200 to 300ml.

Hello everyone and hopefully your CT200' are treating you well. Just thought I better inquire as to which is best to go for in terms of reliabilty and easy to service at home etc etc. Sometimes in the LS430 it can become quite a chore getting to work and back without spending most of the earnings on fuel. Thankfully the wife passed last year and the odd occassion I've used her Honda 1.4 Civic it's been a pleasant exp at not spending so much at the fuel stations. Now she's almost had a full years ownership of her first car we've agree to upgrade and a CT200H seems to tick all the boxes. Just don't wanna end up with one that's a problem mark/year! Thanks again for your input which is always appreciated.

When I had my Subarus and was following Mr Subaru (indy Subaru specialist sharing lots of knowledge on YT) he advised to change. So I did. Didn't stop the head gasket blowing up though ☺️

Today, coming back to the SC430. As we drove to mums, told the missus that once the kids are out of our hair (12, 9 and 18) we can get a small car. First response was, "but how would you fit your bike". Who cares about the bike I thought as flashes of the SC430 and a Toyota Celica went through my head 😳 To think that when I got the LS430, I told her that it'll be the last car I ever own.

Droming coming from one of the wheel bearings again. Pretty sure it's not the tyres (which are winter tyres so could be road noise) and also pretty sure it sounds like the bearing that was changed last month. Got an appointment at LexTec on Friday so will ask Dave to double check as I can't feel any play at any of the wheels. But, yesterdays job was a full interior clean. Daughter hoovered the mats and made em look immaculate. Despite having completed many other jobs over the year, it's always a good clean that always seems most time consuming but also most satisfying. Daughter (along with the family) got in the car today for eid and going to my mums. "Dad, feels like a new car"... Thanks v much, it does too 👊

Whilst driving (I mean, 'cruising') past I took a quick glance. White chap in his 60s or 70s. Well kempt and looking fit for the age, maybe a heart health of closer to 50. Bald head, probably in cruise control. My horning and excitement probably left him unphased more than anything. From my minds eye (I assumed) he didn't even notice another LS (albeit a common 430) going past in excitement. Oh well, I guess we'll never know. If you do ever come past on here Mr LS400 driver... 'hello and lovely kept car'. Looked mint ☺️ and the alloys unblemished (I took a glance) at 70mph.

Driving down the M60 yesterday I think. Somewhere near Manchester, I was driving towards Cheshire. Spotted what looked like a classic Merc in the distance and thought, 'Oh, looks rather lovely just as a classic Merc should'. Got closer then realised it had an L on the badge. 'Oh', and then closer inspection confirmed I was looking at (IIRC) an X or Y reg LS400. Beautiful!! Naturally I couldn't contain myself and gave a little pap of the horn as I overtook carefully. Not satisfied I'd been seen in my less classy LS430, I then proceeded to try and wave (like a moron) with my lights/hazards. If it was you (I think I know who it was), then I'm 😞 sorry... 😊 I get easily excited.

Hi @Niskus I'm about 30 miles from Lex Tec and used them recently for my timing belt and pump changed. I think you're (as am I) onto a winner here with Dave at Lex Tec. I was actually gonna suggest him but didn't know how far away you were. No, you're not talking to yourself as often the threads get read with any replies as there simply isn't anything constructive to add from the members. Glad you're sorted...

Oh... and he refunded me in full due to the lack of warranty issue. 🙂

Sorry to hear that @HighlandJohn on my LS430 which I run on a shoestring budget I've a hole (literally) right in the drivers view. The hole is at least 2mm which is where someone previously must've done a shoddy repair job. Had the windscreen people out many many months ago without disturbing my insurance. Cost was in the £200s but when he attended he said it was suitable to be able to give me a warranty. The repair is still going strong and the 3 cracks either side of the hole haven't gotten any bigger. Anxiety causing indeed. Hope your replacement goes well...

Looks like it's been well looked after. Well done to Car Care Nut for taking the time to get to the bottom of the problem and obviously well done to the owner for persevering.

ES300 1997. How gorgeous. Say hello to my new favourite (looking) car. Bet they cost a bomb!

Not watched the vid yet (edit: well I'm halfway through now). but what a gorgeous Lexi that is. Looks 4 door and I note the wheels look same as a Toyota Century. That's the other car I think looks amazing and maybe one day I'll own. Anyone got either (the above or a Century). How are they to own as a daily driver. My daily is an LS430 and it's lovely.

After doing the brake discs and complementary bleed, the pedal wasn't sitting quite firm as I'd wanted. Must be the slight gashes in the seal around the nearside rear caliper. Not rocket science really and I definitely don't want another scenario of uneven pad wear. Checked OAE Parts and an eye unavailable watering £40 kit, meant I went to Big REDD instead. Ebay shop, seals ordered. Thought it might be tricky as you might not be able to visualise down the piston bore. But, really straightforward. Some pics of the finished product and how I always get the pistons to retract once off the car. There was signs that someone has had both brake hoses removed as some point as they'd not been put back in the grooves properly - but this wouldn't affect performance. Could've gotten away with just the passenger side but I thought to keep em uniform. Lots of scrubbing with my tooth brush as well as various sponges. You have to be careful not to introduce debri/dust into the piston bores! Plenty of scrubbing corrosion where the seals slot inside the pistons outers. Both now press in with a satifying push in the hands. Young un helped me again to do a 2 man brake bleed - may Allah bless and guide him - and I must remember to recheck the tightness of all wheel hub bolts. Nice drive to work n back of 110 miles and the braking was that much more enjoyable!

Hi @Steve Rothery sorry I've just seen this. My lights have gotten through winter and still crystal clean/clear. That's despite not having ordered the 3m overcote he suggested. He'id he doesn't apply cos most people don't wish to pay for the extra upgrade so just refers those who do to the correct stuff. Anyway, this is him https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hm8hRbfa3rTkw913A

Forgot to add, just in case anyone miatakenly drops by the thread whilst exploring maintenance bits on their LS430. The discs were very very worn. Down to about 10mm whenthe minimal spec is 14.5mm I believe (according to some etching on the new original discs). When removing the rear discs, the parking brake/drum brake may have cut a groove inside the disc inner face. You'd want to back off the parking brake by aligning the hole (at 9 o clock and 3 o clock respectively on either side) and finding the little tightening rotor inside. Then use a flat head screw driver to get in the hole and loosen it slightly (don't forget to retighten in reverse and finding the optimal engagement). Here's a little diagram I made explain which side is righty tighty and which is righty loosy!

https://www.bremboparts.com/europe/en/support/how-to-choose-the-right-product/which-is-the-right-brake-fluid-for-my-car-195105 NB seems like Brembo have two different types of dot 4. Dot 4 and dot 4 low viscous. Could it be you're using the low viscosity and it's too thin the be retained around the pistons. Just a thought, but then that still doesn't explain why only one side is leaking. To answer that, again 'maybe', it's just the side that decided to leak when the pressure built up and the seal might have been disturbed on the inside. It's a bit of a labyrinth seal which would need quite a good build up of pressure to really be disturbed. Interested to see what you eventually figure out. If you are on low viscosity I'd definitely think about bleeding the whole system with standard dot4 and take it from there. Also, don't foeget that dot fluid is corrosive but easily denatured by water. So spray some water all over the areas where it could have splurted out and maybe some brake cleaner thereafter. Just watch where you spray the brake cleaner though as you don't want it entering any grease ports/CV boots or bearings.

Dot 3 and dot4 are definitely cross compatible. In fact (AFAIR) dot 4 has a better/higher boiling point so an upgrade. I've rebuilt quite a few brake calipers and from what you describe it sounds like a bad piston or rubber seal. The gap between the piston and the surrounding is a fraction of a mm so a worn caliper that has been refurbished (I'd assume with it being a new unit that it is just a rebuilt unit unless you bought it new from Lexus?) might have taken a hit around the housing at some point. Hope that helps and hope you get it sorted. Goes without saying that a leaking caliper means the car shouldn't be driven until you've got the bottom of it. Which in my mind should be a replacement part from whoever supplied you the calipers. They'll definitely have come with a 12 month warranty so get onto the seller for the replacement.

Whilst doing the rear brake calipers with genuine Lexus discs and JapanParts (so near enough original in my opinion) pads I sheared the bolt. Basically 3x bolts cane out nicely without needing much breaker bar, but this one was seized solid and probably double threaded. Was coming out very slowly with the breaker bar, a quart turn at a time so I decided to be an idiot, went and got a 19mm impact socket for my impact wrench/driver and give it a bash. Bash it I did and at first thoughts it seemed to have just absorbed the 200nm of whacking. But got the breaker bar on again and it sheared. 5 days of having it on the tripods and various techniques attempted. A random mobile welder - with zero reviews on google and a url that lead to a broken URL link - wanted £150 which I was unwilling to pay. Instead I paid well over half of that in various drill bits; a new grinding stone for my dremel and eventually a 14mm tap and handle from Tracy Engineering Services down in Torquay somewhere. New hole tapped and 1 door down nieghbour tells me I could borrow his tools if I ever needed. Turns out he had a tap handle 😆 so I could have saved £25 at least. Anyway, all is well that ends well and thanks to the folks at Bearbones Bikepacking for helping with some pointers. News pads and discs on with a bleed on all four ends and the little 'love' is back on the road. Couldn't be bothered leaving it on the tripods up front to do the engine oil which is due - I try to change every 5000 miles but might leave it until 6000 this time due to the cold weather coming in - maybe in a week or few. The brakes were good on the off side but worn through to the metal on the near side. Not sure how that happened as they must've been ok in Feb 2023 when I gave em a bleed. Will have to keep an eye as the drivers side still had 30% of pads left. This is the spare bolt that the salvage place allowed me to scrounge off the yard floor. Chooped it and shaved it to help with alignment (as I'd tapped the new hole ever so slightly wonky and this was too long anyway).

Definitely not a milk float and definitely looks lovely. Congrats and welcome to the Lexus forum (if you weren't here already) @MedicalFlyer

Only the smallest detail at the mo, in relation to my rear pads seeming a bit worn (nearside has cut a groove into the disc and was scarping before that, so I'll happily guess it's the pads worn). Bagged myself an original Lexus disc set from ebay for the handsome price of £57 (£270 the pair on OUQ parts). Was chekcingout the weights of thw various top end discs online - Textar, Brembo etc - and they were recorded as 6kg each. Weighed in the original Toyota disc just now and 5.7kg... Result!! Though I understand/appreciate it's better to have more weight at the rear wheels for snow/traction. The cheaper Delphi/Blueprint types seemed to be showing up at 11kg, but that may have been for the pair! Pads ordered (JapCarParts) and will get em all sorted in the coming weeks. Hopefully it'll sort my slightly sticky handbrake too!

I think this by Katie Halper could happily live here. Genocide, ethnic cleansing, double standards and stealing land should be called exactly what it is... Even YT is in on the genocide enabling (you might think not, just like Elon Musk couldn't afford to lose money from calling it what it is). Katie halper is one of the best news channels on the matter and they bring on the modern day John Pilgers and Noam Chomskys. Be well..

Drove 60 miles to work. No one flashing other way and I didn't feel underlighted. So might have done the trick!

7 Not very scientific (car parked behind me after I'd gotten all set up). It was able to be adjusted by hand so didn'tuse the socket afterall. Lets hope it works.. What beautifully engineered cars.