Car Care Nut on why most people need 5k mile or 6 month oil changes
02-21-22, 04:38 PM
#122
Pole Position
Sounds about right. When I do my TB jobs, I only used OEM parts sourced from the dealer. I know a guy who sourced OEM TB job parts from elsewhere, and they turned out to be counterfeit! Because of the critical nature of the TB and TB train, and because there is so much labor involved in a TB job, it doesn't make sense to use any sort of inferior parts.
02-21-22, 05:00 PM
#124
Lexus Fanatic
but you really think only 1 in 20 LS430s have a second TB job done???
At 103k I think? I'm right at 150k on the dot just about right now. The time interval is complete BS for one that sits in a climate controlled garage especially, but I am on my last year. Maybe after 20 years, okay. Toyota designed these TBs for 180k and split it in half to be safe. What does it really matter though? I know for a fact I'll be going well past 90k on this one, probably 120k. My engine isn't ever gonna blow, I'd bet my house on it.
It depends on whether you would just replace it with a car that was $3,000. I would replace it with a brand new car. I would never buy a $3,000 car.
02-21-22, 05:13 PM
#126
Lexus Fanatic
I don't disagree, I still wouldn't put $1,500 for a timing belt into a car worth $1,500...or $3,000 or even $4,000 though. Safety issues sure, but preventative maintenance like a timing belt? No.
02-21-22, 05:16 PM
#127
Lexus Champion
My Mom drives it, and she lives about 3 minutes from me. I still maintain it for her. I have tried and tried and tried to get her to replace it, but she doesn't drive much and she just refuses to spend the money. its been a great car, but I would rather she have something much newer and more reliable.
I will tell you what, I got my $35,000 out of that car!
I think you are vastly overestimating that lol. Most of the old LS430s running around are wrung out. Sure there are a few that people keep low mileage who keep them up well, but they are the minority not the majority.
Even people that keep them up well aren't likely replacing the timing belts. Here's a question, when did YOU replace your timing belt last? I bet its overdue.
I will tell you what, I got my $35,000 out of that car!
I think you are vastly overestimating that lol. Most of the old LS430s running around are wrung out. Sure there are a few that people keep low mileage who keep them up well, but they are the minority not the majority.
Even people that keep them up well aren't likely replacing the timing belts. Here's a question, when did YOU replace your timing belt last? I bet its overdue.
I did my belt when I bought my car at 205k since I didn't trust the sticker claiming it was done at 186k, it was done but I still replaced the water pump, idler, tensioner and cam/crank seals since I didn't trust the no-name pump and OE idler/tensioner (they were fine though when I had them off and measured them) and the latter since the cam seal was wet and the crank seal takes 5 min and costs $15
02-21-22, 05:19 PM
#128
Lexus Fanatic
I even tried to buy her a new car. I even offered to buy her a new ES! No dice. Its not that she likes it per-se, but she sees no value in replacing it since she hardly drives.
For me, I would rather her be in something that will always start at 75 years old.
For me, I would rather her be in something that will always start at 75 years old.
02-21-22, 05:36 PM
#129
Lexus Champion
There was an incident with my aunt/his daughter that set me off completely in 2019 that may entertain you. I'll pm the story if you want but it directly relates to the two cars. Anyway I do get having relatives that just hold on to cars for no good reason. At least you are very close by to help if needed, I'm 800 miles away
02-21-22, 05:48 PM
#130
Lexus Fanatic
Okay that's really odd she won't take a new one of those were your terms, I totally agree the car should be mindlessly reliable. My grandfather (83, and still climbing trees for avocados) INSISTED on keeping a 1995&1/2 Nissan Maxima forever, every time I would visit it would need something. A starter, a rad, a crank sensor, an injector (all 6 in the end...) coils etc. Mind you he has an 04 Odyssey that he kept perfect since new and I know for a fact is actually perfect, but NO he also has to keep the stupid Nissan even after I found him a perfect LS430. I finally got him to get rid of it late last year.
There was an incident with my aunt/his daughter that set me off completely in 2019 that may entertain you. I'll pm the story if you want but it directly relates to the two cars. Anyway I do get having relatives that just hold on to cars for no good reason. At least you are very close by to help if needed, I'm 800 miles away
There was an incident with my aunt/his daughter that set me off completely in 2019 that may entertain you. I'll pm the story if you want but it directly relates to the two cars. Anyway I do get having relatives that just hold on to cars for no good reason. At least you are very close by to help if needed, I'm 800 miles away
Yeah its fine when I'm here, but we travel a lot. I've had a couple of situations where it wouldn't start or something like that and we were away and she had to wait on a tow truck and be without a car. Luckily, the only place its ever left her stranded is at home. You know how it is with old cars that sit around a lot, even if they are well maintained. Usually its just a dead battery and AAA jumps it and its fine, but once it was the starter, and once it was the alternator and both times it had to be towed to my mechanic.
02-21-22, 07:05 PM
#131
Lexus Champion
Oh yeah. Lets put it this way, I never did the TB on the LS400 or the LS430. Never even the first time. The LS400 had 165,000 miles when it was traded on the LS430 on the original belt and the LS430 had like 140k on it, maybe 130k when my dad died and we sold it. Original belt..
Fun trivia on old LS400s with non-interference: The belts would snap and the owner would assume the engine junked and discard. People would pick up second hand and replace the belt and have a great car.
02-21-22, 07:27 PM
#132
Lexus Fanatic
She doesn’t drive much. Maybe 1,500 miles a year. She drives to our house, over to see my Grandmother which is maybe 4 miles, and out to see some clients here or there, but that’s it.
As to would I have changed them if I kept them, I never would have kept them. They were well over 100k miles and never anything I would have kept.
As to would I have changed them if I kept them, I never would have kept them. They were well over 100k miles and never anything I would have kept.
02-22-22, 04:01 AM
#133
Lexus Champion
She doesn’t drive much. Maybe 1,500 miles a year. She drives to our house, over to see my Grandmother which is maybe 4 miles, and out to see some clients here or there, but that’s it.
As to would I have changed them if I kept them, I never would have kept them. They were well over 100k miles and never anything I would have kept.
As to would I have changed them if I kept them, I never would have kept them. They were well over 100k miles and never anything I would have kept.
And right, you never would have kept your old LSs, but based on how I know you keep cars I guarantee the dealer changed the TBs before they re-sold them. They don’t go to the crusher when you get rid of them just because you don’t care for old cars with high miles. The way you keep your cars I’m sure they were gone fast once put up for sale.
02-22-22, 01:41 PM
#134
Lexus Fanatic
That’s nothing, even less than my mom drives. Sounds like that 3.3 of hers will be working until it seizes. What does she do about her garage floor? Cardboard?
And right, you never would have kept your old LSs, but based on how I know you keep cars I guarantee the dealer changed the TBs before they re-sold them. They don’t go to the crusher when you get rid of them just because you don’t care for old cars with high miles. The way you keep your cars I’m sure they were gone fast once put up for sale.
And right, you never would have kept your old LSs, but based on how I know you keep cars I guarantee the dealer changed the TBs before they re-sold them. They don’t go to the crusher when you get rid of them just because you don’t care for old cars with high miles. The way you keep your cars I’m sure they were gone fast once put up for sale.
Depends on who sold those LSs, the 04 was sold to Carmax...they were higher mileage I would imagine they went to auction.
02-22-22, 02:00 PM
#135
Lexus Champion
BTW seeping around seals to me at least isn't even a real oil leak lol, it needs to touch the ground. She's got plenty of time left with that ES.