texrexlex

on my 97 es300. i've got 97,000 miles (w/ all sceduled maintainance EXCEPT the t-belt change). I know that it's recommended @ 90K, but i read much testimony that people can safely wait quite a bit longer. So i'd like to take a poll on this, whether to do it now, or not. If not, when? (but i'm not really sure if i'm doing this correctly, the poll, that is. I checked the little "poll" box at the bottom.)

Thanks for any considerate input.

Stub333

I recently did a T-Belt job and replaced everything...waterpump, tensioners, etc. All of these parts had 80k miles on them and could have lasted another 50k at least, we could not believe the condition they were in. Highway miles might have been a factor, who knows. I know I could have waited much longer though.

In your case I would just replace the T-Belt at this point. Next T-Belt job I would do everything else

Pheonix

It's not just the timing belt. It's the water pump.

If you can't vouch that the coolant - regardless of what was originally in it - has been FLUSHED every 3 years (no more). Then I say it's in the best intrests of your entire cooling system to change the belt & waterpump. Might as well do the thermostat - they're cheap too. So are pressure caps - but we're really splitting hairs.


There are pleanty of people that have gone 120-150 & over, but that's really not a good idea. As often as I will tell people go cheap - I never recommend exceeding the tb schedule.

Ya we all know Toyota goofed the old schedule of 60,000m - but 90,000m sounds good.

Especially considering the following:



That Toyota belt had less than 30,000 miles on it & split @ 143mph. WELL within the oeprational RPM range of the valvetrain & engine.



That Toyota belt had less than 2 days on it.



As always - my 2 favorite demonstration pics of all time.

Lexmex

On my RX, I also had Lexus change the water pump at the same time as the timing belt. I recenly put an aftermarket lightweight crankshaft pulley last Saturday on my RX and my cousin took just 30 minutes to get off the belts and put on the pulley. Did not seem like rocket science there.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

might as well change it , you can get that extra mileage on the new one

texrexlex

Yeah, i've read and heard before that, even though replacing the water pump is sort of recommended, and can be a great idea, usually, when it is removed during the replacement, it turns out to be absolutely fine; many recommend changing the belt every 90k, but water pump every other t-belt change.

thanks everyone who has commented and participated. i appreciate it.

Pheonix

^ Which is why they are replaced @ 90,000m. Look at how many other O***s have water pump failures between 60,000 and 120,000 miles.
Which is why Toyota said forget it, we'll MAKE them change it so it won't matter as much if they neglect the cooling system like most owners do.



Good luck with it! Let us know how it goes, what ya pay etc. All the good details!

RedRacer

What is the most current accepted TB "official" service interval for this V6 engine? My '97 ES300 has 65k miles and the dealer is bugging me to change the belt. Is the TB breaking or the H2O pump leaking before ~80k miles a real danger or should I be okay to wait until ~90k miles?

Yeah, yeah I know there are no gurantees in life

Pheonix

90,000m. Your tb was always listed as a 90,000 mile maint. This is why you never go to a Lexus dealer. They will rape you every possible chance they can get.

lexsterES

change the t-belt, water pump if need to be from leakage.

badgis

You could probably go a while longer, but if it broke you would be kicking yourself for not doing it.

ESpair

According to www.gates.com, the 3VZ-FE and 1MZ-FE are not interference engines; if the timing belt breaks, you get stranded but your engine is not damaged. The 3MZ-FE is an interference engine; if the timing belt breaks it means severe engine damage.

sub786sub

SO IT MEANS WE SHOULD CHANGE THE TB WITH IN 30 K . OR WITH IN 2 DAYS ACCORDING TO YOUR PIC . WELL THOSE PIC MIGHT BE .01 % OF CASES . FOR THOSE TB WE CAN'T DO MUCH ABOUT IT .
IN GENERAL TB LAST LONG ESPECIALLY THE ORIGINAL ONE .
I CHANGED MY TB @ 110 K . GOOD CONDITION .

Pheonix

ESpair, gates is inaccurate. Later 1mz-fe's, and 3mz-fe's are, 2vz, 3vz, and early 1mz-fe's are not.



sub786sub don't type in all caps - it coveys that you're shouting on the internet.

sub786sub

THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT . ON MY COMPUTER THE KEY SAYS " CAPS LOCK" MAY BE ON YOUR COMPUTER IT SAYS "SHOUTING " CHANGE YOUR KEY BOARD.