lexinvegas

Posted a while back that my 2017 GS 350 F Sport appeared to have a water pump leak. Dealer said it probably was a leak, but
Lexus wouldn'y replace it til it got worse. Got lots of replies of what people thought of this, and took it back
in today to say fix it or give me official notification that you wouldn't so I could take it to the next level. They ended up saying it wasn't
a leak per se, but something normal. Didn't believe it til they showed me this document from Lexus. It appears they are right.
Any comments?

bclexus

I don't have any problem with that understanding and judgment. Dried (evaporated) coolant is one thing, but wet, dripping coolant on the ground with loss of coolant is entirely different.

I've never known a water pump seal to be self-lubricated by the coolant in lieu of grease on a pressed-in seal, but I can accept that as maybe plausible.

The problem I have is digesting the idea that coolant, while presumed to be under significant pressure, is used to self-lubricate the seal with just an inconsequential amount of coolant seeping from the seal area that is accepted if it evaporates and dries. Yet this same coolant, while presumed to be under significant pressure, surprisingly does not create enough of a leak to drip coolant continuously. I just don't know how the coolant seepage at the seal is regulated so soundly as to prevent it from leaking (dripping) almost continuously in which it would remain wet at the seal area and on the ground underneath it.

LeX2K

That's some kind of BS from Lexus.

jgscott

iTrader: (1)

Same BS Lexus described about the leakings GS Struts. As if they would stop leaking and would not increase leaking.

Drain half the Coolant out and drive back monitoring the temp that it does not overheat and tell them to check now, is what I might do.

NJLEXES

Don't know where you're at mileage wise. Depending on that, you've got your powertrain warranty (6 yr 70k) to fall back on if it fails later on. No rhyme or reason to it as my 2017 GS350 water pump had a slight leak at 4 1/2 years/39k and my dealer did replace it. It wasn't catastrophic leak by any means but had noticed my overflow reservoir was a little low prior. You've established a "history" with them to fall back on as well down the road. Just keep an eye on the level for now.That's a good indication to go by.

peasodos

iTrader: (1)

Let them clean it up and see if pink coolant shows up ever again in that area. I'm at 119K+ miles and not a single trace of coolant anywhere but in the reservoirs and mine has two systems, one for the hybrid battery, and one for the engine.

lexinvegas

Yes, they did clean it up, so will monitor if any pink drops return. If they don't, then maybe they were right. Either way, having established "a history", I'm not too
worried about it going completely out (depending on where it happens). BTW, it only has 14k miles and is certified. Thanks for the input to all responses.

asciarra21

@bclexus I know the 3GS’s had the 80K mile water pump issue and most had theirs changed in that mileage range. I changed mine at 120K and it looked fine but wanted to be safe on a 1000 mile trip and didn’t want to have it fail then..

However, did this get corrected in the 4GS?

I presume the seal on the water pump is a type of lip seal and not a labyrinth seal.

Sounds suspect to me as to the dealer’s reply.