FlaGX470

Original owner of an '07 470. 11 yrs old but only 24k miles [honest]. Book says coolant change [plus other stuff] at 10 yrs/120k miles. Coolant looks like new as does brake fluid. No coolant [or other] leaks. Concerned that radiator flush might result in a leak. What would you do? Thanks.

chiph9

The radiator is probably fine ... for now. But expect it to start leaking soon - they hit a certain age and the plastic edges will crack. Look for red "crystals" forming along the sides. Dealer cost is in the $600-700 range. But it's something any qualified mechanic can do. Buy Denso or Lexus OEM. Make sure your mechanic knows not to let transmission fluid leak from the built-in cooler. The transmission on the GX is very sensitive to fluid levels. Use Toyota/Lexus pre-mix coolant if you can. There are aftermarket brands that are "good enough" - just make sure they are approved for use in Toyotas (the color should be red/pink, not green)

Brake fluid should be changed every 3 years. Or 2 years if you live near the ocean or large body of water (great salt lake, great lakes region, etc). It absorbs humidity from the air and after a while, the internals of the braking system will start to rust. In extreme cases you can have problems stopping, as the moisture content has gotten so high that the hot brake calipers cause it to turn into steam, and steam compresses - reducing braking ability significantly. Make sure your mechanic has the software needed to run the ABS pump so the old fluid in there gets exchanged too.

The coolant can probably go 4 years between changes. Depends on how hard it gets worked by your environment (like desert southwest). Don't do a flush - just do a drain + fill.

Chip H.

ALAN553