2019 GX460 (1 UR FE) 60k mi; various oils in multiple UOAs

[sds911]

Dropped the GX460 at dealer. Showed SA the UOA and history. Had several other issues I have to get checked also. So, hopefully they will figure it out

Coolant but Sodium has different sources though. It's not coming from the oil.

What might cause the sodium level to increase? I do eat Snyders Sourdough Pretzel bites. But, don’t remember adding any to my sump.

 

[sds911]

Cat Labs ran the Potassium number again on the 60k UOA. Higher still…now at 17 (from 14). Sodium dropped to 4 (from 8)

 

[fantastic]

On your laptop or phone?

Google Sheets can be accessed through the Google Sheets phone app or through a web browser https ://docs .google .com/spreadsheets/
Although I very much prefer accessing it via the browser on my Chromebook.

Dropped the GX460 at dealer. Showed SA the UOA and history. My coolant overflow tank cap had pink coolant crusties. Not the first time and I had advised my TX dealership about very low coolant tank last year.

I did proactively replace coolant cap on radiator and did the radiator drain and fill. I know my level was correct then b/c I checked it over several days hot and cold. The overflow tank was 1/4 to 1/2 inch below max b4 I took it to Dealer and 10 minutes later level was over max line at temperature.

Wonder if higher elevation has any impact from sea level in TX to 6500 in CO?

Had several other issues I have to get checked also. So, hopefully they will figure it out before my warranty expires.

Your 55k to 60k is when you did that work?

Dropped the GX460 at dealer. Showed SA the UOA and history. Had several other issues I have to get checked also. So, hopefully they will figure it out

What might cause the sodium level to increase? I do eat Snyders Sourdough Pretzel bites. But, don’t remember adding any to my sump.

HA! Snyder's is good.
Have you seen the coolant level drop over this 55-60k or was that when the works was done & you might have overfilled masking any potential coolant loss?

 

[sds911]

Google Sheets can be accessed through the Google Sheets phone app or through a web browser https ://docs .google .com/spreadsheets/
Although I very much prefer accessing it via the browser on my Chromebook.

Your 55k to 60k is when you did that work?

HA! Snyder's is good.
Have you seen the coolant level drop over this 55-60k or was that when the works was done & you might have overfilled masking any potential coolant loss?

I drained the radiator only at 55,400 miles in TX on August 25, 2024. Less than a gallon of Toyota pink SLLC. I used the (Lisle?) inexpensive funnel kit to refill and burp system. I replaced radiator cap with new OEM. I checked over several days to make sure the overflow tank was at appropriate level - hot and cold.

I’ve noticed on multiple occasions since 2019 that the overflow tank was low or pink crust on the overflow tank cap (which will be replaced). Dealers have typically just topped off the overflow tank w/pink SLLC iirc. No other diagnosis or repair. At one point the overflow tank was very low and I advised the Dealer in TX. They just added coolant. I thought maybe it was evaporation over time in TX heat. But, then again CA was hot too - but a dry heat

I am at 63k miles right now, 6000 ft elevation give or take, and coolant overflow tank was 1/4 to 1/2 inch below max level. Then drove 10 min to Dealer and when I opened hood for SA it was 1/4 inch over max line. But, still plenty of room in the overflow tank.

I had not checked level since the d&f. The overflow tank and radiator are covered by a plastic cover with a dozen push pin connectors. And, I don’t routinely remove that cover for most other diy servicing.

Here is a pic from today b4 driving to Dealer. Sorry, should have posted these earlier.

Here is pic from August after I had completed d&f and checked level for 2 days.

Coolant test strip on Aug 10, 2024 - 15 days before d&f.

 

[fantastic]

Thanks for further details. Yeah, that overflow cap is showing some signs of back pressure. That along with the sudden elevation on your OUA leads me to believe you have a head gasket issue perhaps. Let us know how it goes at the dealer.

 

[sds911]

Thanks for further details. Yeah, that overflow cap is showing some signs of back pressure. That along with the sudden elevation on your OUA leads me to believe you have a head gasket issue perhaps. Let us know how it goes at the dealer.

Thank you. I will definitely update once I hear from Dealer. They have 5 tricky issues to resolve - 4 of which other dealers failed to fix (or “could not replicate”).

From the 2019 GX460 OM:

 

[edyvw]

I drained the radiator only at 55,400 miles in TX on August 25, 2024. Less than a gallon of Toyota pink SLLC. I used the (Lisle?) inexpensive funnel kit to refill and burp system. I replaced radiator cap with new OEM. I checked over several days to make sure the overflow tank was at appropriate level - hot and cold.

I’ve noticed on multiple occasions since 2019 that the overflow tank was low or pink crust on the overflow tank cap (which will be replaced). Dealers have typically just topped off the overflow tank w/pink SLLC iirc. No other diagnosis or repair. At one point the overflow tank was very low and I advised the Dealer in TX. They just added coolant. I thought maybe it was evaporation over time in TX heat. But, then again CA was hot too - but a dry heat

I am at 63k miles right now, 6000 ft elevation give or take, and coolant overflow tank was 1/4 to 1/2 inch below max level. Then drove 10 min to Dealer and when I opened hood for SA it was 1/4 inch over max line. But, still plenty of room in the overflow tank.

I had not checked level since the d&f. The overflow tank and radiator are covered by a plastic cover with a dozen push pin connectors. And, I don’t routinely remove that cover for most other diy servicing.

Here is a pic from today b4 driving to Dealer. Sorry, should have posted these earlier.

View attachment 275533
View attachment 275534

Here is pic from August after I had completed d&f and checked level for 2 days.

View attachment 275535

Coolant test strip on Aug 10, 2024 - 15 days before d&f.

View attachment 275536

You did not drain coolant properly:

E

Thread 'Car Care Nut -Why you shouldn't wait 100k mi to change coolant on a Toyota UR series V8.'

Sep 7, 2024

I know what I'm doing this week...

• ejes
• Replies: 199
• Forum: Mechanical/Maintenance Forum

You have two brass bolts on both sides of the engine. When I did my 5.7, I started with the passenger side, and from that one alone, more than a gallon came out. The driver side may be half a gallon, and the rest is from the radiator. In total, I almost drained 3 gallons (there is an accurate description in the link). Go to page 10 on that link to see how I drained it.
As for altitude, yes, the engine is far harder to cool off at 6,500ft altitude than in the most extreme heat in TX.
IMO, if there is gasket issue, it will show up here.

 

[OVERKILL]

Dropped the GX460 at dealer. Showed SA the UOA and history. My coolant overflow tank cap had pink coolant crusties. Not the first time and I had advised my TX dealership about very low coolant tank last year.

I did proactively replace coolant cap on radiator and did the radiator drain and fill. I know my level was correct then b/c I checked it over several days hot and cold. The overflow tank was 1/4 to 1/2 inch below max b4 I took it to Dealer and 10 minutes later level was over max line at temperature.

Wonder if higher elevation has any impact from sea level in TX to 6500 in CO?

Had several other issues I have to get checked also. So, hopefully they will figure it out before my warranty expires.

Really nice to see a UOA being used for what it's designed for here!

 

[sds911]

You did not drain coolant properly:

E

Thread 'Car Care Nut -Why you shouldn't wait 100k mi to change coolant on a Toyota UR series V8.'

Sep 7, 2024

I know what I'm doing this week...

• ejes
• Replies: 199
• Forum: Mechanical/Maintenance Forum

You have two brass bolts on both sides of the engine. When I did my 5.7, I started with the passenger side, and from that one alone, more than a gallon came out. The driver side may be half a gallon, and the rest is from the radiator. In total, I almost drained 3 gallons (there is an accurate description in the link). Go to page 10 on that link to see how I drained it.
As for altitude, yes, the engine is far harder to cool off at 6,500ft altitude than in the most extreme heat in TX.
IMO, if there is gasket issue, it will show up here.

I am very aware I did not drain the block drains/4 gallons of the OEM SLLC. As I stated, just the radiator. The factory fill isn’t due for replacement till 100k or so iirc.

I was planning on doing a series of D&F on the radiator every 10 to 20k since it’s so easy - and will keep coolant in better condition b4 100k. just like my ATF WS. I only do a 3 qt d&f x 2 or 3. Car care nut says one d&f is fine.

My phoenix coolant test strip showed the coolant was just fine. I watch the car care nut and I am aware of his recommendations b/c of the common coolant valley plate leaks on the GX460.

This also could be a leak at some other gasket or the oil cooler.

 

[sds911]

Thanks for further details. Yeah, that overflow cap is showing some signs of back pressure. That along with the sudden elevation on your OUA leads me to believe you have a head gasket issue perhaps. Let us know how it goes at the dealer.

Dealer did absolutely nothing based on the 60k UOA showing 17ppm of Potassium. SA said his tech did not see any leak. SA wanted to charge me over $800 to do a compression test. I have a Lexus extended warranty and the dealer says warranty won’t kick in until they identify a failed part.

Same reason SA gave for not fixing any of my other recurring, but intermittent problems with Navigation head unit and buttons freezing (I gave him video demonstrating issue), collision sensors on bumper going off in rain even with no car or object in front of car (provided video on this too), and says ABS Accumulator code doesn’t mean (C1452 pulled from OBDFusion) anything b/c maybe I pressed the brake pedal a couple times before scanning for codes (not sure how he would know that…).

Typical warranty games. I asked for Service Mgr. He said there isn’t one. I asked him to contact Lexus and open a ticket and/or request goodwill. I asked him to run their own UOA for potassium in oil - he said they don’t do that….

He said my coolant was overfilled. I said no, manual says anywhere b/w low and high when cold is acceptable. Sent him picture of tank below F line right b4 I drove GX to his dealership.

They wanted to charge $60/$65 to change overflow tank cap ($12 part below I think). No warranty on that either. I declined. Will do it myself and check my local Toyota dealer for part (My local Toyota dealer is ordering it @ $12.42). Heck, I already bought and installed a new Lexus OEM radiator cap when I did radiator d&f in 2024.

So, if you were me would you dump current oil and send to another lab for UOA? I only have 3,000 miles on current fill. Or I could sample from dipstick tube.

 

[Hohn]

Reading this entire thread, help me understand— the concern is the coolant crust on the fill cap? Are you seeing coolant level change at all?

I have a GX and have had to manage some cooling issues quite a bit, so I’m keenly interested in your case.

 

[sds911]

Reading this entire thread, help me understand— the concern is the coolant crust on the fill cap? Are you seeing coolant level change at all?

I have a GX and have had to manage some cooling issues quite a bit, so I’m keenly interested in your case.

My concern is my last two UOAs at 60k and 63k show 17 and 18 ppm of Potassium in the used oil sample. The VOA for ST Advanced has 0 ppm Potassium. The universal avg reported by Blackstone labs for the 1UR FE engine GX460 UOAs is 1ppm, and my UOAs dating back to 2019 had mostly insignificant levels (0, 1, 3ppm).

Potassium may indicate coolant in the oil. So why now is there 17 and 18 ppm in my most recent samples. Had I run the full 10k oci permitted by Lexus the Potassium would have been over 35.

And yes, it seemed that my coolant overflow tank was at minimum level at least once, coolant cap clearly had pink crust multiple times upon checking at various points.

So how is Potassium getting in my oil?