Just flushed my Lexus Rx300

[toyo]

I have 121k miles on engine. The coolant was changed at 90k when Lexus did my timing belt and water pump. I dont think they flushed the entire system at that time. Yesterday I drained every freaking hose, block, you name it. The system was actually very clean. I used Toyota red with 50% distilled water.If anybody would like instructions on how to do this I can assist you.

 

[Matt_S]

It's not just the dealers. The manufacturers don't specify distilled water, either. From my 2000 Monte Carlo factory service manual:

quote:

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11. Fill the coolant recovery reservoir to the COLD mark with of a 50/50 mixture of ethylene glycol and clean drinkable water.

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[seotaji]

i find it most interesting that most dealerships don't spec. distilled water for coolant flushes.

 

[Ray H]

"Clean, drinkable water" is a pretty nebulous term. What passes as such from my local water agency wells leaves an orange stain (iron?) in the rear of the porcelain toilet bowls after a week's worth of flushings. It might be perfectly safe in my car's cooling system, but it'll never get the chance to find out. Curiously, Honda's and Hyundai's owners manuals do specify "de-mineralized, "purified" or "distilled water" for their cooling systems.

[ August 27, 2004, 12:46 AM: Message edited by: Ray H ]

 

[Matt_S]

It would certainly be nice to see a study or three on the effects of distilled/demineralized water vs. tap water. The water around Detroit here is pretty good. There is a fair amount of chlorine, but the mineral content is low. I'm sure that this would have some effect vs. water with more minerals, but I also wonder how well the various coolants are able to deal with that. It would be interesting to know.

 

[toyo]

A long term test would be nice. I feel if you flush your cooling system every 30k miles like I do, I doubt you would have trouble with tap. Ray H I really enjoy and appreciate your input on this web site. Your frame of thinking is alot on par with my thoughts.

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by toyo:
A long term test would be nice. I feel if you flush your cooling system every 30k miles like I do, I doubt you would have trouble with tap.

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Just the opposite. The more tap water you run through your cooling system, the more minerals you are introducing to the system.

 

[Ray H]

quote:

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Originally posted by toyo:
Ray H I really enjoy and appreciate your input on this web site. Your frame of thinking is alot on par with my thoughts.

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Thanks, but that puts you in a minority of two...