parthiban Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 The Lexus is at the dealer at the moment for a service, and they've just called to say the coolant is quite low and needs topping up. This led to 2 questions from me: 1. The car was serviced last year, what has caused it to drop so much in a year, when I've only done roughly 1000 miles? 2. They've quoted £123 to top it up - seems a bit pricey for a "top up" but is the coolant expensive stuff? Apparently my rear tyres are down to 2.5mm each, so if I do the tyres as well they might be able to do something with the total price - just waiting for them to get back to me as they weren't sure if they could get me Michelin PS3s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liner33 Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Some coolant is mega expensive I know the genuine Nissan stuff is , is the coolant bright green ? I would never ever get the dealer to do it , would always do it myself , same with tyres I am suspicious of dealers anyhow , its possible that the level was a little low last service and not picked up or even that they drew a little out , who knows . Personally I'd buy a small amount from the dealer and top it up and keep an eye on the level myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parthiban Posted December 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 The tyres they're doing for £204 fully fitted which is the same price as blackcircles and camskill for just supply only so I'm ok with that. They've dropped the coolant down to £93 so just told them to do it this time, but I think next year I'll double check all the levels myself before it goes in as you say. Given I've literally only done 1000 miles since the last service something funny is going on or I have a leak. I'll keep an eye on the level over the next few months and see if it changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liner33 Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Sorry but £93 to top up the coolant is shocking , to drain and refill perhaps but just to top up?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parthiban Posted December 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Sorry but £93 to top up the coolant is shocking , to drain and refill perhaps but just to top up?? Just called them to check and it's definitely a drain and refill, so the labour charge for the time required is the reason for the cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Why does it need to be drained which is a flush in truth? If the anti-freeze gravity is ok then all you would do is top it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parthiban Posted December 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Why does it need to be drained which is a flush in truth? If the anti-freeze gravity is ok then all you would do is top it up Probably not been changed in a while, is it not something that should be drained and refilled every so often? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Depends on the anti-freeze gravity but it was ok on the last service wasn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parthiban Posted December 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Depends on the anti-freeze gravity but it was ok on the last service wasn't it? That's the big question, unless there's a leak I can't see how it could have lost so much coolant in one year and 1000 miles. So I'm guessing they didn't check it last year. And possibly not the year before either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 I would say it wasn't checked because you would know it there was a leak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMARTLY Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 They probably checked it's SG and it's below spec. for winter ( also works as a summer coolant , so as above drain, refill and new coolant. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 The Honda and Toyota both need the coolant changed at 100k miles. I think a litre was £10-£12 from the dealers. I was losing coolant on the Corolla, which did eventually turn out to be a leaky rad but I've also lost a slight amount on the Accord but I don't think that has a leak, I hope not anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parthiban Posted December 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 The Honda and Toyota both need the coolant changed at 100k miles. I think a litre was £10-£12 from the dealers. I was losing coolant on the Corolla, which did eventually turn out to be a leaky rad but I've also lost a slight amount on the Accord but I don't think that has a leak, I hope not anyway. Perhaps it's just hit a time requirement and they aren't explaining it very well - it's only got 65k on it but it's 12 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Yeah i wouldn't worry mate but equally don't get mugged off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parthiban Posted December 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Yeah i wouldn't worry mate but equally don't get mugged off. With the MOT, service, cambelt change and now coolant and tyres the bill's already up to £850 - it all adds up pretty quick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Their making a wage out of you... Are the tyres down to 2.5mm? Surely the coolant is part of the service and if their doing the belt normally the water pump is also changed in which case the coolant will have to be done anyway and that should be in the belt/ pump price not in addition to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liner33 Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Yep doesn't last forever , coolant should be replaced every three years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMARTLY Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Thought long life coolant ( that is normally in Toyota and Lexus ) had a change interval of five years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parthiban Posted December 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 The tyres are down to 2.5mm, was expecting to have to do them soon so no issues with that. They aren't doing the water pump with the belt, could have done it but seemed unnecessary as I use the car so little now anyway (hope I don't come to regret that!) Got the Ferrari's service and cambelt change to look forward to next! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-O Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Got the Ferrari's service and cambelt change to look forward to next! This is going to look like steal at that point mate Seems a bit steep but its stealer prices so there you go... i think i would be checking the fluid levels after the next service though... The s3 relieved me of 1200 sheets recently for some fairly trivial work - the price you pay for a specialist. That said though the cars been great since so gonna forget and move on lifes too short!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liner33 Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Thought long life coolant ( that is normally in Toyota and Lexus ) had a change interval of five years. The red stuff does and like the Mercedes coolant which they reckon will last 15 years the protection (Not the freezing point) still deteriorates over time and few specialists agree with such extended life spans This is a good read on various coolants http://www.motor.com/magazine/pdfs/082004_04.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super josh Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 The s3 relieved me of 1200 sheets recently for some fairly trivial work - the price you pay for a specialist. Who do you use Steve? Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-O Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Russell Automotive down in Kingsbury, North London Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Thought long life coolant ( that is normally in Toyota and Lexus ) had a change interval of five years. I'm fairly sure ours are 100k miles/10 years, I'll have to check. The Accord needs it changed, I'll be doing that next year but putting the Civic off until the cambelt is done cos I'll get the water pump done at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parthiban Posted December 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 This is going to look like steal at that point mate Seems a bit steep but its stealer prices so there you go... i think i would be checking the fluid levels after the next service though... The s3 relieved me of 1200 sheets recently for some fairly trivial work - the price you pay for a specialist. That said though the cars been great since so gonna forget and move on lifes too short!! That's surprising it was so high for a specialist if the work was trivial? Hence why I've stuck with the dealer for the Lexus, for the most part their pricing is quite reasonable. I'm going to be using a specialist for the Ferrari which should at least keep the costs down a bit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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