2010-2015 Lexus RX350 RX450h Engine Coolant Drain And Fill Instructions

Master Technician Viktor G shows the DIY how-to coolant replacement procedure.
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Huge thanks to Jim Ollick for editing this video!

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

Below are my affiliate links to the parts and tools you would use to complete this job. I may receive a small commission from the product sales. Thank you! Genuine Lexus/Toyota coolant (2 gallons required): amzn.to/3Dy8UxQ Coolant bleeding funnel kit: amzn.to/3QbalKl Sturdy 4 Gallon coolant drain pan: amzn.to/3Ou4iiu 5/16" drain hose: amzn.to/43E0cJa Automotive trim and clip removal kit: amzn.to/3KgKGfg SUV jack stands: amzn.to/3q6VS7t 1/4" impact driver: amzn.to/3YlGxhQ 1/4” socket adapter set: amzn.to/44XTTkI Rechargeable LED mini work light: amzn.to/3Y74OpY

[@stanislav9608]

Following your tutoring video, I replaced the coolant in my RX350, 2015. After draining the coolant from radiator, I was trying to find the engine drain plug on the front of the engine block but had to give up as I could not find it. Good thing is that following your video, I was able to locate the second engine drain plug at the back. The access was very difficult on AWD, but I managed it and as a result I got another gallon of coolant from the engine and one gallon from the radiator. I am very happy that I was able to replace 90% of old coolant and basically opening the front engine block plug would give me only a bit more than a liter, if I am right. Very satisfied with the result, and again, thanks a lot for your excellent tutoring video. Keep posting, Viktor, more Toyota/Lexus video for DIY. The labor price in Toyota went up to $175 p/hour and it is killing us. I never go to dealership because I am filling ripped off.

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

@@stanislav9608 nice work Stanislav!

[@unebonnevie]

You're back! Thank you! On the RX450h, there is the inverter coolant part as well. Viktor showed the procedure for the RX350, but I don't see the inverter part.

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

The inverter coolant video is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nparindngMmrp7M

[@GP-ne5xs]

Officially. Nice and snug = 9ft/lbs and up to 76ft/lbs. Whatever is over 100ft/lbs is really hard. 😅 👍

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

Yes, a 100 ft-lbs would be a bit too much for that 10mm plug :)

[@soccerbrett1]

Superb.....I've done this before, but would have benefited from some of your tips. Glad I have it for when I do it again in a few years. Thanks Viktor!!

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

Great to hear!

[@rubenflores3624]

Another awesome step by step video Victor, thank you!

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

Thanks Ruben!

[@matperez1168]

Thank nicd mechanic Im a rx 350 user here 2013

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

👍🏻

[@edwalsh41]

Yes, please post a video for the 4th gen. Lexus RX350. Thank you!

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

Coming soon...

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZCQmYmBi7trj5o

[@d.beamer6907]

Thanks for the instruction, Viktor. I have a 2017 RX 350 that has only one block drain and no bleeder valve. I'm trying to remember the video you had before for mine to make sure I do the exchange correctly. I believe I remember you saying it will be ok to do this job on ramps, correct? again many thanks for all you do here.

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

Hi, I should be able to get your model RX coolant replacement videos edited and uploaded within the next couple of weeks. It will be fine to do the job on ramps, as long as you can crawl under there and remove the covers, you are good. Thanks for watching!

[@d.beamer6907]

@@Viktor_G_Automotive That sounds great Viktor! Thank you very much and have a great weekend!

[@danwilkinson5631]

Any videos on replacing the coolant bypass hose on a 2011 RX-350?

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

Hi Dan, unfortunately, not at this moment.

[@bobyork1235]

Hi Viktor, What do you think about the need to also do a chemical flush with distilled water before replacing with the new coolant t? I saw you did just a drain & refill. I have a Lexus 2010 rx350, 65 k miles. Don't know the total maintenance history done on it. Right now, the coolant doesn't look bad but I want to replace it since I dont know. Thanks for your excellent video!

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

Hi, the manufacturer never mentions doing a flush, just a drain and fill. If you flush it with distilled water, I can't see it causing any problems. As far as chemicals, I would be careful about what you put in there, it may cause more harm than good. Thanks!

[@Ron-h4l]

Victor 2015 Lexus RX 350 water pump replacement video you got one.

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

Not at the moment unfortunately

[@Ron-h4l]

@@Viktor_G_Automotive Do you plan on making one in the Future

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

@@Ron-h4lfor sure, if I have an opportunity to do so

[@wayditay9288]

Your vids are great -- to the point. So you are saying after market stuff like Prestone all vehicle coolant is no good, even though they claim otherwise? 😲

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

I’d never use it. The reasons being, Toyota factory coolant is quite inexpensive, so why use anything else. I have also definitely seen sludge problems from mixing different coolants with Toyota stuff.

[@ewetuber186000]

Another excellent video!

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ndudirimemeruem7711]

Hi viktor my 2010 Rx450h rattle for 2 seconds when I start the car in winter time. Is it something to worry about or is it normal for hybrid?

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

@@ndudirimemeruem7711 hi, it’s pretty difficult to determine whether a sound is normal or not without being able to hear it. Generally speaking, there shouldn’t be any weird noises on start up, you may want to have a qualified technician take a look at it at some point.

[@kevinnn116]

Thank you for adding this back!

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

You bet!

[@peterking8722]

Thanks for the detailed instructions. How many gallons of coolant do you need?

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

2 gallons is usually enough

[@peterking8722]

Thank you for the quick reply. I bought the 10 feet hose you recommended. Will it be long enough if I cut the hose in halves? I am not able to find the two cylinder block drain cock plugs on my 2013 Lexus RX 350 Awd except the one on the radiator. The bottom of my RX 350 appears to be quite different from the one in your video. I would appreciate it very much if you would make a video for a AWD RX 350 showing the locations of the cylinder block drain cock plugs.

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

@@peterking8722 5 feet will be long enough if the vehicle is not lifted all the way up in the air on a hoist, otherwise just drain one drain plug at a time. On an AWD, the drains are in exactly the same location, the one at the rear of the engine is above the transfer case, so is harder to see. The one in the front of the engine is exactly the same, above the oil cooler. That one is fairly difficult to access as you can see in the video. Cheers!

[@wayditay9288]

Other vids show running a clear tube from bleeder back up to the funnel and bleeding it that way (while running at high rpm), and heater off. What's your take on that method? Thanks.

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

That method will work fine, I’m sure. The way I showed in the video is straight from the repair manual.

[@unebonnevie]

@@Viktor_G_Automotive The repair manual rules! 🙂

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

@@unebonnevie yep :)

[@parkerassociates9864]

Thanks for the video.

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

Any time!

[@EricAmazon]

Hey Viktor, any chance you can post a similar video to change the engine coolant, but on a 2020+ Lexus RX450h hybrid (4th gen) please? Thanks

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

I will when I get a chance, thanks for watching!

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZCQmYmBi7trj5o

[@BigDipper79]

In your experience have you seen many RX350 with a leaky heater core? Mine is a 2010 and the heat stopped working on the passenger side and I get an occasional smell of coolant inside. Thanks for any advice.

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

A leaking heater core is not something that I have personally seen often on those models. If there is no heat only on one side, it is more likely a blend door actuator.

[@BigDipper79]

@@Viktor_G_Automotive thanks.

[@stanislav9608]

Hi Victor, thanks for another great video. I am planning to replace coolant in RX350, 2015. Need your advice: to determine if it worse to straggle with draining two cylinders cock plugs, which are not easy to reach, I would like to know how much coolant you got out of each cylinder plug. If you didn't measure it, could you recall what approximate amount was drained. Thanks in advance.

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

I drain it all into the same drain pan, so unfortunately I couldn’t tell you how much comes out of the rad vs the block. I’d guess it’s approximately a gallon from the rad and a gallon from the block, but I could be wrong.

[@stanislav9608]

@@Viktor_G_Automotive Thank you Victor. Even if you have got half of the gallon, I think it is worse to struggle to drain engine block. I appreciate your quick response.

[@stanislav9608]

@@Viktor_G_AutomotiveOne more thing to clarify: should the heater be turn on to the maximum temperature to allow the radiator vent turn on and the thermostat get opened. I know it is recommended to do when changing the coolant on other vehicles.

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

@@stanislav9608 I always have the heater on max hot, it helps you determine if the system is bled of air. If it blows really hot when the engine is idling, you are done bleeding. If it blows hot air when revved up, but cools off when idling, there is still air in the system.

[@stanislav9608]

@@Viktor_G_Automotive One more thing to clarify: after starting the engine, the heater has to be turned to maximum temperature, but how about the fan??? should the fan to be turn on the minimum speed, or not. This is making me crazy - so many different opinions that I stuck and cannot determine which way is correct. And would the lift of the front of the vehicle help better to bleed the air. I am counting on your professional advice, as in two days, I am going to repeat the coolant change on my wife's vehicle.

[@BigDipper79]

Hi, did you drain the overflow or just let that be? Thanks.

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

I just let it be in that video, but it can certainly be emptied if you would like to get every last bit of old coolant out.

[@BigDipper79]

Thanks for the reply.

[@michaelmausolf6007]

Hi Victor, I'm planning to change the coolant on a 2012 RX350. The manual I'm looking at seems to show 2 different locations for "Cylinder Block Drain Cock Plug". Are these the plugs you were hooking hoses up to to drain coolant? The manual seems to put them in different locations than what this video showed, any idea?

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

Yes, those are the ones I showed in the video. They are in the location shown, I’ve not seen them in a different place on that model.

[@michaelmausolf6007]

@@Viktor_G_Automotive Thanks, I think the manual picture is just not very detailed. I'm curious if you just drain the radiator and refill is that good enough or are the cylinder block drains required? I have seen a couple other videos where they just did the radiator drain plug... do you just change the fluid more often seeing as you are not getting all of it?

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

@@michaelmausolf6007 it’s best do drain the block as well. If you don’t, some of the old coolant will remain in the engine, so you won’t replace all of it. It’s up to you in the end, as it is your vehicle.

[@syvex3871]

Viktor, is draining the engine block coolant necessary? I saw a video from The Car Care Nut (very reputable Toyota mechanic) where he only drained the radiator of a 2GR-FE, and didn't drain the engine block at all.

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

If you want to replace all the old coolant, drain the radiator and the block. If you want to leave half of the old coolant in the engine and only replace the other half, drain just the radiator.

[@syvex3871]

@@Viktor_G_Automotive Thank you for your help and quick reply.

[@stanislav9608]

@@Viktor_G_Automotive Victor, did you measure how much coolant came out of the engine block?

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

@@stanislav9608 total drained is approximately 2 gallons, not sure what percentage of it is from the block, probably around half.

[@axios76]

If anyone wants to see more about this procedure on 2 GR-FE engines and especially the bleeding process, check the Car Care Nut (a Master Toyota Tech) guy's video called Toyota Cooling System Bleeding for V6 2GR-FE 3.5L THE RIGHT WAY!

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

@@axios76 ok

[@dinhnguyen8254]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

🙏

[@BaoBaoXuDua]

Can I just drain the radiator only?

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

You can, but you will only replace half the coolant instead of all of it.

[@jasonm6496]

@@Viktor_G_Automotive Can you later replace the radiator only again one more time or two more time so that in effect over 75% or more old coolant is replaced? Is this a viable solution? Thank you

[@Viktor_G_Automotive]

@@jasonm6496 you could, it would be a lot more time consuming and need more coolant, so I don’t really see a benefit to doing it that way.