Shadow

Don't kid yourself! Your words are your opinions and they are the last thing I "set into stone" or "accepted as law".

Filler gauge would do it.

Don't scare the man off! The pic looks ugly but it's not that bad once you start. I was nervous and scared before I started, but after taking off a few parts, things calm down and became straight forward. Just take your time and replace all wearing out parts. There were anxious moments here and there, but overall, it was the most comfortable and pleasureable big job that I had done on the LS, and I am looking forward to do it all over again (on my wife's) LS this summer.

That valve must be very leaky inorder to allow enough fluid to enter the combustion chamber to kill to engine. Great job finding the out!

Your signature stated you have and 90 and sound like you have a problematic ECU (check out the TSB for your year). Do NOT use lower octane. Even 91 octane will eventually knock in those models.

What was the mileage on the old engine and why did you replace it?

The last I check, it's still a free country! :D I don't doubt that Lexus owners can afford premium fuels and don't doubt that they care about their cars. What matter is whether or not there is permanent harm done to the engine when using certain fuels taking into account that person's driving habits and engine conditions as each car and its driver is unique.

Octane measures the antiknock properties of the fuel. Octane does not measure how "good" or "bad" the additives are. So trying to equate higher octane level with "better" additive package is incorrect and is exactly what the fuel manufacturers and gas depots want comsumers to think. After all, there is much more profit in selling premium fuels than selling regular fuels.

I believe that the first generation owner's manual states lower octane can be used when premium is not available.

Those are nearly all major suspension parts. All failed @ 102K? I don't think so. Sound to me like your mechanic is trying to milk your wallet doing unnecessary work.

Make absolutely sure your battery is good prior to working on the starter.

The bearing can easily be replaced by itself for a few bucks. No need to replace the entire assembly. :)

By the way, I also changed the trans seals when I dropped the trans cause I didn't want to drop the trans again when those seals leak.

I would definitely change the cracked EGR pipe while changing the rear seal. I find that it is near impossible to change the EGR on some LS model without dropping the trans or tearing down significant part of upper engine components. Change the pipe while the mechanic is in there but bargain to pay no more than 15min of additional labor cost to change the pipe.

Take the replies for what they are worth and nothing more...

The ECU is capable of adjusting its timing to accommodate 87 octane in a well maintained engine. I have been using 87 for years and cannot tell the difference between 87 & 91 except for the price. As long as the fuel is clean and she doesn't knock and I don't do the wide open thingy, she is happy. :D

Can't recall exactly but the service manual has SST listings and their descriptions. Don't sweat over the SST. Just use whatever generic tools necessary for the job.

You should replace the strut isolators together with the struts.

I plastic welded my reservoir and it held up for over a year.

Lexus uses Karmann Vortex technique to measure mass air flow. No flap, door or temperaturre sensor so there is nothing to clean. It's all solid state.

Shop repair manuals and some elbow grease will do wonder to your wallet. Skills you learn working on your car will serve you well into the future.

Opinions varied greatly as to when to change the timing belt, but most would agree, including me, that 67K is too young to change. Save your money for another day.

My former timing belt was quite worn when I replaced it at 150kmiles so change it soon. You can also remove the cam cover on the driver side (~10min job) and inspect the timing belt for cracks.

Spray and clean the heck out of the ISCV, and make sure the solvent you sprays into the intake does not foul the O2 sensors and/or catalytic convertors. Let's know the results, will you?

Some will say at 178K the car is just broken in but I beg to differ. Lexus is very reliable but is still subjected to deterioration with age. I do all work on my Lex but still prefer to pay more for lower mileage Lex. The price different for the mileage is lower than the amount of depreciation in years it takes to rack up those miles in my case.