vroom8

Yes, we are wondering if too much pressure was applied during a coolant system pressure check. The car was running at full capacity, engine was great, but she thought the water pump might be leaking, so mechanic did a pressure test and the water pump seemed OK, but now the engine seems to be sluggish, and the vents are blowing out dust and dirt...wondering if something was blown out..regarding the engine or something..of course the mechanic is not admitting to anything...and will not tell her the amt of pressure applied. thanks

thank you black LS 90- like your car. yes. I would think this would be a general question...that is why I asked here. Has anyone else experienced something like this ? I am thinking it could be coincidental, but more than likely not.

thanks dc- I think this was questioned..but mechanic offered no explanation. Too much pressure on the cooling system could damage the radiator and engine I would assume ..

Could I ask you great mechanics a question about a friends problems...? 1999 Toyota Camry 6cyl....similiar to a Lexus, sort of.. Her mechanic did a pressure test on the cooling system, and she thinks he put too much pressure on it, or something.. water pump test...she said when she started it a bunch of dust and stuff flew out, and it has lost some compression. Could something have blown out? water pump was fine, but now she has engine problems... any ideas? hmmmmmm? thanks

....these cars are mysterious, sweetie. fabulous, but mysterious.... I do know that the engine lite coming on might be a gas cap not working...this has happened to me with other cars. My guess - fuel injectors need cleaned or replaced.

ummmm.... they are incredible cars...the 400's...remind me of the song "Smoothe" by Santana. By far the greatest ride ever, in the southwest we have wide open mesa country where it stretches for miles and the sagebrush and scrub oak meet the blue clear sky...pure heaven..no cops..no other traffic really....and that is where you can open it up...straight up to the stars...ooops tho...watch around that corner...might be an elk..!! :o

HA-HA!!- LIKE YOUR SOLUTION!! Perhaps it just needs a good run....certainly going to change the oil..my dad used to say that cars need to 'burn the carbon out"...nice excuse to let it rip...

thank you chilkoot, wwest, python...!! I have just had another mechanic take a look and he says there is no water in the oil...also the oil is not frothy or discolored, so he thinks the HG is not the problem. Thank you for the tips on Cat converters...there is indeed a strong smell of exhaust or something as I start the engine sometimes...I believe there are oxygens sensors in the converters, and am wondering if this is not the problem??, but I will certainly check out the glow..if possible. The car starts right up...drives for about a block and then loses power and I can hardly get home. I have also noticed the temperature is not heating up....my gauge is barely moving past 1/4....even when I let it idle for a while. Any ideas would be very welcome, as the mechanics here don't seem to know much about lexus. Yea, I just bought it and it was fine for about 2 months, but then this started.

hello everyone what a great forum! I just bought a 1992 400 LS, and guess what? I think my head gasket is cracked or something...according to the mechanic I had take a look at it...water in the oil! It starts up great, but after a couple minutes, the compression drops and it has no power, or very little. I have had someone tell me that the HG is blown, but also the Cat Converter is plugged.. If I put a new Cat in it can I still drive it?..for a while how about putting a hole in the converter..to see what happens?