jackcramerr

hmm Last I called Lexus glasgow they said 05w30 castrol

Wouldn't head gasket consume coolant ? From white/blue smoke it does look like HG or oil because poster says its blueish. But if it were oil the poster could smell it more easily than coolant... Comes down to smell test I guess to know what that smoke is.

My money is on brakes. Check the brake pads and discs. Check the calipers as well. Grinding noise could be normal as rain water rusts the disc (superficial) and for a mile or two you hear that till pads clean the disc. But check the brakes to be sure its not calipers.

They degrade and they always have date of manufacture on them. Oil is to be inspected every year if in storage. I would want to know date of manufacture for the discounted oil. Anyone bought it yet? Having said that, if you are using it within next few months, I wouldn't be worried. But in my case, its 1 year wait so can't be bothered. New offers will come .

Agree then John. And if 600mm can't open that filter then nothing can. I have used the 600mm to undo engine mounts and control arms. Like butter and hot knife.

Cant find 4 ltr edge. Note there are two types of Castrol edge that I am aware Edge FST and Edge LL. Also, would have bought A5 but I did oil change maybe 2 months ago.. Oil additives expire over time so I cannot keep it in storage.

Does it only do it under load. Can't judge the color, can you find out if it smells? If no smell then ignore it as it can be steam. If smell then you have some problem. Under load can be valve seals. But you said it isn't eating oil... Have you checked oil and coolant in the morning before starting the car ? And which oil did you use?

Is that from US spec car manual? SN SM SL are API standards...?

I have used it on pins. Upto you. Most guys here went with toyota grease.

I had noticed that and didn't get it. Isn't tax lower for 2011-2013 cars even though its the same engine? Might be some change to engine? What do Lexus recommend ?

I am wondering if the toyota coolant that came originally is water less. I want to top up with the correct one.

Does the Lexus take waterless coolant by any chance ? ...

I have used CeraTec. Can't say if they are good or bad.

rookies are there to learn on someone's car. They learn better if you over torque their heads with your hands next time they over torque that filter :D

Use of breaker bar or ratchet directly gives you less tolerance for applying more force as it breaks. Using a long breaker bar with 24 size socket might allow for more...I think.

Again the question, when you try fitting the tool, did the tab went into the cut out. See the picture I am asuming you used a ratchet or breaker bar instead of a 24 size socket on the tool? Trying to understand how it broke. What length was it ?

did the tabs fit in... cant explain it better...

Oil consumption can be due to wrong grade oil. Long term it will burn off and soot will gather up in cat converter clogging up exhaust and if there is an egr. And you will need to top up with correct oil till the old one is burned off. You might never see blue smoke if engine is good and exhaust system is working well. This A5 C3 thing should have been in owners manual. I am sure many people have screwed up engines because of this. Chain garage will have a database so they are a safer bet I would assume. But DIYers ger hit.

Wrong one, yes. That one did NOT work for me and broke.

Guys its opinions in the end. apple and oranges. Yes, I have noticed eastern europeans buy high millage luxury cars. Passat, BMW are top on their list. Lexus is not for europe. Its a great car for DIY as its far simpler to work it. But lack of them on road means less parts.

Sorry I have been calling it 26inch. its 600mm/ 24inch. This is the tool I got from ebay SEALEY AK730 BREAKER BAR 600MM 1/2 " SQUARE DRIVE CHROME VANADIUM 13/14 pounds. I have used it for a few jobs now and it has paid itself. John is the wise one here. You can see how many times we have insisted to avoid hammer action.

A word of warning. Wrong tool might ruin the housing fluets. And I cannot insist more on avoiding impacting action and instead using a breaker bar of 26inch and apply steady firm pressure. Can you confirm the fluets are not damaged? People are garages are cowboys. Ask them what tool they used and take a picture of it. It should give in. I do not see why it won't. Be patient with it. Raise the car high up so you have room enough for long breaker bar movement. Be careful with jacking the car and use jack stands and the correct place and wheel blockers. Or if you have ramps, i have heard they are better for oil change... Someone here will chip in on your answer to if it all fails. I would suggest going to Toyota/Lexus and pay them.

See this and compare: Toyota/Lexus 3.5L V6 Laser 4880 tool is the one I used that worked.

Thats my experience with it. Do.these guy have the right tool? The tool fits like am overlay on the filter housing and cutouts are there for a reason as it leverages against the tabs on the housing. See the pictures in my posts. With the correct tool they need 26inch breaket bar with a size 24 socket. Its piece of cake then.

kenhistu Did you use a socket or did you directly use a ratchet or breaket bar? I was about to post this but thought you might be ok... You need a 26inch breaker bar and use a socket. Nothing else works. I have been exactly through what you went. In my case the tool I was using was the wrong one. And I used a 11inch breaker bar without socket. Impacting action broke the.tool. Then I got the correct.tool and used 26inch breaker bar with a scoket. Gentle but firm pressure and it made the filter housing move. It is doable with the correct tools. Blame toyota for this terrible design.