Should I be concerned? (1 Viewer)

[kyle94109]

Popped the hood to use my battery for the tire pump, and noticed this strip of rubber or not sure of the material but it’s broken away from where it’s supposed to be along the top of the radiator. I removed the big plastic covers in the engine bay the LX570’s have last year, so unsure if this was just there for that cover. With cover gone, over time this thing just lot it’s will to hang on.

I know Radiators on the 200 have leaked, so took picture of the little module and looks crack free.

Lmk if this is something concerning and/or not.

 

[TeCKis300]

That gasket serves a purpose. The engine covers also serve a purpose. Both work together to guide and optimize airflow through the radiator for that extra measure of cooling. Without each, you're going to give up some percentage of potential cooling performance for those more extreme use cases. If you never see severe desert temps, low crawling speeds, and/or towing, you should be okay.

There are those that have noted overheating when off-road crawling without the forward engine cover in the place. That component is key to keep hot air from circulation between underhood and back through the radiator.

 

[kyle94109]

Shoot, I guess I should have checked before giving away that front cover. Fortunately I do not spend too much time in the desert, but I do occasionally head to Vegas, so I may need to reconsider getting it back.

So that little rubber material is called the gasket cover? Should I see about getting a new one?

 

[kyle94109]

That gasket serves a purpose. The engine covers also serve a purpose. Both work together to guide and optimize airflow through the radiator for that extra measure of cooling. Without each, you're going to give up some percentage of potential cooling performance for those more extreme use cases. If you never see severe desert temps, low crawling speeds, and/or towing, you should be okay.

There are those that have noted overheating when off-road crawling without the forward engine cover in the place. That component is key to keep hot air from circulation between underhood and back through the radiator.

Found some other posts on the topic, sounds like any foam will do and it’s worth stuffing it there for the purposes of airflow.

Now I’m concerned about the plastic cover, found one on eBay for $350. I don’t want to deal with overheating, and I have noticed on occasion that it feels like the engine bay is hot.

Expensive mistake to nip in the bud.

 

[ToothDr]

I believe that foam is included with a new radiator. Good time to upgrade to the newer designed radiator with no sharp angles on the part number plaque. Those areas are prone to crack. Newer design address this.

 

[bloc]

Some foams, but especially the adhesives, can struggle with the temps present in the upper radiator tank. If you want the factory foam part it is 16465-50370 and quite cheap.

But yes I agree ditching the engine covers wasn't a great idea. Probably not fatal, but if you can find a way to get them back without paying a ton of money it'll help in bad conditions. Also note that you need the sides, not just the middle, if you really want to control hot air flow. Also, you can cut them down to be less intrusive but still accomplish the cooling objectives.

Edit to say, by "sides" I meant straddling the center part over the core support. The ones that run along the engine bay back to the firewall don't serve any significant function.

 

[pvchaitanya]

you are worried too much. your radiator looks perfect. If you are concerned with the foam, find another similar foam and stuff it in with double sided sticky tape.
Dont worry about the plastic covers. LC200 doesn't even come with them.
If may have a functional purpose like air or sound barrier but I dont think it will have a determinable difference.

 

[gasman4u]

I thought the Lexus LX (200 series) engine covers were only to mitigate sound. Is this not correct?

OP, I’d look for the one piece that covers the front (beginning) of your engine bay if not too expensive. The LC has this one piece and as others have alluded to, I think it helps with forcing air flow through your radiator.

 

[bloc]

LC200 doesn't even come with them.

This is not correct.

The LC200 absolutely has covers over the core support that work with the gasket on top of it to prevent hot air from the engine bay cycling back to the front of the radiator. Get rid of these covers and the gasket can’t do its job.

If it wasn’t needed they wouldn’t have bothered with the gasket.. there is another gasket that seals the front edge of the hood to prevent rain and road debris making it into the engine bay.

No one here is saying the side covers from behind the core support back to the firewall are needed.

Also no one is saying their removal will immediately overheat the vehicle.. just that if you are in a situation at the extremes and need everything your cooling system can do, providing a way for hot engine-bay air to be recycled through the radiator is a bad idea.

 

[bloc]

LC200 cover with front and rear gasket. Get rid of the cover and there is approx a 1” gap to let hot air pass back to the front of the radiator.

 

[kyle94109]

LC200 cover with front and rear gasket. Get rid of the cover and there is approx a 1” gap to let hot air pass back to the front of the radiator.

View attachment 3903927

Interesting, the space for the Lexus is quite a bit larger, or at least I feel like it is. I ended up ordering a salvaged one from a Lexus that was being parted out.

 

[bloc]

Interesting, the space for the Lexus is quite a bit larger, or at least I feel like it is. I ended up ordering a salvaged one from a Lexus that was being parted out.

Could be, depending on the profile of the hood.

The LX parts, even just the front ones equivalent to what's in my picture, cover a lot more of the bits you'd want access to like headlamp plugs and the front of the battery. Plus they hide the upper radiator tank, which frankly all 200-series owners should be keeping an eye on. It's easy to cut them down to something closer to the LC parts though, while maintaining the hot air isolation. I helped a friend do this and I know a bunch more on this board have too.

 

[Heckraiser]

If the lexus covers annoy you (battery access, maintenance, etc. ) you can chop them down to mimic the shape of the LC cover. As long as the gap between the front bumper/grille area and the radiator support is covered, that's all that's needed for controlling the airflow through the radiator.