Cooling SystemQuestionCommunity Starter

2021 Lexus ES — temperature climbs in traffic but drops once moving

TrailCamper931Community StarterJun 8, 20262021 Lexus ES 350Dallas
This started as a small annoyance and I finally decided to track it down. 2021 Lexus ES 350, about 60,500 miles. Coolant temperature rises while sitting with the A/C on, then drops once the car is moving. Coolant level looks correct. Fans run, but I do not know whether they are reaching full commanded speed. I am in Dallas.
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TrailCamper931Community StarterCommunity StarterJun 8, 2026permalink
I went back under the 2021 Lexus ES and it only happens after a heat soak, not on a cold start. If the story changes I'll post the new data.
NewCarRoadie849Community StarterCommunity StarterJun 8, 2026permalink
Log the conditions before you spend. Write temp, speed, and in-gear vs coast when the 2021 Lexus ES does it — then decide on parts. Save the big job until that test fails. On “temperature climbs in traffic but drops once,” that was the fork that mattered for me. That's the sequence I'd use. I'd rather look cautious in this thread than stuck later.
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