Can't believe I'm going to do this. Should someone talk me out of it?

[wemslie97]

Well, after much investigation about coolant and thermostat's in our beloved 3rd generation 4runners, I've come to the conclusion that my jiggle valve is at 12 o'clock instead of 6. :/ what's causing my scan gauge to tell me that it's running the about 12 degrees hot. The funny thing is that new radiator was put in in 2012 at the Toyota dealer and it has green coolant?? I'm thinking of switching to Toyota red and moving jiggle valve to it's rightful place. Not sure why the dealer would have installed the jiggle valve wrong and put in green coolant. :/ am I making a mountain out of a molehill? I also read somewhere in my research the Toyota used green coolant until 1998? Do any of you Old-Timers know if this is even true? Sorry for the long post and thanks ahead of time.:decision:

 

[Raintrees]

It really up to you, your going to have to drain all the coolant out to switch back to red coolant so you can remove can put your thermostat were you want.

 

[csp]

I did a radiator swap on a '91 FJ80 back in around 1999-2000 and it had the factory red in it.

Seems like a conclusion based on faith to assume that the thermostat was installed 180 out and lots of potential work for 12 degrees from "normal". If it isn't overheating just run with it like it is.

 

[Lee in Texas]

No! Don't do it! Don't post a non-descriptive thread title!

 

[PhdNPrerunners]

It's no surprise to me that the dealer installed the jiggle valve upside down. Before I bought my 4Runner the previous owner had the timing belt and water pump replaced at a Toyota dealer where they installed the jiggle valve upside down. My temperatures were around 208 and now that I replaced the thermostat and put it in correctly my temps never go about 190. I would switch the coolant back to red but I think it's more of a person choice than a necessity.

 

[wemslie97]

Thanks for all the good advice on my nondescriptive thread. Not an expensive or even all important operation (thread), but very helpful to me. Update; the radiator was changed at 139,000 on 11-15-2013. I bought the truck last July with 158,800 so I guess it's about ready for a flush anyway. I will switch it to red after reading the ingredients of Toyota red vs. Prestone and others. Still a mystery to me as to why Toyota would put green coolant in instead of red? The part # on the work order for the flush was Toyo red...also, I seem to remember my '95 celiac GT had red. Anyone known when they switched to red?

 

[SnowLizard]

when flushing I used walmarts distilled water... about 13 gals of it... get it up to temp and DRIVE it before drain and refill... make sure heater is flowing water (fan does not have to be on high) but after the 6th or 7th flush, you'll be clear water, add the Toyota red and you're golden.

it took 12 gals' to flush my 'green+red+yellow+?' coolant out of my wifes 97. extra for giggles

 

[ThorInc]

One piece of advice if you are going to flip your jiggle valve on the 4 yr old thermostat......you may as well buy the one from Toyota with the gasket and install that one correctly. Get the right OEM coolant and mix with distilled water. The actual cost on those items are not significantly over aftermarket.

 

[wemslie97]

Thanks guys, always been an oem type person myself. I will definitely buy a new OEM thermostat and Gasket when I do it. I personally think and have experienced the OEM difference in part quality and fit. Not a big modder and I don't Offroad. this one's all stock and never offloaded so for me it's a good starting place for longevity which is what I'm in it for. I do believe that you should take care of your ass, for it bears you! And I fully expect to see 300,000 on this truck.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Are you sure there is not air in the system?

 

[wemslie97]

Are you sure there is not air in the system?

Not really sure if there is air in the system. I don't think so I have checked the reservoir and it's normal and my ScanGauge reads anywhere from 198 to 202 when at running temperature. It never goes over 202 so I'm really not worried about it overheating and I think the thermostat is fine but it bugs me that it's running 12 degrees hotter than it should exclamation point

 

[seank]

Ok, maybe this is a stupid question, but what does one do with 12+ gallons of antifreeze and tainted water? Multiple 5 gallon buckets? Then where do you take it to be recycled?

When I was young and more dumb, we're talking high school 20+ years ago, I'd dump it down the storm drain. When I found out how terrible that is I simply started taking my cars to a shop for coolant related work. I'd love to spare that expense though.

 

[wemslie97]

I was going to ask that same question. That's a lot of Tainted water! I have a few Tidy cat litter jugs (about 5 gal. each) that I could use because I've been saving them. I guess after the first few flushes, it's mostly water anyway?

 

[kball]

Ok, maybe this is a stupid question, but what does one do with 12+ gallons of antifreeze and tainted water? Multiple 5 gallon buckets? Then where do you take it to be recycled?

When I was young and more dumb, we're talking high school 20+ years ago, I'd dump it down the storm drain. When I found out how terrible that is I simply started taking my cars to a shop for coolant related work. I'd love to spare that expense though.

Dump it in your yard. Ethylene Glycol biodegrades easily. It's what they spray on planes and runways to deice.

Why does everyone think green coolant is the old school 2 year/20K mile stuff? They probably used something like this https://www.google.com/imgres?imgur...RhCcsQ9QEINTAA#h=1500&tbnh=160&tbnw=100&w=940

I use it and it's good for 5 years/150K miles, all makes/models.

 

[wemslie97]

I personally have nothing against the green stuff. The only issue is the "silicates" ingredient that is not in Toyota red. Something about breakdown of seals and compatability with non-metal parts. I'd love to know why Toyota would have used green instead of red? Did they not want to switch brands because it had green already?

 

[T5RUNNER]

I went through the same thing when I bought mine. Dealership mechanics are not necessarily any less shady, they probably charged for the expensive Toyota stuff and used the cheap generic stuff.
If you are going to replace the fluid, its the best time to change the thermostat and gasket, and if you are going to change the thermostat, you can just pull off the upper hose and spray out the whole system. I replaced mine with Zerex Asian.

You can just dump the old fluid in your toilet if you are on city sewer. Don't dump it in a septic system or storm drain. I spilled a couple gallons in my parents front yard and grass did not grow there for 3 years.

 

[seank]

Thanks for the replies WRT disposal. I can't dump in the yard because I don't want to kill my dogs or any of the neighbor's dogs. Denver is also pretty anal about these things. A quick search lead me Grease Monkey, a local quick lube place who will take antifreeze and oils. Just need to collect some big containers. Sorry to the OP, thread jack over.

 

[bigdonniebrasco]

HE HE ,,, "Jiggle valve"

 

[BrianSD_42]

I personally have nothing against the green stuff. The only issue is the "silicates" ingredient that is not in Toyota red. Something about breakdown of seals and compatability with non-metal parts. I'd love to know why Toyota would have used green instead of red? Did they not want to switch brands because it had green already?

I'm at 240k miles. I've owned the truck since 67k miles in 2002. It has had green coolant the entire time. I change it every 50k miles or so. Most recently when I had the tbelt and water pump changed.

 

[wemslie97]

Food for thought. Is it better to stay with green and worry little about any mixing of colors (very little chance after a flush) or flush and change to red and worry little about seals and non-metal parts wearing prematurely. (If that is really true and it seems like green will do the job OK) Green would be the more humane way as no samurai's would be sacrificed.